Meta Q3 revenue rises 26% as legal charge weighs on earnings
Meta
Meta (META) reported third-quarter revenue of $64.60 billion, up 26% year over year, on October 21. Diluted earnings were $3.83 per share, with costs and expenses including a $9.89 billion charge related to its agreement with U.S. state attorneys general.[1]
Charge and spending outlook
Meta said diluted EPS would have been $7.40 excluding the charge. That company-provided comparison is distinct from reported EPS.[1]
The company expects fourth-quarter revenue of $73-76 billion. It narrowed its 2026 capital expenditure outlook, including finance lease principal payments, to $135-145 billion from $130-145 billion.[1]
What matters for shareholders
The results pair strong sales growth with a substantial legal expense and a higher floor for planned investment. Investors assessing earnings need to keep the charge-excluded comparison separate from reported profit, while watching whether revenue growth supports the spending plan.[1]
META insider trading activity
In open-market trades dated in the last 90 days, no insider bought and 9 insiders sold $115.2M, $100.9M of it under preset trading plans, per Form 4 filings.
- Christopher K. Cox (Chief Product Officer) sold 80,000 shares for $55M under a preset plan, last filed Sep 23.
- Mark Zuckerberg (COB and CEO) sold 27,474 shares for $21.4M under a preset plan, last filed Sep 28.
- Marc L. Andreessen (Director) sold 20,951 shares for $12.8M, last filed Nov 4.
- Javier Olivan (Chief Operating Officer) sold 17,954 shares for $12M under a preset plan, last filed Nov 4.
- Susan J. Li (Chief Financial Officer) sold 9,196 shares for $5.1M under a preset plan, last filed Aug 20.
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META 13F fund activity
In 13F filings received so far for the quarter ended Sep 30, 2026, 1 fund we track made a large change in META: 1 opened a position or grew one by half or more, and none cut one by half or more.
- Egerton Capital (UK) LLP added 192,860 shares.
META Congress trades
5 members of Congress reported 6 trades in META dated in the last 180 days: 3 purchases and 3 sales. Congress reports a value range, not an exact amount.
- Rep. Gilbert Cisneros (D) sold $1K-$15K on Aug 20, filed Sep 10.
- Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D) bought $1K-$15K on Jun 17, filed Jul 26 (2 trades).
- Rep. Daniel Crenshaw (R) sold $1K-$15K on Jun 1, filed Jul 16.
- Rep. Matthew Robert Van Epps (R) sold $1K-$15K on Jun 16, filed Jun 17.
- Rep. John McGuire (R) bought $1K-$15K on Jun 4, filed Jun 10.
