Meta CFO Says 'Significant Cash Tax Savings Ahead' After $15.9 Billion One-Time Hit Pushes Q3 Tax Rate To 87% - Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

Core Insights - Meta Platforms Inc. reported a significant profit decline of $15.9 billion in Q3 due to a one-time tax hit, which was primarily an accounting adjustment rather than an actual cash payment [1][2][3] - The company's reported profit was $2.7 billion or $1.05 per share, but excluding the tax adjustment, net profits would have been $18.6 billion or $7.25 per share [3][5] - Despite the immediate earnings impact, management anticipates substantial cash tax savings in the future [4] Financial Performance - Meta's Q3 revenue reached $51.24 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 26.25%, surpassing analyst expectations of $49.38 billion [5] - The effective tax rate for the quarter was reported at 87%, but excluding the one-time adjustment, it would have been 14% [2][3] Market Reaction - Following the earnings announcement, Meta's stock experienced a slight decline of 0.03% on the day, followed by a pre-market drop of 7.45% [6] - The stock maintains high rankings in Momentum, Growth, and Quality according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings, indicating a favorable long-term price trend [6]