Will Meta’s Huge Bet on the Metaverse Pay Off?

Meta Platforms (META) has spent the last few years evolving from a social media powerhouse to something far more ambitious. 

Meta owns several popular social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads. Over the last five years, Meta’s stock has returned 182%. This year, so far, the stock has gained 29.6%, outperforming the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index’s ($NASX) gain of 12.9%. The social media giant is now betting its future on artificial intelligence (AI), immersive experiences, and what it still refers to as the “metaverse.”