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Meta Platforms (META) Q1 Earnings: How Key Metrics Compare to Wall Street Estimates

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Meta Platforms (META - Free Report) reported $56.31 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 33.1%. EPS of $7.31 for the same period compares to $6.43 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $55.49 billion, representing a surprise of +1.47%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +8.89%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $6.71.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Meta Platforms performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Family daily active people (DAP): $3.56 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $3.61 billion.
  • Headcount: 77,986 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 80,647.
  • Advertising Revenue- US & Canada: $23.67 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $24.18 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +29.6%.
  • Advertising Revenue- Rest of the World: $7.43 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $7.58 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +38.1%.
  • Geographical Revenue by User- US & Canada: $24.08 billion versus $23.89 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +29.4% change.
  • Advertising Revenue- Europe: $13.3 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $12.87 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +39.6%.
  • Geographical Revenue by User- Asia-Pacific: $10.91 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $10.98 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +29.3%.
  • Geographical Revenue by User- Rest of World: $7.82 billion compared to the $7.91 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +39.9% year over year.
  • Revenue- Reality Labs: $402 million versus $510.55 million estimated by eight analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -2.4% change.
  • Revenue- Family of Apps (FoA): $55.91 billion versus $55.16 billion estimated by eight analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +33.4% change.
  • Revenue- Advertising: $55.02 billion versus the seven-analyst average estimate of $54.36 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +32.9%.
  • Revenue- Other: $885 million versus the seven-analyst average estimate of $758.15 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +73.5%.

View all Key Company Metrics for Meta Platforms here>>>

Shares of Meta Platforms have returned +17.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +12.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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