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StocksMediumUpdated×3•Originally published 21 October 2026•Updated 21 October 2026•
1 min read

Meta Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates as Company Raises Full-Year Expense Guidance

Key Facts

1Meta Platforms topped revenue forecasts for the third quarter, driven by continued strong growth in its advertising business.
2The company recorded a $9.9 billion legal charge related to an August settlement with 52 state attorneys general regarding teen mental health.
3The massive legal charge caused earnings to fall below analyst expectations despite the revenue beat.

Meta Platforms reported third-quarter earnings per share of $3.83, beating analyst estimates despite recording a $9.9 billion legal charge, according to Reuters and Proactive Investors. The company also established a new class of non-voting Class C common stock and raised its full-year expense guidance to a range of $175 billion to $179 billion.

META closed at $708.13 on October 21, 2026, as total Q3 revenue reached $64.6 billion, a 26% increase year-over-year. The company issued Q4 revenue guidance between $73 billion and $76 billion, while peers AAPL and GOOGL closed at $343.99 and $334.32 respectively on the same date.

Latest Updates · 2

  1. Notable·

    Update: Meta plans an effective 2-for-1 stock split by issuing the new non-voting shares, with trading expected to commence in late January 2027. The company also projects Reality Labs losses to range between $18 billion and $19 billion this year, while guiding capital expenditures to a range of $135 billion to $145 billion.

  2. Notable·

    Update: Meta shares rose in after-hours trading on October 21, 2026, after the company narrowed its massive annual spending forecast. The company also unveiled the introduction of nonvoting shares, a move that coincided with positive investor reaction to the updated fiscal guidance.