Stock futures tumbled in after-hours trading after Meta Platforms announced it was raising its forecast for capital expenditures for the year, stoking investor fears about the soaring costs of the artificial intelligence boom. The social media giant said it now expects to spend between $130 billion and $145 billion in 2026, an increase from its prior forecast.
The announcement confirmed market anxieties that have been building for days, contributing to a global selloff in semiconductor and AI-related stocks. Investors are growing increasingly concerned that the massive, multi-billion dollar investments required to build out AI infrastructure will come at the expense of corporate profitability and free cash flow, leading to a sharp, negative reaction in the technology sector.
Market Impact: In after-hours trading, Nasdaq Futures (NQ) plunged -2.37% and S&P 500 Futures (ES) fell -1.74%.