Meta Platforms Stock: 'Buy the Pullback,' Says Top Jefferies Analyst Ahead of Q4 Earnings

Social media giant Meta Platforms (META) is scheduled to announce its fourth-quarter results on January 28. Ahead of the Q4 earnings, top Jefferies analyst Brent Thill reiterated a Buy rating on META stock with a price target of $910. The stock rose 6% on Thursday, as Jefferies called META a Top Pick, saying that the 18% pullback since the company's Q3 earnings report presents an attractive buying opportunity. The stock also benefited from a rally in the broader market.Claim 50% Off TipRanks PremiumUnlock hedge fund-level data and powerful investing tools for smarter, sharper decisions Stay ahead of the market with the latest news and analysis and maximize your portfolio's potential Meanwhile, Wall Street expects Meta Platforms to report earnings per share (EPS) of $8.19, reflecting a 2.1% year-over-year growth. Revenue is estimated to rise about 20.6% to $58.35 billion. Jefferies Analyst Is Bullish on META Stock Thill believes that following the decline in Meta Platforms' shares since Q3 2025 earnings, the stock trades at an attractive valuation. The 5-star analyst contended that while the decline reflects worries related to margin woes, high capital spending, and artificial intelligence (AI) execution, it presents a significant upside if META addresses these challenges, which he believes is possible. Notably, Thill listed five reasons for his optimism: The analyst highlighted that following the selloff since Q3 earnings, META shares are trading at a lucrative risk-reward: an "8-turn PE discount" compared to Alphabet (GOOGL). Thill sees limited downside to estimates from current levels, but stronger upside, thanks to strength in revenue and the expectations of the company's efficiency gains offsetting higher operating expenses. The top-rated analyst is also upbeat about Meta Platforms' "all-star AI hires" and expects them to deliver results this year. Thill expects AI to continue to drive META's core advertising flywheel in 2026. Optimism about new growth engines, with Thill expecting WhatsApp to grow from about $9 billion currently to $36 billion by Fiscal 2029. He also sees additional upside from Threads and Llama/AI. Is META a Good Stock to Buy Now? Ahead of Q4 earnings, Wall Street has a Strong Buy consensus rating on Meta Platforms stock based on 37 Buys, six Holds, and one Sell recommendation. The average META stock price target of $823.66 indicates 27.2% upside potential.