Shop Stock: Too late to buy after the AI hype?

Rick Orford's Meta Deep Dive: More Like a Shallow Puddle of Hype?

So, Rick Orford over at The Motley Fool thinks Meta's got some untapped potential with AI and WhatsApp monetization, huh? Okay. Let's unpack this, because something smells fishy. I mean, the Fool's Stock Advisor team doesn't even recommend META as a top 10 pick right now. That's like a chef telling you their "secret ingredient" is something they wouldn't even put on their own plate.

And these stock prices he's basing this grand vision on? They're from October 29th. Almost a week old! In the stock market, that's practically ancient history. It's like using last week's weather report to plan a picnic. Give me a break.

The Motley Crew's Track Record: Hit or Just Dumb Luck?

Okay, I'll admit, The Motley Fool's Stock Advisor service boasts some impressive returns – 1,076% average, compared to the S&P 500's measly 195%. But let's be real: past performance is no guarantee of future results. It’s like saying you won the lottery once, so you're guaranteed to win again. Doesn’t work that way.

They nailed Netflix back in '04 and Nvidia in '05. Good for them. But what about all the other recommendations? The ones that went south? Those conveniently get swept under the rug, don't they? We only hear about the winners. That's selection bias 101, people. So, are they geniuses or just really, really lucky? I'm leaning towards the latter.

And all this talk about "untapped potential"… it's corporate speak for "we have no freakin' clue what we're doing, but we're hoping something sticks." It’s like saying a toddler has "untapped potential" to become a brain surgeon. Sure, technically possible, but highly improbable.

Plus, the guy wrote an article and made a video? Talk about overkill. It's like they're trying to convince themselves more than anyone else.

WhatsApp Monetization: The Holy Grail or a Pipe Dream?

So, Orford's banking on WhatsApp becoming a cash cow for Meta. Okay, let's think about that for a second. People use WhatsApp to avoid ads and annoying marketing. Now, Meta wants to shove ads down their throats? What could possibly go wrong?

It's like opening a speakeasy and then broadcasting commercials for Bud Light every five minutes. You're killing the entire vibe. People will just ditch WhatsApp for something else. There's always another messaging app waiting in the wings. Signal, Telegram… they're all hungry for users.

And AI? Every tech company is slapping "AI" on everything these days, hoping the hype will carry them. It's the new blockchain, the new metaverse. A buzzword designed to distract from the fact that, underneath, it's still just the same old tech, trying to squeeze more money out of us. Maybe I'm being too harsh. Some analysts are still considering whether it's Is It Too Late to Buy Meta Stock After the AI Boom? - Nasdaq.

Then again maybe not.

Other Stocks, Other Problems

And look at the other stocks mentioned. TSLA is up, but AMZN, META, AMD, NVDA, PEP, and COST are all down. Sure, it's just one day, but it paints a picture, doesn't it? A picture of a volatile market, where nothing is certain, and anyone who claims to have all the answers is probably selling something.

offcourse, The Motley Fool is in the business of selling advice. So, take everything they say with a massive grain of salt.

The Bottom Line? Don't Believe the Hype.