Meta Platforms reported a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to $64.60 billion for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, as the company continued to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives and invest in infrastructure to support its emerging technologies.
“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, Meta. “Our investments are paying off, the core business is strong, and we're seeing velocity across the board.”
Net income rose 264 per cent to $9.86 billion, compared with $2.71 billion in the corresponding quarter of 2025. Diluted earnings per share increased 265 per cent to $3.83 from $1.05.
However, income from operations declined 37 per cent to $12.99 billion, while operating margin fell to 20 per cent from 40 per cent a year earlier. The decline reflects a significant increase in costs and expenses, which rose 68 per cent to $51.61 billion. This included a $9.89 billion charge related to an agreement with 52 US state attorneys general to resolve litigation concerning teen mental health and social media.
Excluding this legal charge, Meta said third-quarter operating income would have been $22.88 billion and diluted EPS would have been $7.40.
The company continued to report growth across its advertising business. Family daily active people averaged 3.64 billion in September 2026, up 3 per cent year-on-year. Ad impressions across its Family of Apps increased 10 per cent, while the average price per ad rose 14 per cent.
Meta's investments in AI and infrastructure remained a key focus. Capital expenditure, including principal payments on finance leases, stood at $34.91 billion during the quarter. For full-year 2026, the company expects capital expenditure of $135 billion to $145 billion.
For the fourth quarter, Meta expects revenue in the range of $73 billion to $76 billion. Full-year expenses are projected at $175 billion to $179 billion, including the legal charge recognised in the third quarter.
Looking ahead, Meta said it expects to continue investing aggressively in its core business and emerging AI initiatives. Its planned infrastructure capacity will support model training, core business growth, and the development and support of new products.
