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In other AI news, Freedom Capital Markets analyst Saken Ismailov upgraded Meta Platforms (Nasdaq: META) to buy with an $800 price target this morning.
“Meta Platforms (META) exceeded revenue expectations in Q3 2025,” said Ismailov, citing “robust advertising demand, higher active-user numbers, and stronger engagement supported by AI-driven recommendation tools and early WhatsApp monetization.” He argued that “current market valuation [does not reflect] the potential of the company’s AI strategy.”
Investors seem to agree, and Meta stock is up 2%. The Voo is still up 1%.
Erste Group analyst Hans Engel downgraded Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) to hold this morning.
On the one hand, Engel likes how Oracle is expanding its cloud business by building new cloud data centers. On the other hand, though, the analyst says Oracle’s core software business is in “slight” decline. Debt is rising and return on assets is declining, and Engel warns that Oracle’s free cash flow will “be impacted by the very high investments and that the operating margin will also fall slightly over the next few years.”
Investors seem fine with that, though. Oracle stock is up 0.8% despite the downgrade.
In fruit news, Dole (NYSE: DOLE) missed earnings by a couple cents this morning, reporting a $0.16 per share profit. Sales exceeded expectations, however, at $2.3 billion, and Dole management said it has “momentum” as it approaches the end of the year.
“Full year Adjusted EBITDA should be at the upper end of our targeted range of $380 million to $390 million,” said Dole, and the company is lowering its guidance for 2025 capital expenditure to “approximately $85 million,” meaning Dole will get to keep more of its cash flow.
Dole stock is up nearly 8% on the news, and the Voo’s gain has already increased to 1.2%.
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Eight Democratic senators broke ranks with their party over the weekend, getting the ball rolling towards a vote that could end the nation’s longest-ever federal government shutdown, which has already lasted 41 days. The compromise that catalyzed their move did not include an extension of Obamacare health insurance subsidies, as the Democrats had desired; it does however contain a pledge by Republicans to hold a December vote on extending the subsidies.
Most importantly, an end to the shutdown would reinstate funding for SNAP food subsidy benefits, permit payment of government workers such that air traffic controllers would return to work in full force, permit air travel to resume at normal levels — and generally get the government running like normal again. First, though, the Senate will need to move past procedural votes to approve a Continuing Resolution funding the government, and then the House of Representatives will need to hold its own vote to approve the Senate’s version of this CR — and of course, the President will need to sign the bill once both houses have approved.
Investors are thrilled at the prospect, and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) opened 1% higher Monday morning.
Meanwhile on Wall Street, a new batch of earnings reports are on deck.
S&P 500 component Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN | TSN Price Prediction) beat earnings by 28 cents, reporting a $1.15 per share profit. Revenue came in light at $13.9 billion, but in today’s optimistic market these numbers seem still good enough to send Tyson stock up nearly 4%.
Instacart (Nasdaq: CART) beat by a penny this morning, reporting Q3 profit of $0.51 per share. Revenue of $939 million was $6 million more than Wall Street expected, but Instacart stock is down 2%.
Barrick Mining (NYSE: B) missed earnings this morning, reporting a $0.58 per share adjusted profit where Wall Street wanted to see $0.61. Revenue also came in light at $4.15 billion, but Barrick stock is also up 6%.
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Joel South covers large-cap stocks, dividend investing, and major market trends, with a focus on earnings analysis, valuation, and turning complex data into actionable insights for investors.
He brings more than 15 years of experience as an investor and financial journalist, including 12 years at The Motley Fool, where he served as an investment analyst, Bureau Chief, and later led the Fool.com investing news desk. He has also co-hosted an investing podcast and appeared across TV and radio discussing market trends.
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