To The Moon

May the data be with you, and the volatility work in your favor.

Following the US market close on 28 January (which corresponds to the early morning of 29 January, SGT), $IBM(IBM)$ , $Microsoft(MSFT)$ , and $Meta Platforms, Inc.(META)$ will undoubtedly command the spotlight as the most closely watched counters on the Street.

These 3 names represent distinct investment theses—legacy enterprise software transformation, cloud hegemony, and the AI-driven metamorphosis of social media.

Crucially, they will be delivering pivotal forward guidance on their 2026 AI capex commitments, the resilience of enterprise IT budgets, and advertising revenue health within the same reporting window.

Here is a breakdown of specific options strategies and key technical levels for these three underlyings.

1. $IBM(IBM)$ Dipped -0.83%: Testing Key Support Near $293, Q4 Earnings Awaited

📊 Earnings Expectations Analysts anticipate Q4 FY25 revenue of $19.32B (+9.67% YoY) and adjusted EPS of $4.32 (+15.39% YoY). The company continues its strategic AI pivot, highlighted by the recent $11B acquisition of data-streaming platform Confluent and the launch of new enterprise AI agent services.

🔭 Key Forward-Looking Points

• Monitor the Q4 earnings report and guidance for FY26, especially commentary on software growth momentum and free cash flow.

• Watch for updates on the integration of the Confluent acquisition and its impact on the hybrid cloud & AI portfolio.

💰 Valuation Perspective The stock trades at a Forward P/E of 24.05, above its historical average of 19.62, reflecting premium pricing for its ongoing transformation and high-margin software mix. The P/S ratio (TTM) is 4.20.

🎯 Analyst Targets

• Covered by 20 analysts with an average price target of $295.50.

• Sentiment is mixed but leaning positive: 6 Strong Buy, 5 Buy, 9 Hold, and 3 Underperform ratings.

• Recent targets have been raised, including to $335 (BofA) and $350 (RBC).

📈 Short-Term Price Expectations The stock is consolidating near the $293 support level.

• Key technical indicators (RSI ~44, MACD negative) suggest neutral to weak momentum ahead of earnings. Expect choppy trade between $282 - $305.

• A break above $305 resistance could target the $315-$325 zone, while a sustained drop below $282 support may see a test of the $270 area.

2. $Microsoft(MSFT)$ Rallied +2.19%: AI Chip Momentum Pushes Stock Towards $482.5 Resistance

📊 Earnings Expectations Analysts anticipate robust revenue growth, driven primarily by Azure cloud services, with expectations for constant-currency growth around 39%. The company recently unveiled its next-generation Maia 200 AI chip, built on TSMC's 3nm process, aimed at reducing dependency on Nvidia and enhancing its cloud infrastructure's cost efficiency.

🔭 Key Forward-Looking Points

1. Q2 FY2026 Earnings Report (Jan 28): Market focus will be on Azure's growth rate, capital expenditure guidance for 2026 (estimated around $140B), and commentary on AI monetization.

2. Fed Meeting & Macro Sentiment: The broader market reaction to the upcoming FOMC decision could influence short-term tech stock volatility.

💰 Valuation Perspective The current Forward P/E ratio stands at 29.24x, which is below its historical average of 32.25x and near the -1 standard deviation band (29.58x). This suggests the stock's valuation is relatively attractive compared to its own recent history, trading at a slight discount.

🎯 Analyst Targets Coverage by 55 institutions yields an average price target of $613.06, implying a significant ~27.6% upside from the current price. Sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with 23 Strong Buy, 34 Buy, and only 3 Hold ratings.

⚡ Short-Term Price Expectations The stock is testing immediate resistance near the after-hours high of $482.5. Expect consolidation between $477.7 (support) and $509.7 (resistance) in the coming week.

• A successful breakout above $482.5 could pave the way for a test of the $490 - $500 zone.

• A break below $477.7 support may see a pullback towards the $470 - $473 range.

3. $Meta Platforms, Inc.(META)$ Flat at $673: Earnings Loom, Volatility Expected in $661-$752 Range

📊 Earnings Expectations Institutions widely anticipate robust revenue growth, with Q4 consensus pointing to over 23% year-over-year expansion. The focus is squarely on the 2026 capital expenditure guidance, with Morgan Stanley expecting a figure around $120 billion. Concurrently, Meta is aggressively pushing AI initiatives, having internally delivered its first key AI models this month and planning to double Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses production by year-end.

🔮 Key Forward-Looking Points

1. Q4 2025 Earnings Report (Jan 28): The market's primary focus will be the official 2026 CapEx guidance and commentary on AI investment returns versus advertising revenue strength.

2. Threads Monetization: Monitor the global rollout of ads on Threads and early traction as a new revenue stream.

💰 Valuation Perspective The current Forward P/E stands at 22.65, which is below its historical average of 24.09 and near the -1 standard deviation band (21.48). This suggests the valuation has priced in near-term investment risks and offers a more attractive entry point relative to its own history.

🎯 Analyst Targets Coverage by 64 institutions yields an average price target of $829.72, implying ~23% upside from current levels. The sentiment is overwhelmingly bullish, with recommendations distributed as: 19 Strong Buy, 41 Buy, and 5 Hold.

⚡ Short-Term Price Expectations The stock is consolidating ahead of earnings, with technical indicators (MACD turning positive, RSI ~73 on a 6-day basis) showing strong short-term momentum. Expect high volatility around the report.

• Immediate Range: $661 - $752.

• Bullish Scenario (Strong Guidance): A breakout above $752 resistance could target a retest of the $796 yearly high.

• Bearish Scenario (Elevated CapEx Concerns): A break below the $661 support could see a pullback toward the $630-$650 zone.

⚠️ Key Risk Warning:

With earnings releases concentrated in the same timeframe, remain vigilant regarding the chain reaction between individual stock volatility and broader market dynamics (FOMC aftermath, tech sector rotation).

It is recommended to strictly limit single-trade risk exposure to no more than 2-3% of account value, and to swiftly adjust or close positions within 24 hours post-earnings based on guidance quality, avoiding uncontrollable gap risk from holding positions over the weekend.