It’s a weird time to be watching the markets. Honestly, if you’re looking at the current stock price for facebook—or Meta Platforms, as the suits call it—you’re probably seeing a lot of red today. As of mid-afternoon on January 14, 2026, the stock is hovering around $617.09. That’s a drop of about 2.2% from yesterday’s close.
Volatility is the name of the game right now. Just a few weeks ago, we were flirting with $660, and now we're back down in the low 600s. It feels like every time Mark Zuckerberg mentions "capital expenditures" or "AI infrastructure," the market has a mini-panic attack, even though the company is basically printing money from Instagram and Reels.
Why the Current Stock Price for Facebook is Sliding Today
So, why the dip? Well, it’s not just Meta. The whole "Magnificent Seven" group is taking a bit of a breather. If you look at the board today, Nvidia is down, Microsoft is down, and Tesla is taking a hit too. Investors are kinda jittery about the 2026 outlook. There’s this constant tug-of-war between the massive profits the company makes right now and the eye-watering amount of money they're spending to build what they call "Superintelligence."
Meta's CFO, Susan Li, has been pretty blunt about this. She basically told everyone that 2026 is going to be a year of "aggressive investment." When a company says they’re going to spend more than $100 billion on data centers and AI talent, the market usually reacts by selling off a little. It’s a "show me the money" moment. Investors want to see those AI investments actually turn into ad revenue, not just cool demos of Llama 4 or whatever version they're on now.
The Reality of the Numbers
Let's look at the actual stats for today, Wednesday, January 14, 2026:
- Opening Price: $626.50
- Day Low: $615.00
- 52-Week High: $796.25 (reached back in mid-2025)
- Market Cap: Still massive, sitting around $1.55 Trillion.
It's important to remember where we came from. A year ago, the stock was significantly lower. Even with today's 2% drop, long-term holders are still doing okay. But if you bought at the peak near $800, this "current stock price for facebook" feels a lot more painful.
The Big Catalyst: The 2026 Stock Split Rumors
Here’s something most people are talking about in the forums but isn't always in the main headlines: stock splits. Meta and Microsoft are the last two of the "Magnificent Seven" that haven't split their shares recently.
Think about it. At $617 per share, Meta is getting a bit "heavy." It’s hard for a retail investor to just pop in and buy ten shares without dropping over six grand. If Meta decides to do a 10-for-1 or even a 20-for-1 split this year, it could spark a massive rally. Historically, splits don't change the value of the company, but they make the stock feel "cheaper" and more accessible, which usually brings in a wave of new buyers.
Analysts are Surprisingly Bullish
Despite the red on the screen today, analysts aren't jumping ship. Actually, it's kinda the opposite.
- Piper Sandler recently named Meta their top large-cap pick for 2026.
- Morgan Stanley is looking at a "bull case" of $1,000 per share by next year.
- Morningstar thinks the stock is trading at a 24% discount to its "fair value."
Why the optimism? Because the "Family of Apps"—Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp—is still a juggernaut. They have over 3.4 billion people using their stuff every single day. That is an insane amount of leverage.
What Really Matters: The "Superintelligence" Gamble
Most of the skepticism around the current stock price for facebook comes from Reality Labs. That’s the division building the Metaverse and those AR glasses you see in the commercials. They lost billions last year. Billions.
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But Zuckerberg has shifted the narrative. It’s not just about VR headsets anymore; it’s about AI. They are using AI to make ads more effective, which is why their revenue grew by 26% in the last reported quarter. If they can prove that their "Superintelligence" models can actually help businesses sell more products, the stock price won't stay at $617 for long.
The Tax Hit and the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"
One thing that tripped people up late last year was a massive $15.9 billion one-time tax charge. It made their Earnings Per Share (EPS) look terrible—like $1.05 compared to the expected $6.70. But that was a non-cash accounting thing. If you strip that out, they actually earned over $7.00 per share. This is the kind of detail that separates the pros from the people just looking at a Robinhood chart.
Is Now the Time to Buy?
Kinda depends on your stomach for risk. Honestly, Meta is a "battleground stock." You have the "Bulls" who see a $1.5 trillion company trading at a P/E ratio of about 27—which isn't actually that expensive for tech—and you have the "Bears" who think TikTok and regulation are going to eat their lunch.
The Case for Buying Now:
- The stock is way off its 52-week high of $796.
- The "Family of Apps" revenue is still growing at double digits.
- A potential stock split could be a huge psychological catalyst.
- AI integration in Instagram Reels is actually working.
The Case for Waiting:
- Capital expenditures are going up, which might squeeze margins in late 2026.
- The Federal Reserve's new chair might keep interest rates higher for longer, which usually hurts tech stocks.
- Regulatory pressure in Europe and the US isn't going away.
Actionable Insights for Investors
If you're watching the current stock price for facebook and trying to decide what to do, don't just stare at the 1-minute chart. It’ll drive you crazy.
- Watch the February 4th Earnings Call: This is the big one. Meta is expected to report its Q4 2025 results around this time. Analysts are looking for an EPS of about $8.29. If they beat that and give a "tame" guidance on spending, the stock could gap up.
- Check the P/E Ratio: Right now, the forward P/E for 2026 is sitting around 21.3. For context, that’s cheaper than a lot of other big tech names. If it dips toward 18-19, it's historically been a "buy the dip" zone for this stock.
- Keep an eye on Capex: If the company raises its 2026 spending guidance even higher than the current $125 billion projection, expect the stock to take another hit. Investors want growth, but they don't want a "blank check" for the Metaverse.
Basically, today’s drop to $617.09 is a classic case of market indigestion. The fundamentals are still there, but the price is reflecting a lot of uncertainty about the next phase of the AI war. If you believe Zuckerberg can pull off the transition to a "Superintelligence" company, this might look like a bargain a year from now. If you think it's a money pit, then the red you see today might just be the beginning.
To stay ahead of the next move, you should monitor the daily volume relative to the 50-day moving average. A high-volume drop below $600 would be a major technical red flag, while a bounce off the $610 support level could signal that the "smart money" is starting to accumulate shares again. Look for the company's official announcement regarding the February earnings date to confirm the next major volatility window.