Here is Why Meta Platforms (META) is Among the 10 Must-Buy Stocks with the Strongest 1Q2026 Earnings Beats

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is one of the 10 Must-Buy Stocks with the Strongest 1Q2026 Earnings Beats.

On April 30, 2026, BofA analyst Justin Post raised the price target on Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) to $835 from $820 and maintained a Buy rating after the company’s Q1 results. Justin Post noted increased investment in AI capacity alongside headcount reductions, adding that the AI spending cycle is larger than expected and returns remain less clear than for Cloud providers. Justin Post also said AI-driven ad gains remain intact and raised 2027 revenue to $101B and EPS to $34.46 following the “strong” quarter.

Barclays analyst Ross Sandler also lifted the price target on Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) to $830 from $800 with an Overweight rating, saying the company is growing faster than the digital advertising industry while reducing costs. Ross Sandler added that AI progress following the Muse Spark introduction supports confidence in long-term investments. Meanwhile, Evercore ISI analyst Mark Mahaney raised the price target to $930 from $900 and maintained an Outperform rating, calling Meta the “best ad revenue growth story.”

Here is Why Meta Platforms (META) is Among the 10 Must-Buy Stocks with the Strongest 1Q2026 Earnings Beats

d8nn / Shutterstock.com

On April 29, 2026, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) reported Q1 EPS of $10.44 versus consensus $6.82 and Q1 revenue of $56.31B versus $55.56B consensus. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company saw “strong momentum” across its apps and highlighted the release of its first model from Meta Superintelligence Labs. The company expects Q2 revenue of $58B to $61B, assuming a roughly 2% foreign exchange tailwind.

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) develops products that enable people to connect and share across mobile devices, computers, VR headsets, and AI glasses globally.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of META as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than META and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. 

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.