Meta Platforms (META) stock vs the S&P 500 and communication services stocks
As of 2 October 2026, Meta Platforms (META) is among the strongest stocks we track. It is well ahead of the S&P 500 and ahead of communication services stocks as a group (XLC) over the past three months.
Where Meta Platforms stands now
As of 2 October 2026, Meta Platforms gives a mixed picture against the S&P 500, ahead on some windows and behind on others.
Inside its group, META leads: it is ahead of communication services stocks (XLC) over both the past month and three months. As a group, communication services stocks are trailing the S&P 500 right now. A strong stock in a weak group: it holds up while its peers struggle.
Meta Platforms is 22.4% of XLC, a weight large enough to drive the fund. It sits in 7 of the sector and theme funds Zensei tracks. The thing to watch is whether the lead holds as the longer windows catch up; leaders that keep their recent edge tend to stay in front.
META vs the S&P 500: returns
Meta Platforms and the S&P 500 (SPY) side by side, over each window Zensei tracks.
Prices as of · computed from daily adjusted closes · how we measure
META against communication services stocks, in depth
See the size of the gap between Meta Platforms and communication services stocks (XLC) over every window, its momentum and its relative strength, and where it sits among communication services stocks.
See the full analysisWhich ETFs hold Meta Platforms?
7 funds that Zensei tracks hold META, by weight. The fund with the largest weight is its sector on this page.
Meta Platforms competitors
The largest other holdings of Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (XLC), with their return over the past month.
Meta Platforms stock: common questions
Is Meta Platforms stock beating the S&P 500?
As of 2 October 2026, Meta Platforms (META) is up 25.9% over the past month. The S&P 500 is up 1.3% over the same month. Over three months, the stock is up 25.0% and the S&P 500 is up 3.6%.
Which ETFs hold Meta Platforms?
As of 2 October 2026, 7 funds that Zensei tracks hold META. Its largest weight is in Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (XLC), at 22.4%. It is also in Global X Social Media ETF (SOCL, 11.9%), First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN, 11.1%), Fidelity Metaverse ETF (FMET, 4.5%), Robo Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (THNQ, 2.4%), EA Series Trust Next Generation Media ETF (GGME, 8.6%).
Who are Meta Platforms's competitors?
As of 2 October 2026, the largest other holdings of Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (XLC) are Alphabet (GOOGL), Alphabet Inc (GOOG), Warner Bros. Discovery Inc (WBD), AppLovin (APP), AT&T (T). These are the stocks Meta Platforms sits next to among communication services stocks.
Is Meta Platforms doing better than other communication services stocks?
As of 2 October 2026, Meta Platforms (META) is ahead of communication services stocks as a group (XLC) over the past three months. Zensei Edge shows the size of the gap, its momentum and its relative strength.
Track Meta Platforms against communication services stocks and the market
Zensei Edge maps 100+ sectors and themes against the S&P 500, with each stock inside them measured against its group.