Meta Courts Anthropic as Cloud Tenant Even as $145 Billion AI Spending Spooks Investors
Veröffentlicht: 19.07.2026 um 01:50 Uhr, Redaktion boerse-global.de
Meta Platforms is pushing deeper into cloud services, negotiating a deal that could see it rent computing capacity to rival AI startup Anthropic for as much as $10 billion over two years. The move, reported on Friday, signals a strategic pivot for the Facebook parent: instead of simply burning cash on server infrastructure, it aims to turn that capacity into a revenue stream. Yet the announcement lands against a backdrop of growing investor unease over the scale of Meta’s capital commitments, with the stock slipping 2.67% to €565.10 on the day.
The cloud talks with Anthropic align with a broader plan Meta has been quietly developing. The company is exploring the creation of an “AI Cloud” unit that would lease out surplus computing power, positioning itself as a direct rival to established hyperscalers like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. At the same time, Meta is accelerating its own chip development: together with Broadcom and TSMC, it plans to begin production of a custom AI chip named “Iris” in September, aiming to reduce dependence on external GPU suppliers.
These ambitions come at a steep price. Meta raised its full-year 2026 capital expenditure forecast to a range of $125 billion to $145 billion, up from the previous target of $115 billion to $135 billion, citing higher component costs. The upward revision has reignited debate among analysts and shareholders about whether the returns on such massive outlays will materialize in a reasonable timeframe.
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BMO Capital struck a particularly skeptical tone, describing Meta’s AI projects as having the “least visible return story” among the big tech players. Adding to the anxiety, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is said to have acknowledged internally that the development of AI agents is progressing more slowly than originally anticipated — a sobering admission for a company that has staked its future on artificial intelligence.
Legal headaches also surfaced. A group of 26 Meta employees sought an emergency injunction to block impending layoffs, alleging that AI-powered tools had unfairly targeted them due to disabilities or medical leaves. US District Judge William Orrick in Oakland rejected the request, ruling that the workers had not shown “irreparable harm.” The terminations are set to begin July 22, and the underlying claims will now proceed to private arbitration.
Market conditions are adding further pressure. The Federal Reserve’s restrictive monetary policy continues to weigh on high-growth tech stocks, while antitrust authorities globally are scrutinizing Meta’s data practices and age-verification protocols — both potential sources of future regulatory costs or penalties.
Despite the week’s 3.62% decline, Meta’s shares have gained 14.53% over the past 30 days, and the stock remains up 0.98% year-to-date. However, it sits 16.63% below its 52-week high of €677.80 reached on July 31, 2025. The pressure will intensify on July 29, when Meta reports second-quarter 2026 results after the US market close, followed by a call with management. Investors will be watching closely for any evidence that the billions pouring into AI infrastructure are starting to translate into measurable revenue.
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