Meta Platforms' net income for the quarter ended September 30 rose to $9.86 billion, a 264 percent increase from $2.71 billion a year earlier. Total revenue climbed to $64.60 billion, up 26 percent, driven by a $63.06 billion haul from advertising.
But a $9.89 billion legal charge tied to an agreement with 52 U.S. state attorneys general slammed operating income down 37 percent, from $20.54 billion to $12.99 billion.
If the charge were excluded, operating income would have been $22.88 billion and diluted EPS $7.40, compared with the reported $3.83. Meta still plans to pour $135–145 billion into AI infrastructure for 2026, raising its total expense outlook to $179 billion.
The company projects Q4 revenue between $73–76 billion and anticipates the AI investments to take longer to monetize.
A San Francisco boutique that relied on Meta ads reported its monthly sales doubled after the Q3 surge, illustrating the platform’s economic reach.