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Meta Revenue Beats Forecasts as $15.9 Billion Tax Charge Hammers Profit, Shares Drop

The company is accelerating AI infrastructure spending to pursue long‑term payoffs from higher engagement.

Overview

  • Meta reported Q3 revenue of $51.24 billion, but net income fell 83% to $2.7 billion due to a one‑time, non‑cash federal tax adjustment of $15.9 billion.
  • Shares fell nearly 9% in after‑hours trading following the earnings release and investor call.
  • Management lifted this year's infrastructure outlook to $70–72 billion and signaled spending growth in 2026 will be significantly larger.
  • Reality Labs posted $470 million in revenue and a $4.43 billion operating loss, with CFO Susan Li citing headset headwinds offset by demand for AI‑enabled glasses.
  • AI‑driven recommendations boosted engagement, with time spent up 5% on Facebook and 10% on Threads, and Instagram Reels usage up more than 30% year over year.