META Stock's $180 Billion Gift To Shareholders

Core Insights - Meta Platforms has returned $183 billion to shareholders over the past decade, ranking as the sixth-highest total in corporate history [2] - The company initiated its first-ever quarterly dividend in early 2024, funded by high-margin cash flow from its Family of Apps, showcasing its ability to provide tangible yields while investing in long-term initiatives [3] Shareholder Returns - Dividends and share repurchases are significant as they provide direct returns to shareholders and reflect management's confidence in the company's financial health [6] - Meta and Microsoft are noted for their faster growth rates while returning a smaller percentage of their market capitalization to shareholders compared to other companies [7] Financial Performance - Meta's revenue growth stands at 21.3% for the last twelve months (LTM) and an average of 17.3% over the past three years [12] - The company has a free cash flow margin of approximately 23.7% and an operating margin of 43.2% LTM [12] - The minimum annual revenue growth for Meta in the past three years was 7.5% [12] - Meta's stock has a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 28.3 [12]