AlphaMaven AlphaMaven

Meta's Platfroms' New Bull: Why Billionaire Bill Ackman Is Buying

Reported by The Globe and Mail
Feb 16, 2026· 2 min read
Save Post LinkedIn Email
Key Takeaways
  • • Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management has invested approximately $2 billion in Meta Platforms, representing 10% of the hedge fund's capital allocation as of end-2025, according to Pershing Square's February 11, 2026 Annual Investor Presentation.
  • • Meta shares declined from approximately $738 (January 29, 2026) to near $640 (February 13, 2026) despite the company forecasting 30% revenue growth next quarter—a growth rate not achieved since 2021—making Ackman's entry a contrarian bet during a pullback.
  • • Ackman characterizes Meta as "deeply discounted" and is betting on the company's AI-enabled advertising platform, signaling confidence in Meta's competitive positioning and long-term growth trajectory despite recent volatility.
  • • Meta trades at 22 times next-twelve-months price-to-earnings, which Pershing Square views as attractive valuation relative to growth prospects and AI investment potential.
  • • This represents Ackman's primary new equity position, underscoring his conviction that markets are undervaluing Meta's artificial intelligence capabilities and revenue acceleration potential.
Summary
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has made a substantial bet on Meta Platforms, committing approximately $2 billion through Pershing Square Capital Management—his largest hedge fund with roughly $30 billion in assets. According to Pershing Square's 2026 Annual Investor Presentation released February 11, Meta now represents 10% of the fund's capital allocation as of the end of 2025, making it the sixth-largest holding in the portfolio. Ackman acquired 2.66 million Meta shares, representing 10.16% of Pershing Square's equity portfolio.

The timing of Ackman's investment reflects a contrarian positioning. Meta shares surged over 10% on January 29 following the company's earnings announcement, closing near $738, but subsequently surrendered all gains and declined further to approximately $640 by February 13. Despite this pullback, Meta projects 30% revenue growth in the next quarter—a growth rate the company has not achieved since 2021. This disconnect between strong forward guidance and declining stock price appears to have triggered Ackman's conviction.

Ackman's rationale centers on Meta's artificial intelligence capabilities embedded within its advertising platform. He characterizes the stock as "deeply discounted" and believes markets are underestimating the company's AI-driven competitive moat and revenue expansion potential. From a valuation perspective, Meta trades at 22 times next-twelve-months price-to-earnings—a multiple Pershing Square considers attractive relative to the company's growth trajectory and strategic positioning in artificial intelligence.

This investment represents Ackman's primary new equity position, signaling high conviction rather than portfolio diversification. Ackman's track record—anchored by his early identification of MBIA's exposure to subprime mortgage-backed securities during the 2008 financial crisis—has positioned him as a prominent macro investor willing to take large, public positions when valuations appear misaligned with fundamental prospects. His willingness to commit substantial capital to Meta at a moment of near-term weakness suggests he views current market sentiment as overly pessimistic regarding the company's AI monetization potential.

Go deeper than the headline

Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.

Start your free 7-day trial

Sources

1 outlet

AlphaMaven summarised this story from the reporting below. Each link opens the original article.

The Globe and Mail Meta's Platfroms' New Bull: Why Billionaire Bill Ackman Is Buying