Meta Platforms’ fourth-quarter revenue range has a $74.5 billion midpoint above analysts’ average, following 26% year-over-year sales growth in the three months that ended Sept. 30.
Meta forecast revenue of $73 billion to $76 billion for the current quarter. The midpoint exceeds the $73.65 billion analyst average reported by The Associated Press. That comparison applies to the midpoint: the bottom of Meta’s range is below the average, while the top is above it.
Revenue reached $64.6 billion in the third quarter. Advertising produced $63.06 billion, the bulk of the total. Meta said ad impressions across its apps climbed 10% from a year earlier, while the average price per ad increased 14%. Those measures reflect ad volume and pricing, respectively.
The company’s apps averaged 3.64 billion daily active people in September 2026, up 3% year over year. Meta reported this as a September average, while the revenue result covers the three months through Sept. 30.
Costs and expenses rose 68% to $51.61 billion, including a $9.89 billion charge tied to an agreement with U.S. state attorneys general in litigation involving teen mental health and social media. Reported operating income fell 37% to $12.99 billion.
Meta said operating income would have been $22.88 billion without the charge. Compared with $20.535 billion a year earlier, that represents an 11% increase by calculation; Meta did not state that growth rate.
Meta narrowed its 2026 capital expenditure outlook to $135 billion to $145 billion, raising the lower end from $130 billion while keeping the ceiling unchanged. The company said it plans to continue funding its established operations and newer artificial intelligence efforts.
