Get started

Meta

Meta's Q3 Financial Results | Growth and the Future of AI & AR Meta's Q3 Earnings: AI Investments Shape the Future of Engagement and Monetization Last week, Meta shared its Q3 earnings, revealing a familiar trend: while the results were strong, rising AI investments cast a shadow. With over 3.2 billion daily users across Meta’s apps, the company alongside Google and YouTube is in a prime position to bring AI into the mainstream. However, this shift could potentially disrupt the creator economy as we know it So, how will this affect the future of Meta’s apps? Did you know META is 222% up since our first analysis ? Let’s break down the quarter and explore the latest updates Today’s Highlights - Overview of Meta Q3 FY24 - Recent business highlights - Key quotes from the earnings call - The potential decline of the creator economy 1. Meta Q3 FY24 Overview Meta operates within two main segments FoA: Family of Apps (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp) RL: Reality Labs (virtual reality hardware and software) Daily Active People in FoA grew by 5% year over year, reaching 3.29 billion. However, user growth has slowed, with Meta adding 20 million daily users in Q3 2024 down from 50 million earlier in 2024. Meta’s reach now extends to over half of the global population aged 15 to 80, meaning future growth will hinge more on engagement and ad efficiency than adding new users. Key Insights from Zuckerberg: -Facebook: Positive engagement trends among Gen Z in the U.S. -Instagram: Sustains “strong” growth globally. -WhatsApp: Now surpasses 2 billion calls daily. -Meta AI: 500 million monthly active users. -Threads: 275 million monthly active users, up from 200 million in Q2, with notable growth in regions like the U.S., Taiwan, and Japan (currently not monetized and unlikely to drive significant revenue by 2025). Advertising Performance: - Ad impressions grew 7% year-over-year (compared to 10% in Q2). - Average ad price increased by 11% year-over-year (10% in Q2). - Average revenue per user grew by 12% year-over-year, reaching $12.29 (compared to Snap at $3.10 and Reddit at $3.58). - Despite some critics suggesting potential inflation due to bot activity, ARPU growth points to real ad value; fake users can’t generate revenue. Financials - Revenue rose 19% year-over-year to $40.6 billion. - FoA saw a 19% increase, reaching $40.3 billion. - RL grew by 29% to $0.3 billion. - Gross margin was 82% (-1pp Y/Y, +1pp Q/Q). - Operating margin stood at 43% (+2pp Y/Y, +5pp Q/Q). - FoA operating profit was $21.8 billion (54% margin, +2pp Y/Y). - RL reported an operating loss of $4.4 billion (down slightly from $4.5 billion in Q2). - EPS rose by 37% year-over-year to $6.03. Cash Flow - Operating cash flow was $24.7 billion (61% margin, +1pp Y/Y). - Free cash flow was $15.5 billion (38% margin, -2pp Y/Y). Balance Sheet - Cash and marketable securities totaled $71 billion - Long-term debt was $29 billion Guidance: - Q4 FY24 revenue is forecasted at $46.5 billion in the mid-range - FY24 expenses estimated at $96-$98 billion (previously $96-$99 billion) - FY24 Capex is expected to be $38-40 billion (previously $37-$40 billion) Summary Analysis Revenue growth was 20% in constant currency (compared to 23% in Q2), with ad revenue growth driven by increased ad prices. Strong demand for ads continued, largely due to higher ad performance, especially in online commerce, healthcare, and entertainment. Geographically, North America and Europe led growth at 21%, while Asia slowed from 28% to 15%. Reality Labs’ revenue rose 29%, mainly from hardware sales, though the division continues to post significant losses. As shown in the visuals, FoA operating profit reached an all-time high, while RL’s losses remain around $4 billion quarterly. Headcount increased by 9% year-over-year to 72,404, signaling a return to hiring, particularly in priority areas such as monetization, infrastructure, Reality Labs, and generative AI. Stock buybacks amounted to nearly $9 billion in Q3, up from $6 billion in Q2, though lower than the $15 billion in Q1. Management’s confidence in Meta’s stock remains strong, with an additional $1.3 billion paid in dividends. Capital expenditures climbed by 36% to $9.2 billion compared to $8.5 billion in Q2, with guidance staying on track. Management anticipates “significant acceleration in infrastructure expenses” for 2025, which will affect both the cost of revenue and R&D expenses. Despite heavy AI spending, Meta remains highly profitable, generating nearly $52 billion in free cash flow over the past 12 months—just shy of Alphabet’s $56 billion over the same period. Q4 FY24 revenue guidance points to deceleration, with mid-range growth forecasted at 16%. Let’s examine Meta’s investments and market position further. 2. Recent Business Highlights Meta Orion Meta's Orion AR glasses mark an ambitious step towards a future beyond smartphones, showcasing the potential of augmented reality (AR): -Prototype Status: Orion is a high-tech AR prototype, equipped with advanced features, but high production costs keep it out of reach for consumers. -Advanced AR Display: Using Micro LED projectors and silicon carbide lenses, Orion offers a broad field of view with sharper visuals than most current AR devices. -Interactive AI Integration: With Meta's generative AI, Orion enables users to interact with virtual elements, identify real-world objects, and create immediate solutions, such as recipes. -Complex Hardware: Orion relies on a neural wristband for control and a wireless compute puck, creating a multi-part system. -High Cost & Limited Production: With a price tag estimated at $10,000, Orion isn’t ready for mass production. Meta has produced around 1,000 units for demonstrations and internal testing. - Future Vision: Meta aims to release a consumer-friendly AR device within a few years, working toward a slimmer, more affordable model that could rival smartphone prices. Orion reflects Meta's goal to lead the next wave of computing, though significant technological and cost hurdles remain. Timing and Competitive Landscape**: Zuckerberg’s reveal of Orion may aim to justify Reality Labs' annual $16-20 billion operating loss to shareholders and gather feedback. Meanwhile, Apple has initiated its “Atlas” project to explore the smart glasses market, indicating potential plans to shift focus from the high-end $3,500 Vision Pro VR headset. How AI Is Already Impacting Meta Beyond future-oriented projects like Orion, Meta’s AI advancements are actively enhancing its core business in two strategic areas: engagement and monetization. -Engagement: Meta's recommendation engine uses AI to tailor feeds with highly relevant video content, keeping users engaged. AI-driven prediction systems further increase app usage by showing content that maximizes interaction. -Monetization: AI boosts ad efficiency across the entire lifecycle—from creation to performance tracking. Generative AI assists with ad copy, images, and video, while advanced models analyze user behavior to serve targeted ads, improving conversion rates incrementally. -Meta AI Studio: This platform allows developers to create, train, and deploy custom AI models within Meta’s ecosystem. By enabling personalized assistants, interactive AI, and AR applications, Meta seeks to drive new consumer apps and maximize ad potential across its platforms. Market Share Meta’s advertising revenue hit $39.9 billion in Q3, reaching 81% of Google’s search revenue, up from 76% last year. Meta’s ad revenue is expanding at the same rate as Amazon’s, despite Meta’s larger base, signaling regained market share and effective adaptation to the post-ATT environment. 3. Key Quotes from the Earnings Call CEO Mark Zuckerberg - On AI and the Family of Apps: “Improvements to our AI-driven feed and video recommendations have led to an 8% increase in time spent on Facebook and a 6% increase on Instagram this year alone. More than a million advertisers used our GenAI tools to create over 15 million ads last month, and we estimate businesses using Image Generation are seeing a 7% conversion lift.” -On Llama 4: “We're training the Llama 4 models on a cluster larger than 100,000 H100s, more extensive than anything reported elsewhere.” -On RayBan Meta Glasses: “Glasses are the ideal AI form factor as they let your AI see, hear, and communicate with you. Demand remains strong, with the new clear edition selling out quickly.” -On Meta AI: “We’re on track for Meta AI to become the world’s most used AI assistant by year-end, with popular uses including information gathering, task assistance, and content exploration.” CFO Susan Li -On Recommendations: “Inspired by scaling laws observed in large language models, we’ve developed new ranking architectures for Facebook video that enhance relevance and increase watch time” -On Capital Allocation: “We’re optimistic about our opportunities and believe that investing now in infrastructure and talent will accelerate progress and returns.” 4. The Potential Decline of the Creator Economy Facebook and Instagram have evolved from social networks to content networks, benefiting creators with wide-reaching platforms. However, this era may be coming to a close. -AI-Generated Content: Zuckerberg shared plans to introduce AI-generated and AI-summarized content on Facebook, Instagram, and potentially Threads, gradually shifting away from creator-generated content as the primary engagement driver. -Impact on Creators: As AI learns to identify and generate engaging content, creators could struggle to compete, with algorithms delivering exactly what audiences want. Over time, creators may face a landscape where AI determines the most engaging posts, relegating them to the sidelines in a world increasingly powered by self-generating content. -Why It Matters: Platforms like YouTube share 55% of ad revenue with creators, but Meta does not, meaning that an AI-driven shift isn’t primarily about cost-cutting. Instead, it allows for more integrated ad placements within algorithmic feeds, potentially boosting impressions and conversions. Although AI generated feeds may sound dystopian, current high engagement accounts already use tactics to maximize engagement, meaning the shift to AI might go largely unnoticed by audiences.
NASDAQ:META
by moonypto
META: A Dangerous Inflection Point! (D&H Chart Analysis).Daily Chart (Left) Ascending Channel: The price has been trending within an ascending channel, indicating a strong upward trend that has held for a considerable period. Double Support Area: There is a critical support zone at $561.52, marked by both horizontal support and the lower trend line of the ascending channel. This convergence of support points suggests that this level is pivotal for maintaining the current trend. Price Reaction: Recently, the price tested the support area and rebounded, but it is still below the 21-day EMA. Hourly Chart (Right) 21-Hour EMA Resistance: The price recently encountered resistance at the 21-hour EMA as well, which may act as a short-term barrier for further upward movement. Pullback Zone: The recent dip tested the support area around $561.52, validating it as a strong inflection point. The price is now attempting a recovery from this support level. Conclusion: The $561.52 level is crucial for both bullish and bearish traders. If the price maintains above this zone, there could be potential for a rebound and continuation within the ascending channel. Conversely, failure to hold this support could lead to a bearish reversal or deeper correction. Keeping an eye on the reaction to the 21-hour EMA will provide clues for short-term movement. For more detailed technical analyses and insights like this, be sure to follow my account. Your support helps me continue providing valuable content to help you make informed trading decisions. Remember, real trading is reactive, not predictive, so let's stay focused on the key points described above and only trade when there is confirmation. “To anticipate the market is to gamble. To be patient and react only when the market gives the signal is to speculate.” — Jesse Lauriston Livermore All the best, Nathan.
NASDAQ:META
by Nathan_The_Finance_Hydra
1
GOLD - History Repeating Itself... Again!Hello TradingView Family / Fellow Traders. This is Richard, also known as theSignalyst. 📔I find the Gold 4H chart interesting. Do you see a pattern here? Look at the first three purple projections. Gold broke below a low (marked in red), which signaled the start of a correction. The correction was short-lived as the bulls took control again by breaking back above the red zone, triggering the next impulse phase. Currently, Gold seems to be pausing, which might indicate the start of another correction phase. 🔄If history repeats itself, to signal a new impulse movement, we first need a break below the current low around $2,710, followed by a break back above it. This projection could lead to the upper bound of the blue channel, around $2,850. 📚 Always follow your trading plan regarding entry, risk management, and trade management. Good luck! All Strategies Are Good; If Managed Properly! ~Rich
FOREXCOM:XAUUSD
by TheSignalyst
11
MS and META brought down the entire index USTEC continued its decline following disappointing earnings from two major tech stocks. Despite Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN) reporting earnings and revenue above expectations, Apple’s shares fell in after-hours trading due to weaker sales in China. Meanwhile, the VIX has climbed to its highest level since Aug, signaling potential headwinds as elections approach. USTEC declined steeply and failed to hold the 20000 threshold. The index broke the channel’s lower bound, and EMA21 has death-crossed EMA78, sending a bearish signal. If USTEC fails to re-enter the channel, the index's downtrend may extend to 19700. Conversely, if USTEC breaches 20140 after re-entering the channel, the price may gain upward momentum to 20680.
NASDAQ:NDX
by inkicho_exness
META on a new expansion wave to $800.Meta Platforms / META is pulling back again to test the 1day MA50, which has been holding since September 11th. The pattern is quite similar to the January 2nd 2024 pull back, a bullish break out that also took place after a prolonged consolidation pattern. The 1week RSI patterns between the two are also fairly similar. As long as the 1day MA50 holds, we expect META to stay on this expansion wave. Target $800 which is a +93.92% rise from the bottom, the rise that formed the previosu peak (April 8th 2024). Previous chart: Follow us, like the idea and leave a comment below!!
NASDAQ:METALong
by TheCryptagon
Mag 7 Earnings - Something will Break (Ceiling or Floor?)797 stocks reporting earnings next week Notables include GOOGL LLY CAT META MSFT COIN AMZN AAPL XOM CVX MA V $15 trillion in market cap at play as the US markets are still very close to all-time highs with a melty-uppy vibe. I'm cautiously bullish and could certainly see the highs get blown off with strong earnings momentum dominating the sentiment. I could also see Mag 7 disappoint investors with "not enough growth" and any pullbacks on Mag 7 will certain drag on the entire market. Survive next week, then it's onto the US Election, FED, Non-Farm Payroll. No big deal, it's just trading :) Thanks for watching!!!
HKEX:HSI1!
by ChrisPulver
Meta (META) Testing Key Levels: Breakout or Breakdown? Evening Traders Meta (META) is currently trading in a key range, and the next move could be significant! 📊 Upside Potential: If META breaks above the critical resistance at $596, we could see a rally toward the next target of $600.44. 📈 Bulls should watch for momentum above this level as a potential breakout zone. Downside Risk: A failure to hold the current support at $582.99 could see META retrace toward the next major support at $569.35. 📉 Bears will be eyeing a break below this level for further downside action. Stay alert for a strong move in either direction! This chart is loaded with opportunities for both bulls and bears. 🔥 Mindbloome Trader Happy Trading :)
NASDAQ:META
by Mindbloome-Trading
META AND EARNINGS, WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR PRICE?I added some drawing lines to show essentially what a move could look like that takes meta higher, and just as easy, earnings could be the a drop that goes below 400. So price targets are marked. There is a big area in price here where the move to the upside could be pretty decent. I have a few charts for meta however this one is the most likely outcome. Former rejection lines are now support. META could easily see 900 levels. META could easily see 300 levels. Timing isn't really important here. Watch for a BIG earnings drop. Otherwise if we catch support, it could easily spring up. Again, I know this isn't really an answer for exact price. However, the trends are important, and we could easily see something happen here as indicators reset, projection has right around earnings. Good luck!
NASDAQ:META
by nicktussing77
Meta Platforms (META) Stock Price Nears $600 MilestoneMeta Platforms (META) Stock Price Nears $600 Milestone As reported by Barron’s, October has historically been the second-best month for the information technology sector in the S&P 500. The sector typically gains an average of 2.7% in October, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The best month is November, with an average increase of 3.1%. This trend likely follows the statistically weakest month—September. Meta Platforms (META)’s strong performance supports these historical patterns. In our analysis of Meta Platforms’ stock chart on 25th September, we noted that the price was forming an ascending channel (shown in blue). Before breaking a key resistance level at $540, the price formed a bullish “inverted cup and handle” pattern, which coincided with another bullish pattern—the “inverted head and shoulders.” Since then, Meta Platforms’ stock has maintained its upward trend, reaching new all-time highs. The price has surpassed $595 and is now nearing the psychological $600 mark. Several factors have contributed to the bullish sentiment: → The upcoming earnings season. Meta Platforms is set to release its Q3 results on 30th September. → Excitement surrounding new developments at Meta Platforms Inc., including the augmented reality device Orion and the AI-powered tool Movie Gen, which generates videos based on text prompts. → A strong stock market rally, driven by better-than-expected September jobs data. Non-farm payrolls increased by 254,000 last month, surpassing the consensus estimate of 150,000 from a Bloomberg survey. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% from 4.2% in August, contrary to analysts' expectations of no change. Technical Analysis of Meta Platforms (META) Stock The stock continues to move within the blue ascending channel. The relatively low volatility seen since 20th September could be attributed to the price's proximity to the channel’s median, which often balances supply and demand. However, Friday’s large bullish candlestick, opening near the low and closing near the high, signals renewed buying momentum. This suggests that the $580 level may serve as future support, as the chart indicates a buyer's advantage here. According to a TipRanks analyst survey, the average price target for META over the next 12 months is $608. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
NASDAQ:META
by FXOpen
2
Will Mark Zuckerberg Become The Wealthiest Person In The World It's gone 12 months or so since Meta Platforms shareholders reached their breaking point in Q4'22 as the Tech giant's financial results in those times were following an increasingly questionable rebrand, from Facebook into Meta. In October, 2022 Altimeter Capital Chairman and CEO Brad Gerstner said in an open letter to the Company that Meta has too many employees and is moving too slowly to maintain investor confidence. A Meta shareholder wrote an open letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, saying he's basically "not happy". The investor criticized the brand's $100 billion-plus Metaverse experiment, saying such wild investments "into an unknown future are disproportionate and appalling even by Silicon Valley standards." Investor recommended a plan to bring a "Mojo" back to the company. 👉 It included cutting personnel costs by 20% and limiting the company's costly investment in Metaverse technology to no more than $5 billion a year. 👉 Further, Meta must restore the trust of investors, employees and the tech community to attract, inspire and retain the best people in the world, - Gerstner wrote in the letter. 👉 In short, Meta needs to get fit and focused. The letter was the latest sign that Meta investors were beginning to significantly express doubts about the company's financial results. Meta shares were down more than 61% in 2022. Meta changed its company name to better focus on virtual reality hardware and software, and is spending $10 billion a year on the technology. “However, people were confused about what the Metaverse even means,” Gerstner wrote. "If the company had invested $1-2 billion a year in this project, this confusion might not even be an issue." Ultimately, Gerstner says, Meta has too many people and spends too much on capital expenditures. If Meta could control those costs, it could double its free cash flow and improve its share price, he said. He said a 20 percent cut in employee costs would return Meta to the level of staffing it had last year, and said the company can't spend money like before because the cost of capital and interest rates have risen recently. “We believe the recommendations outlined above will result in a leaner, more productive and more focused company — a company that regains its confidence and momentum,” Gerstner resulted his letter. I have to say also, there were a lot of important questions to Meta activity abroad the United States, in addition to the dismal financial performance in 2022. Saying this, I mean that the activities of Meta Platforms Inc, including Facebook and Instagram products, were recognized as extremist and were banned in the Russian Federation under the local court decision, and Meta stocks were uncompromisingly delisted from both Russian trading boards, well known as Moscow Stock Exchange MOEX:MOEX and Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange MOEX:SPBE . In conclusion the rehabilitation path was the one and only - Meta Gotta Have a Mojo! NOWADAYS In nowadays Meta Platforms Inc. NASDAQ:META is the # 1 over the all S&P500 SP:SPX components with 205 percent yearly performance in this time, as Meta stocks were not simply gained, but tripled the price over the past 12 months. Meta reported Q3'23 earnings after the closing bell October 25, 2023 that beat analysts' revenue and profit estimates. The beat was driven by a continued rebound in Meta's advertising business following a sharp slowdown throughout 2022. Meta's guidance on its 2023 and 2024 expenses also hit the sweet spot for investors, as it signaled that it can balance its "year of efficiency" cost cutting efforts while it continues to invest in the Metaverse and Artificial intelligence (AI). According to Forbes Real-Time Billionaire Index Mark Zuckerberg is the 6th richest person in the world today with its $120.0 wealth as of today while Tesla CEO Elon Musk is yet number one in the world with $241.1B wealth. Key facts about Mark Zuckerberg * Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook at Harvard in 2004 at the age of 19 for students to match names with photos of classmates. * He took Facebook public in May 2012; he now owns about 13% of the company's stock, according to the company's 2023 proxy statement. * Facebook changed its name to Meta Platforms in November 2021 in a sign it was shifting the company's focus to the metaverse. * In December 2015, Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, pledged to give away 99% of their Meta stake over their lifetimes. * Mark Zuckerberg born in White Plains, New York in 1984, and in this time 39-years old Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest one over the top 30 richest persons in the world. In conclusion, Will Mark Zuckerberg become the wealthiest person in the world!? Perhaps, Yes. He can. The main technical graph undoubtedly says Meta Inc stocks NASDAQ:META are on the runway to triple the price once again. ========= Dedicated to my beloved newborn son, Mark 💖
NASDAQ:META
by Pandorra
6