Meta Connect 2025: Zuckerberg’s $800 AI Glasses, Fed Jitters, and the Stock Levels Traders Can’t Ignore

Meta Platforms will be in the spotlight this evening as it hosts Meta Connect, the company’s annual developer conference dedicated to its vision for artificial intelligence, smart glasses, and the metaverse. The event begins today, September 17, with Mark Zuckerberg set to deliver the keynote at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time (8:00 p.m. Eastern). His remarks will be streamed on Facebook, Meta’s website, and within Horizon Worlds for Quest users. The keynote is expected to cover Meta's latest hardware —including new smart glasses—and an update on how AI is being integrated into the company’s broader platform. Investors will be watching closely not just for product reveals but also for any signal that management will update guidance or adjust its near-term spending outlook.

Expectations heading into the event are centered on smart glasses . Meta is likely to unveil its first heads-up display (HUD) enabled product, codenamed Hypernova, alongside refreshed Ray-Ban models and new Oakley collaborations. Reports suggest Hypernova will retail around $800, offer a monocular display in the right eye, and ship with a neural wristband that enables gesture-based control. In addition, leaks earlier this week revealed promotional material for updated AI glasses, including both Ray-Ban and Oakley models. These developments follow last year’s upgrades to Meta Ray-Bans, which added real-time translation and AI-driven functionality. While Connect has always been about hardware, investors will be keen to hear how these devices fit into Meta’s AI roadmap and whether they can help broaden adoption beyond early enthusiasts.

From an investor standpoint, the bigger question is whether Zuckerberg and CFO Susan Li use the event to provide updates on financial guidance. In its most recent outlook, Meta projected third-quarter revenue of $47.5 to $50.5 billion, full-year 2025 expenses of $114 to $118 billion, and capital expenditures of $66 to $72 billion. Management also indicated that 2026 would bring another year of significant CapEx growth, with infrastructure and compensation leading the way. Given analyst concerns about returns on AI spending, any hint of adjustment to these figures—or signs of cost discipline—could be market-moving. Bank of America recently noted that depreciation and amortization tied to AI CapEx is running higher than consensus expects, suggesting that long-term profitability could be more pressured than currently modeled.

Beyond the conference, Meta continues to navigate a tricky regulatory and strategic environment. In Europe, the company received a boost earlier this month when the EU General Court ruled against the European Commission’s calculation of Digital Services Act fees. The decision is expected to lower compliance costs going forward, easing some of the financial pressure from EU oversight. At the same time, Meta is doubling down on its AI partnerships, most recently with a $100 million agreement with Germany’s Black Forest Labs to secure cutting-edge image generation technology. This complements earlier deals and reinforces Meta’s determination to lead in consumer-facing AI. The regulatory relief in Europe and fresh AI partnerships provide a stronger platform heading into Connect, though the risk of new investigations and rulings remains a persistent overhang.

On the stock side, Meta shares are consolidating near $755, holding comfortably within the rising channel that has supported the uptrend since May. The stock closed at $779 in the last session as technicals remain constructive. Meta is holding above its 20-day exponential moving average near $752, with the 50-, 100-, and 200-day EMAs stacked in bullish formation. Immediate resistance lies in the $780–$790 area ($796 is the all-time high), where the upper channel boundary converges, while key support rests at $736 and then $720. A break above resistance could open the door to $820, but failure to defend $736 would expose the 100-day EMA near $705. For traders, these levels are critical as volatility is likely to spike following both Connect and today’s Fed decision.

Valuation also deserves a mention. With a forward P/E of roughly 27, Meta trades at a discount to peers such as Nvidia and Amazon, even after delivering a 28% total return year-to-date. Analysts continue to raise EPS estimates, pointing to operating efficiency, strong ad pricing, and growing engagement as drivers of momentum. At the same time, the heavy spending on AI infrastructure—CapEx of $30.7 billion in the first half alone—remains a key source of debate. The sustainability of these investments and the timing of returns are now front-of-mind for investors, and Connect offers Zuckerberg a stage to address those concerns directly.

Still, it may be the Federal Reserve rather than Meta Connect that ultimately dictates the stock’s near-term trajectory. If Powell strikes a dovish tone in this afternoon’s policy decision, markets could interpret it as an opportunity to rotate out of crowded big-cap tech positions and into small-cap and cyclical equities. In such a scenario, Meta could face selling pressure even if Connect headlines impress. Conversely, if the Fed disappoints or strikes a more hawkish tone, large-cap growth stocks like Meta could see defensive inflows. Either way, the intersection of Fed policy and Connect timing adds a layer of complexity to trading this week.

Ultimately, while Meta Connect itself is unlikely to redefine the company’s financial outlook in the near term, it will place the stock in the spotlight for traders. With smart glasses announcements, AI updates, and the possibility of volatility triggered by Fed policy, Meta could see outsized swings in after-hours trading and into Thursday’s session. For investors, the key will be watching how the stock handles the $736–$720 support zone and whether Connect can deliver enough excitement to challenge the $780–$790 resistance band. In the end, Meta Connect may not change the fundamental story overnight, but it ensures the company remains at the center of the conversation—exactly where Zuckerberg wants it.