Goal evaluates raising billions by selling shares to AI

According to the newspaper, company executives have been discussing ways considered “creative” to raise funds as the owner of Facebook and Instagram prepares to significantly increase its AI-related spending. The talks would have gained momentum after Alphabet announced this week raising US$84.75 billion through an expanded share offering.

Race for AI infrastructure puts pressure on investments

The movement comes amid the dispute between large technology companies to build new data centers and meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence applications. According to the Financial Times, giants in the sector have increasingly turned to the debt and equity markets to finance these projects, in a change from the traditional practice of using mainly their own resources.

Meta had already signaled the need to expand its financing capacity. In October, the company filed its largest issuance of debt securities to date, with the potential to reach US$30 billion. Additionally, it closed a $27 billion financing deal with Blue Owl Capital.

In April, the company raised its capital expenditure projection for 2026, now forecasting investments between US$125 billion and US$145 billion throughout the year.

Company says decision has not yet been made

Despite the discussions, the Financial Times reported that Meta has not yet hired banks to conduct a possible share offering. The newspaper adds that the company may end up choosing not to carry out the operation.

The publication also states that it would be premature to conclude that the company has already defined which path it will follow, as different financing alternatives continue to be evaluated.

Wanted by Reuters Meta did not immediately comment on the matter. A company spokesperson later classified the report as “mere speculation“.

“We have been clear that there are enormous opportunities ahead in AI and we will continue to focus on raising capital in the most flexible ways to support this,” the company representative said in an emailed statement to the news agency.

Shares retreat after news release

The repercussions of the possible issuance of shares had an immediate impact on the market. Meta’s shares registered a drop of more than 5% on Friday after the publication of the report. At one point in the trading session, shares accumulated a decline of 6.6%.

The performance reflects investor concerns about the growing volume of spending on artificial intelligencea topic that has also put pressure on other giants in the sector. Alphabet, for example, recently announced an expansion of its capex plans and is also facing questions about the pace of investment expansion.

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According to data cited by CNBC, while Alphabet’s shares have appreciated by more than 115% in the last 12 months, Meta’s shares have registered a drop of 13% in the same period.