Meta Platforms Inc – Competition knocks growth and raises expenses
Recommendation: BUY (Maintained); TP US$312.00, Last close: US$237.09; Analyst: Jonathan Woo
• 4Q21 earnings in line with expectations. FY21 revenue/PATMI at 102/105% of our FY21e forecasts
• Apple iOS 14 privacy changes decreases the accuracy of FB’s targeted ads, making it increasingly tougher to track and measure the outcomes of these ad campaigns
• The company guided weak 1Q22 revenue growth of 3-11% and FY22e expenses to rise at least 26% to US$90bn-95bn. FB is also undertaking major capital expenditure of US$29bn-34bn to beef up its IT infrastructure.
• We maintain a BUY recommendation with a reduced DCF target price from US$424.00 to US$312.00 (WACC 6.6%, g 3.5%). Our target price is lowered due to growth pressures from increased competition and reduced earnings of 24% due to increased expenditures
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