META Trading Guide

Earnings Trading Strategy

Master META's explosive post-earnings moves with Gap & Go and Gap Fill strategies.

Back to META Signals

2025 Earnings Calendar

Mark your calendar for high-volatility opportunities throughout the year:

Q1 2025

April 24, 2025
After Market Close
Expected Move: ±8-12%

Q2 2025

July 24, 2025
After Market Close
Expected Move: ±9-14%

Q3 2025

October 23, 2025
After Market Close
Expected Move: ±10-15%

Trading Window

4:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET
After-Hours Trading
4:00 AM - 9:30 AM ET
Pre-Market Trading
±10.2%
Historical Avg Move

Gap & Go Strategy

When META gaps strongly on earnings, momentum often continues into the trading session:

Bullish Gap & Go Setup

  • Gap Size: >5% above previous close
  • Volume Confirmation: Pre-market volume >2x average
  • Entry Signal: Break above pre-market high with volume
  • Target: Previous all-time high or key resistance
  • Stop Loss: Below pre-market low or gap fill level
Example Trade:

META gaps up 8% to $585 on strong earnings. Wait for break above $590 pre-market high, target $610 resistance, stop at $575 gap support.

Bearish Gap & Go Setup

  • Gap Size: >5% below previous close
  • Volume Confirmation: Heavy selling pressure evident
  • Entry Signal: Break below pre-market low with volume
  • Target: Next major support level or oversold bounce
  • Stop Loss: Above pre-market high or gap resistance
Example Trade:

META gaps down 7% to $510 on weak guidance. Wait for break below $505 pre-market low, target $485 support, stop at $520 gap resistance.

Gap Fill Strategy

Sometimes the market overreacts to earnings, creating gap fill opportunities as price returns to pre-earnings levels:

When Gaps Typically Fill

  • Weak Volume: Gap not supported by strong volume
  • Overbought/Oversold: RSI >70 or <30 after gap
  • Conflicting Signals: Mixed earnings results (beat/miss)
  • Market Conditions: Broader market weakness/strength
  • Time Decay: Options expiration approaching
  • Profit Taking: Early buyers taking gains
  • Value Buyers: Institutions stepping in on dips
  • Technical Levels: Key support/resistance nearby

Gap Fill Entry Strategy

  1. Identify the Gap: Note exact price levels of the gap (high and low)
  2. Wait for Reversal Signs: Doji candles, volume divergence, or momentum loss
  3. Enter on Confirmation: Break of trend line or key level toward gap
  4. Target Gap Fill: Price returning to pre-earnings close level
  5. Risk Management: Stop beyond recent high/low with 2:1 reward ratio

Pre-Earnings Positioning

How to prepare for META's earnings volatility before the announcement:

Options Strategies

  • Long Straddle: Profit from big moves in either direction
  • Iron Condor: Sell volatility if expecting smaller moves
  • Call/Put Spreads: Directional bets with limited risk
  • Avoid: Naked options due to IV crush risk

Stock Positioning

  • Reduce Size: Cut normal position size by 50%
  • Set Alerts: Pre-market and after-hours price levels
  • Plan Scenarios: Know your actions for each outcome
  • Stay Liquid: Keep cash ready for opportunities

Identifying Key Support & Resistance

Learn to identify critical price levels that become important during earnings volatility:

Support Levels to Watch

  • 200-day Moving Average: Long-term trend support
  • Previous Swing Lows: Historical support zones
  • Round Numbers: Psychological support ($500, $550, etc.)
  • Volume Support: High-volume reversal areas

Resistance Levels to Watch

  • Previous Swing Highs: Historical resistance zones
  • All-Time Highs: Maximum price levels
  • Fibonacci Retracements: Technical resistance levels
  • Options Strike Prices: Heavy open interest levels

Tools for Real-Time Level Identification

  • TradingView: Free charting with technical indicators
  • Yahoo Finance: Basic price levels and moving averages
  • MarketWatch: Current support/resistance data
  • Broker Platforms: Real-time technical analysis
  • Options Flow: High open interest strikes
  • Volume Profile: Price levels with high activity

Risk Management Rules

Essential rules for trading META's high-volatility earnings events:

What NOT to Do

  • Hold Through Earnings: Avoid overnight risk unless hedged
  • Chase Gaps: Don't FOMO into moves without confirmation
  • Ignore Volume: Low volume moves often reverse quickly
  • Oversized Positions: Volatility can cause massive losses

Best Practices

  • Size Appropriately: Use 25-50% of normal position size
  • Wait for Confirmation: Let price action confirm direction
  • Use Wide Stops: Account for increased volatility
  • Take Profits Early: Don't get greedy on big moves

Historical Earnings Performance

Learn from META's past earnings reactions to improve future trading decisions:

Recent Quarters Analysis

Q4 2024
+12.1%
AI infrastructure investment surge
Q3 2024
+6.7%
Revenue beat expectations
Q2 2024
-3.4%
Metaverse capex concerns
Q1 2024
+8.9%
Strong ad revenue growth

Pattern Recognition: META tends to have larger moves on guidance revisions than on current quarter beats/misses. Pay close attention to forward-looking statements and AI capex commentary during earnings calls.

Get META Signals