META's current PE is distorted by a tax-bill quarter, leaving trailing earnings based on roughly three normal quarters. Once that tax-hit quarter drops off after next earnings, trailing earnings normalize and the PE compresses mechanically. Author prefers rotating MSFT proceeds into META because the stock will look cheaper on trailing earnings soon. PE compression is an accounting artifact; guidance, AI capex, or ad-cycle weakness could offset the effect.
META's current PE is distorted by a tax-bill quarter, leaving trailing earnings based on roughly three normal quarters. Once that tax-hit quarter drops off after next earnings, trailing earnings normalize and the PE compresses mechanically. Author prefers rotating MSFT proceeds into META because the stock will look cheaper on trailing earnings soon. PE compression is an accounting artifact; guidance, AI capex, or ad-cycle weakness could offset the effect.