Meta Platforms (META) has announced its first executive stock option plan since its 2012 IPO, targeting key talent retention as the company aggressively invests in artificial intelligence. The plan, disclosed in SEC filings, includes top executives such as CFO Susan Li, CTO Andrew Bosworth, CPO Chris Cox, COO Javier Olivan, President Dina Powell McCormick, and Chief Legal Officer Curtis Mahoney. Notably, CEO Mark Zuckerberg, with a net worth exceeding $200 billion, is not included.
The option packages are structured as a "big bet" on future success, with payouts contingent on Meta's stock achieving significant price milestones. The first tranche requires META stock to reach $1,116.08, representing an 88% increase from Tuesday's closing price of $592.92. This would push Meta's market capitalization to approximately $2.82 trillion. The highest target is set at $3,727.12 per share, which would imply a market cap above $9 trillion—more than double Nvidia's current valuation.
This move comes as Meta's stock has underperformed, down roughly 4% over the past year and trailing most of its megacap peers. The stock recently dipped to around $592, entering a technical bear market after falling over 25% from its peak last year, reducing its market cap from nearly $2 trillion to about $1.5 trillion.
The stock's decline is partly attributed to Meta's massive planned capital expenditures in AI. The company estimates it will spend between $115 billion and $135 billion in 2026, a substantial increase from $72.2 billion in 2025. This spending is aimed at supporting its Meta Superintelligence Labs and closing the competitive gap with rivals like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. Despite this investment, Meta's AI tools, such as the Llama 4 model family, have struggled to gain significant market traction.
Financially, Meta reported strong Q4 2025 results with revenue jumping to $59.88 billion and net income rising to over $22.76 billion. Analysts remain constructive, with a consensus Strong Buy rating and an average price target of $865.58, implying about 46% upside. However, technical analysis suggests the stock could face further near-term downside, having broken below key support levels and forming a head-and-shoulders pattern.
