Meta falls more than 5% on report of possible AI stock sale
Why it matters: Investors are already uneasy about AI spending after Meta lifted 2026 capital spending guidance to as much as $145 billion.
Meta shares fell more than 5% Friday after the Financial Times reported the company was weighing a stock offering worth tens of billions of dollars to help finance its artificial intelligence buildout. The report said Meta has not hired banks and may ultimately avoid issuing shares. A company spokesperson pushed back, calling the report speculation, while saying Meta remains focused on flexible funding for its AI plans. The sell-off comes as big tech groups pour record sums into AI infrastructure. In April, Meta raised its 2026 capital expenditure forecast to as high as $145 billion, up from a prior top end of $135 billion. Rival Alphabet this week moved to raise $85 billion from equity sales and had already lifted its own capex ceiling to $190 billion.