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美国财报预览:华尔街希望得到Meta、亚马逊和苹果的答案
GO Markets
20/4/2026
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在本系列的最后三期中,我们描绘了2026年经济的走向: 银行 它支撑着首都, 公用事业 它提供电子,以及 芯片制造商 制造硅。随着四月的报告季进入最后一幕,注意力转移到了前门。

Meta、亚马逊和苹果正处于人工智能建设满足日常消费者和企业需求的时刻。

为什么投资回报率是现在的焦点

支持人工智能的公司和通过人工智能获利的公司之间正在出现一种硬鸿沟,有时也被称为 “大分散”。Meta 和亚马逊处于大规模资本支出(capex)周期的中心,而 2026 年全行业的支出估计约为 6,500 亿美元至 7,000 亿美元。

这就是为什么投资回报率(ROI)指标是首要考虑的原因。

  1. Meta的 人工智能驱动的广告定位足够强大,足以证明其支出计划的合理性?
  2. 亚马逊 Web 服务 (AWS) 的重新加速速度足够快以支持自定义芯片推送?
  3. 能够 苹果 即使在更加困难的中国市场中,也要通过证明iPhone 17周期的真实性来保持其溢价估值?

到2026年,问题不再是谁能建造数据中心。谁能将这些投资转化为可持续的高利润利润。在最近的停火之后,能源市场趋于平静,科技估值有一定的喘息空间。现在市场需要证据。

IMPORTANT: REPORTING SCHEDULES CAN CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. REPORTING DATES AND RELEASE TIMES ARE FROM COMPANY INVESTOR RELATIONS CALENDARS WHERE MARKED CONFIRMED; OTHERWISE THEY ARE GO MARKETS ESTIMATES. CONSENSUS EPS, REVENUE AND ANALYST-RANGE DATA ARE FROM THIRD-PARTY MARKET CONSENSUS SOURCES, AS OF 20 APRIL 2026 (AEST). COMPANY GUIDANCE, BACKLOG AND OPERATING METRICS ARE FROM THE LATEST COMPANY FILINGS OR RESULTS PRESENTATIONS UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. FIGURES AND SCHEDULES MAY CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

$META | Q1 2026 REPORTING PERIOD

Meta Platforms, Inc.

NASDAQ | Technology/Advertising | 29 Apr 2026
✓ CONFIRMED

Global Release Countdown (AMC)

00:00:00:00
Consensus EPS
US$6.69
Consensus Revenue
US$55.4bn
AUSTRALIA/ASIA 30 Apr | 6:05 am
US/LATAM 29 Apr | 4:05 pm
Market intelligence: $META

Analysis: Meta price drivers and scenarios

Ad click improvement (est.)
+3–5%
From AI-driven targeting
2026 capex estimate
~US$135bn
Market estimate range
Silicon strategy
MTIA 2nm
Broadcom co-development
Strategy note

What is MTIA 2nm? This is Meta's "home-grown" AI chip. The 2nm refers to ultra-advanced, high-efficiency technology. By building their own silicon with Broadcom, Meta aims to slash their massive electricity bills and end their total reliance on buying expensive NVIDIA hardware. If this works, it protects Meta's profit margins even if they keep spending billions on AI.

AVG
LOW US$6.30 AVG US$6.69 HIGH US$7.10

Meta has moved from its "Year of Efficiency" into what CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls the "Era of Personal Superintelligence". By April 2026, AI appears to have sharpened the company’s core advertising engine, with some reports suggesting ad click rates rose by around 3% to 5%. But the bigger strategic issue is Meta’s multi-year Broadcom partnership to co-develop custom 2nm MTIA chips, with the aim of reducing reliance on NVIDIA and lowering operating costs over time. The risk is that Meta could beat on earnings and still disappoint if management points to higher spending and a longer payoff period. The real question is whether efficiency gains are keeping pace with the capital expenditure (capex) bill.

Call focus and key signals

The Avocado AI model
Watch for ad click improvements tied to the "Avocado" AI model deployment, currently estimated to be lifting rates by up to 5%.
Signal: Monetisation efficiency
MTIA rollout status
Updates on the custom 2nm MTIA chip rollout with Broadcom will indicate Meta's long term cost structure flexibility.
Watch: Infrastructure independence
Reality Labs losses
Evidence of Reality Labs loss stabilisation would reduce the persistent drag on the overall earnings story.
Watch: Operating loss trend
Capex vs efficiency
The real question for investors is whether efficiency gains are keeping pace with the significant capex bill.
Signal: Spending productivity
Sentiment analysis: Meta Platforms

Interactive scenario analysis: $META

Select earnings outcome
Productive cycle

Spending cycle becomes productive

EPS above US$7.10, double-digit ad growth, and clear early efficiency gains from MTIA. The market may interpret that as a sign the spending cycle is becoming more productive rather than simply more expensive.
EPS level
Above US$7.10
Ad growth
Double digit
Efficiency
MTIA gains
Reaction
Strong rally
Sources & Data Methodology

Sources: Reporting dates and release times are from company investor relations calendars where marked Confirmed; otherwise they are GO Markets estimates. Consensus EPS, revenue and analyst-range data are sourced from Bloomberg and Earnings Whispers, as at 20 April 2026 (AEST). Company guidance, backlog and operating metrics are sourced from the latest company filings or results presentations. Any scenario analysis reflects GO Markets analysis. Figures and schedules may change without notice.

Expanded Coverage

Beyond the chipmakers

As the "show me the money" year unfolds, discover how AI demand is impacting Tesla, NextEra, and Exxon.

Amazon: the capex bet moves to centre stage

Amazon is no longer just a retail story. It is increasingly a cloud and advertising business, with a thin-margin logistics network attached. In 2026, the narrative is centred on what reports have described as a roughly US$200 billion capex plan, aimed largely at building out AWS’s AI infrastructure.

$AMZN | Q1 2026 REPORTING PERIOD

Amazon.com, Inc.

NASDAQ | Technology/Retail | 29 Apr 2026
✓ CONFIRMED

Global Release Countdown (AMC)

00:00:00:00
Consensus EPS
US$1.69
Consensus Revenue
~US$177.7bn
AU/ASIA 30 Apr | 6:00 am
US/LATAM 29 Apr | 4:00 pm
Market Intelligence: $AMZN

Analysis: Amazon price drivers and scenarios

AWS growth threshold
20% YoY
Market floor expectation
2026 Capex plan (est.)
~US$200bn
Largely AWS AI infrastructure
Custom silicon
Trainium 3 and 4
In-house AI chip pipeline
AVG
LOW US$1.50 AVG US$1.69 HIGH US$1.90

Amazon is no longer primarily a retail story. In 2026, the narrative centres on approximately US$200 billion in planned capex, directed largely at building out AWS's AI infrastructure. That is an extraordinary commitment, and the market is watching closely to see whether the returns are following. One metric matters most: AWS growth.

Key signals to watch

AWS growth rate
Anything materially below 20% YoY could reinforce the bear case that spending is running well ahead of returns.
Watch: AWS growth vs 20% floor
Trainium supply commitments
Early supply commitments for Trainium 3 and 4 would signal how quickly the transition to in-house chips is progressing.
Watch: Trainium 3 and 4 progress
Retail margins under tariff pressure
Management commentary on whether Section 122 tariff costs are being absorbed or passed on is vital for the non-AWS story.
Watch: Retail operating margin
Advertising segment momentum
Sustained growth here provides a high-margin earnings cushion if retail margins are squeezed by logistics or tariffs.
Watch: Advertising revenue growth
Sentiment Analysis · Amazon.com Inc.

Interactive scenario analysis: $AMZN

Select earnings outcome
Investment Landing

Spending cycle lands well

EPS above US$1.90 and AWS growth above 24% with firmer retail margins. The market interprets this as proof the massive investment cycle is delivering efficient returns.
EPS Level
Above US$1.90
AWS Signal
Above 24%
Retail Margin
Firmer
Reaction
Positive rally
Sources & Data Methodology

Sources: Reporting dates and release times are from company investor relations calendars where marked Confirmed; otherwise they are GO Markets estimates. Consensus EPS, revenue and analyst-range data are sourced from Bloomberg and Earnings Whispers, as at 20 April 2026 (AEST). Company guidance, backlog and operating metrics are sourced from the latest company filings or results presentations. Any scenario analysis reflects GO Markets analysis. Figures and schedules may change without notice.

Apple: quality still needs proof

Apple has looked like the defensive favourite in hardware, helped by record free cash flow (FCF) of US$43.64 billion and the strength of its Services segment. But the latest debate is whether that defensive status can turn back into growth. Third-party shipment data has indicated a roughly 20% rise in China for iPhone 17, challenging the idea that the market is already mature.

$AAPL | Q2 FY2026 REPORTING PERIOD

Apple Inc.

NASDAQ | Consumer Technology | 30 Apr 2026
✓ CONFIRMED

Global Release Countdown (AMC)

00:00:00:00
Consensus EPS
US$1.91
Consensus Revenue
~US$109.0bn
AU/ASIA 01 May | 6:30 am
US/LATAM 30 Apr | 4:30 pm
Market intelligence: $AAPL

Analysis: Apple price drivers and scenarios

Free cash flow (FCF)
US$43.6bn
Record, prior period
Services run-rate target
~US$30bn
Quarterly revenue approach
China iPhone 17 shipments
+~20%
Third-party data estimate
AVG
LOW US$1.70 AVG US$1.91 HIGH US$1.94

Apple is still widely seen as a quality print, but expectations are higher now. Margin resilience alone is no longer enough. The market wants evidence that Apple Intelligence, the company’s on-device AI platform, can extend the upgrade cycle and support more recurring, high-margin Services revenue over time.

Key signals to watch

iPhone 17 demand in China
China remains the most closely watched variable. Third-party data has pointed to growth of around 20%, but earnings will provide the first company-sourced data point.
Watch: China revenue growth
Services revenue trajectory
Services is approaching a US$30 billion quarterly run rate and carries structurally higher margins. Further acceleration reduces reliance on iPhone cycle volatility.
Watch: Services revenue vs US$30bn
Apple Intelligence rollout
On-device AI is a key upgrade catalyst. Management commentary on adoption, features and international timing will shape refresh cycle expectations.
Watch: Apple intelligence milestones
Gross margin
Apple guided to a 48% to 49% range. Holding near the top signals product mix strength. A result below 48% raises questions about cost pressure.
Watch: Gross margin vs 48% to 49%
Sentiment analysis: Apple Inc.

Interactive scenario analysis: $AAPL

Select report outcome
Growth support

Support for growth narrative

EPS above US$1.94, firmer China iPhone 17 data and gross margin above 49%. The market may interpret that as support for the higher-quality growth narrative and validate the thesis that Apple Intelligence is beginning to drive a meaningful upgrade cycle.
EPS level
Above US$1.94
China demand
Firmer
Gross margin
Above 49%
Reaction
Bullish move
Sources & Data Methodology

Sources: Reporting dates and release times are from company investor relations calendars where marked Confirmed; otherwise they are GO Markets estimates. Consensus EPS, revenue and analyst-range data are sourced from Bloomberg and Earnings Whispers, as at 20 April 2026 (AEST). Company guidance, backlog and operating metrics are sourced from the latest company filings or results presentations. Any scenario analysis reflects GO Markets analysis. Figures and schedules may change without notice.

Thematic risks

What could shift the picture

Three risks could change the narrative, regardless of how the numbers print.

1. Spending without visible returns

Meta and Amazon are both running enormous capex programmes, with payoff periods that stretch well beyond a single quarter. If either company delivers an in line or weaker result while also lifting full year spending guidance, the market may start to see the gap between investment and return as a structural issue rather than a temporary one. That would matter for the sector as a whole, not just for one stock.

2. China as a variable, not a constant

Apple's China story has shown some resilience in third party data, but it remains sensitive to trade policy, consumer confidence and local competition. Any signal from management that demand is softening faster than expected, or that local rivals are gaining meaningful share in the mid range and premium segments, could reset the earnings growth outlook more quickly than consensus currently assumes.

3. The K-shaped consumer backdrop

In a market where higher income consumers are holding up while lower income groups remain under pressure, ad spending patterns and device upgrade cycles can diverge sharply from headline averages. If Meta's ad pricing weakens because smaller businesses pull back, or if Apple's upgrade cycle is concentrated within a narrower demographic, results could disappoint even with broadly stable macro conditions.

Note: These thematic risks may influence sector wide risk appetite independently of headline EPS results.
The bottom line

The 2026 reality check

As this earnings season moves towards its close, the story is shifting away from survival and towards operational execution in the intelligence era.

$META

AI ad efficiency is facing its biggest test yet. Can the Broadcom silicon bet start to show up in margins?

$AMZN

AWS re-acceleration remains the critical signal. A US$200 billion capex push needs a growth rate to match.

$AAPL

Quality still needs proof. Apple Intelligence has to show it can extend the upgrade cycle, not just refresh it.

For Meta, Amazon and Apple, the test is whether heavy investment in silicon, models and infrastructure is turning into measurable cash flow and durable margins. In a more uneven economy, the market appears to be rewarding companies that can show real demand and clearer monetisation. The earnings numbers matter, but management commentary on the return on that investment may matter more.

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