--- title: "Meta Posts Q3 Double Beat: 'We're Seeing Velocity Across the Board'" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/302607604.md" description: "Meta Platforms reported Q3 earnings that beat analyst estimates, with revenue reaching $64.6 billion and adjusted EPS of $7.40. The company highlighted strong growth in ad impressions and pricing, alongside a 15% reduction in headcount. CEO Mark Zuckerberg cited progress in AI initiatives. Meta raised its full-year expense guidance due to legal charges and announced a new Class C stock structure effectively acting as a two-for-one split. Shares rose 3.12% in after-hours trading." datetime: "2026-10-21T20:21:34.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/302607604.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/302607604.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/302607604.md) generator: "portal-rs" --- # Meta Posts Q3 Double Beat: 'We're Seeing Velocity Across the Board' **Meta Platforms Inc** (NASDAQ:META) reported financial results for the third quarter after the closing bell on Wednesday. Here’s a rundown of the report. - **Meta Platforms stock is moving in positive territory. What’s driving META shares up?** ## **Meta Q3 Earnings Highlights** Meta posted revenue of $64.6 billion for the quarter, beating analyst estimates of $63.37 billion. The tech giant reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of $7.40 per share, beating estimates of $5.74 per share, according to Benzinga Pro. Total revenue was up 26% on a year-over-year basis. Family daily active people increased 3% year-over-year.  Ad impressions jumped 10% year-over-year and average price per ad increased by 14% year-over-year. Meta noted its headcount was down 15% year-over-year to 66,775 as of June 30. Meta generated $32.79 billion in cash flow from operations and free cash flow was negative $2.12 billion during the quarter. The company ended the period with $82.45 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. “We hit major milestones this quarter toward delivering personal superintelligence for everyone — including launching Muse and Muse Wonder, our first frontier model,” said **Mark Zuckerberg**, founder and CEO of Meta Platforms. “Our investments are paying off, the core business is strong, and we’re seeing velocity across the board.” Meta expects fourth-quarter revenue to be in the range of $73 billion to $76 billion versus estimates of $73.74 billion. Meta expects full-year 2026 expenses to be in the range of $175 billion to $179 billion, up from prior guidance of $165 billion to $169 billion. The increased guidance is due to a $9.9 billion charge related to legal proceedings recognized in the third quarter. The company anticipates full-year capital expenditures of $135 billion to $145 billion versus prior guidance of $130 billion to $145 billion. Meta also announced plans to establish a new class of common stock (Class C), effective January 2027. The company’s board declared a one-time stock dividend of one share of Class C common stock for each outstanding share held to be paid after the new class of common stock becomes effective, essentially acting as a two-for-one stock split. **Meta management will further discuss the quarter on an earnings call at 4:30 p.m. ET. A link to the call has been provided below.** ## **META Shares Rise After Earnings** **META Price Action:** Meta Platforms shares were up 3.12% in after-hours, trading at $719.30 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro. **Read Also: SpaceX Jumps 10%, Nasdaq 100 Rises as AI Trade Returns: Stock Market Today** *Image: Shutterstock.com* ### Related Stocks - [META.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/META.US.md) - [FBL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/FBL.US.md) - [FBX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/FBX.US.md) - [FBY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/FBY.US.md) - [FBYY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/FBYY.US.md) - [MEIB.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MEIB.US.md) - [METD.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/METD.US.md) - [METG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/METG.US.md) - [METQ.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/METQ.US.md) - [METU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/METU.US.md) - [METW.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/METW.US.md) - [SPCX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SPCX.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [Meta Stock Forecast: META Defends $694 Support as a $10 Billion Legal Charge and Capex Test Loom](https://longbridge.com/en/news/302380893.md) - [Meta raises low-end of 2026 capex outlook, announces Class C stock plan to preserve founder-led control](https://longbridge.com/en/news/302604108.md) - [Meta to issue new class of shares as it tightens AI spending forecast](https://longbridge.com/en/news/302602910.md) - [Meta Analysts Revise Price Target After Q3 Core Ad Strength, Muse Concerns Remain](https://longbridge.com/en/news/302769912.md) - [Meta's AI Bet Could Deliver Another Earnings Surprise, Analyst Says](https://longbridge.com/en/news/302129518.md) --- > **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**