New York, February 14, 2026, 10:03 EST — Market closed.
- Meta ended Friday at $639.77, slipping 1.6%.
- Russia has now completely blocked WhatsApp, Meta’s widely used messaging service.
- Meta set its quarterly dividend at $0.525. U.S. markets close Monday for Presidents Day.
Meta Platforms dropped 1.6% to finish the day at $639.77. Investors remain uneasy about potential new regulatory challenges and persistent questions over the company’s hefty spending—concerns that lingered as markets slipped into the holiday break.
Traders are shifting gears, turning AI into a “show me” story rather than just buying the hype. “We see this as a ‘prove it’ year for AI,” said Jack Herr, primary investment analyst at GuideStone Funds. 1
Russia has become a fresh flashpoint. The Kremlin confirmed WhatsApp—run by Meta—is now fully blocked after the app failed to meet local legal requirements, pushing citizens toward a government-backed service. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the move came “due to Meta’s unwillingness to comply with Russian law.” WhatsApp, for its part, called the block “a backwards step,” arguing it cuts users off from “private and secure communication.” 2
Meta’s board moved to bolster investor confidence, approving another quarterly cash dividend—$0.525 a share. The payout lands March 26 for holders on record by March 16. 3
Income-driven investors are watching the calendar. Meta’s ex-dividend date is marked for March 16, according to Fidelity, which means that’s when shares begin trading without eligibility for the upcoming dividend. The record date is also March 16, with payment set for March 26. 4
The macro backdrop offered little relief. Tech stocks took another beating on Thursday, sending Wall Street lower, and investors shifted toward defensive plays, Reuters noted. The AI-driven reshuffle in competitive dynamics has everyone guessing at potential winners and losers. “You still have this anti-AI trade going on,” said Tim Ghriskey, senior portfolio strategist at Ingalls & Snyder. 5
Tech’s so-called “hyperscalers”—the likes of Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta—have been hammered, with valuations sliding quickly after recent earnings reports. Axios reports the four giants have lost a collective $1 trillion in market value, highlighting Meta, whose market cap dropped from roughly $1.7 trillion to $1.6 trillion. 6
Meta shares fell sharply Friday, outpacing declines in the broader tech sector. Alphabet lost 1.08%. Microsoft edged down just 0.13%, and Amazon gave up 0.41%, according to MarketWatch data. 7
But the bear scenario still lingers. Should the WhatsApp block turn into a playbook for other nations, or fresh rules end up hitting distribution and monetization, investors could keep their eyes locked on political risk instead of the dividend.
U.S.-listed Meta shares won’t trade again until Tuesday, as the Nasdaq shuts down Monday, February 16 for Presidents Day, according to its 2026 holiday calendar. 8
Once trading resumes, attention could shift quickly to fallout from Russia’s WhatsApp restrictions, with Nvidia’s earnings on February 25 looming for anyone tracking AI appetite. The chip designer confirmed the date in a statement. 9
