Tech giants Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) are in the spotlight after their latest earnings reports. Though both companies reported strong results, the stocks are moving sharply in opposite directions this morning.
META was last seen up 7.7% at $719.96, gapping to its highest level since October and heading or its largest single-day percentage gain since July. The Facebook and Instagram parent announced better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and revenue and lifted its current-quarter sales guidance, while also revealing plans to nearly double its AI spending in 2026.
MSFT, on the other hand, was last seen down 11.3% at $427.01, hitting its lowest level since May 2025. Should these losses hold, it will be the stock's worst single-day percentage loss since the Covid-19 crash -- a 14.7% loss on March 16 2020. Though the Big Tech giant reported better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results, higher capital spending as well as slower growth in cloud computing is weighing on shares, in addition to a soft operating margin outlook.
Unsurprisingly, both stocks are seeing much higher volume than usual in the options pits. The most popular META contract is the weekly 1/30 750-strike call, while MSFT's is the March 435 call, with new positions being opened at both.
