Metaplatforms’ (NASDAQ: GOAL) Family of Applications (‘FOA’) Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp still boast strong engagement and better monetization prospects, strong network effects and solid free cash flow generation. Throw in an increasingly compelling valuation and the lure of the stock seems irresistible.

Still, a recent decline in revenue and net income, the emergence of powerful rivals (TikTok, not to mention Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft (MSFT)), indicate an erosion of the market moat and a change in fortune prompting CEO Mark Zuckerberg to seek renewal.

The global metaverse market size is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (‘CAGR’) of 39.8% during 2022-2030. Reality Labs is a commitment to the creation of an ecosystem that encapsulates AI, AR, Virtual Reality…