Why Meta Stock Is Down Big Today

Core Insights - Meta Platforms' stock fell by as much as 12.1% following a strong Q3 revenue report, due to forecasts of significant spending increases and a large one-time tax charge in 2026 [1][2][6] Financial Performance - Q3 revenue reached $51.2 billion, a 26% year-over-year increase and 8% higher than Q2's $47.5 billion, driven by a 14% rise in ad impressions and a 10% increase in ad pricing [4] - Expenses grew by approximately 32% year-over-year to $30.7 billion, while capital expenditures more than doubled from $9.2 billion in the previous year to $19.4 billion [4] Earnings Impact - A noncash tax charge affected earnings per share (EPS), reducing it to $1.05; however, without this charge, EPS would have been $7.25, exceeding the consensus forecast of $6.71 [5] Future Spending Concerns - The primary concern for investors is the management's outlook for 2026, indicating that total expenses will grow at a "significantly faster" rate than in 2025, driven by infrastructure, cloud spending, and AI-related depreciation [6] - Capital expenditure growth in 2026 is expected to be "notably larger" than in 2025 [6] Market Reaction - The combination of management's spending outlook and the sharp rise in shares year-to-date prompted profit-taking among investors [2][7]