Meta's Q3 Pummeled By $16 Billion, One-Time Tax Charge

Core Insights - The company reported a significant net income drop of 83% to $2.7 billion due to a one-time tax charge of $15.9 billion, despite a 26% revenue increase to $51.4 billion, surpassing Wall Street expectations [1][3] - The company anticipates a full-year spending of $70-$72 billion, higher than previous estimates, with expectations for even larger growth in 2026 [5] - The company is heavily investing in AI infrastructure, forming a joint venture worth $27 billion to build a data center in Louisiana to support its AI initiatives [6] Financial Performance - The net income fell to $2.7 billion, down 83% from previous periods, but would have increased to $18.6 billion without the one-time charge [3] - Revenue rose by 26% to $51.4 billion, with an average ad price increase of 10% year-over-year [3] User Engagement - The company reported 3.54 billion daily active users across its platforms, an 8% year-over-year increase, with Instagram reaching 3 billion monthly active users [4] - The new short-form AI video feed, Vibes, is showing promising retention and growth in usage [7] Strategic Initiatives - The company is engaged in an AI arms race, with concerns about potential market bubbles and the sustainability of revenue growth [5] - The CEO emphasized the importance of building AI capacity in anticipation of "superintelligence," which could lead to significant opportunities [7] Workforce Adjustments - The company is letting go of approximately 600 workers in its Superintelligence Labs AI unit while retaining top-tier teams [8]