Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META) stock rose 0.20% (As on January 30, 11:16:55 AM UTC-4, Source: Google Finance) after the company surpasses market’s expectations for the fourth quarter of FY 24. Family daily active people (DAP) was 3.35 billion on average for December 2024, an increase of 5% year-over-year. Ad impressions delivered across the Family of Apps increased by 6% and 11% year-over-year for the fourth quarter and full year 2024, respectively. Average price per ad increased by 14% and 10% year-over-year for the fourth quarter and full year 2024, respectively. Capital expenditures, including principal payments on finance leases, were $14.84 billion and $39.23 billion for the fourth quarter and full year 2024, respectively. Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $77.81 billion as of December 31, 2024. Free cash flow was $13.15 billion and $52.10 billion for the fourth quarter and full year 2024, respectively.-
Meanwhile, the company has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the company after it suspended his accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, according to three people familiar with the matter. The Meta settlement comes after ABC News agreed last month to pay $15 million toward Trump’s presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos’ inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll.
META in the fourth quarter of FY 24 has reported the adjusted earnings per share of $8.02, beating the analysts’ estimates for the adjusted earnings per share of $6.68, according to the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company had reported the adjusted revenue growth of 21 percent to $48.39 billion in the fourth quarter of FY 24, beating the analysts’ estimates for revenue by 3.02%.
META expects first quarter 2025 total revenue to be in the range of $39.5-41.8 billion. This reflects 8-15% year-over-year growth, or 11-18% growth on a constant currency basis. The company expect full year 2025 total expenses to be in the range of $114-119 billion. We expect the single largest driver of expense growth in 2025 to be infrastructure costs, driven by higher operating expenses and depreciation. The company also anticipate the full year 2025 capital expenditures will be in the range of $60-65 billion. META expects capital expenditures growth in 2025 will be driven by increased investment to support both the generative AI efforts and core business.