The Quarter in Brief
Meta Platforms reported its third quarter of 2026, the three months ended September 30, after the US market closed on Wednesday, October 21. Revenue was $64.60 billion, up 26% from $51.24 billion a year earlier and above the top of the company's own forecast of $61 billion to $64 billion. Analysts had expected about $63.35 billion, according to the consensus published by StockStory. Net income was $9.86 billion and diluted earnings per share were $3.83, against $1.05 a year earlier.
Both profit figures are distorted by one-off items. This quarter's costs include a $9.89 billion charge for the August agreement with 52 US state attorneys general to settle litigation over teen mental health and social media; without it, Meta says earnings per share would have been $7.40. A year ago, a one-time, non-cash tax charge of $15.93 billion cut earnings per share to $1.05 from $7.25. Meta also announced a new class of publicly listed, non-voting Class C shares, to be handed to existing shareholders as a one-for-one stock dividend in 2027.