Meta, 12,000 fewer people a year

Zhidongxi Author | Yang Jingli Editor | Li Shuiqing Zhidongxi reported on October 22 that early this morning, Meta announced its third quarter financial report for 2026. Its AI business has gradually entered the product and commercialization verification stage: the number of daily active users of Meta's applications has reached 3.64 billion, and advertising revenue has increased by 26% year-on-year; about a month and a half after the launch of the personal intelligent Muse, more than 10 million people in the United States and Canada have configured their own intelligent agents, with a daily active usage ratio of approximately 25%. This quarter, Meta’s revenue reached US$64.601 billion (approximately RMB 431.3 billion), a year-on-year increase of 26%; net profit was US$9.860 billion (approximately RMB 65.8 billion), a year-on-year increase of 264%; diluted earnings per share was US$3.83 (approximately RMB 25.57). ▲Meta’s revenue and growth in the past three years (Zhixixi Chart) Due to the inclusion of a US$9.89 billion (approximately RMB 66 billion) fee related to US youth mental health litigation, Meta’s operating profit fell 37% year-on-year to US$12.988 billion, and the operating profit margin dropped from 40% in the same period last year to 20%. After excluding this expense, earnings per share for the quarter were US$7.40 (approximately RMB 49.40). Meta’s investment in AI infrastructure is also increasing rapidly. Capital expenditures this quarter reached US$34.91 billion (approximately RMB 233.1 billion), and free cash flow turned negative at -US$2.120 billion (approximately RMB -14.15 billion). As of September 30, 2026, Meta's global number of employees was 66,775, a decrease of 15% from the same period last year, a decrease of approximately 12,000 people. Meta is focusing more resources on AI models, data centers, smart glasses and new product development. In addition, Meta's board of directors also approved the creation of new publicly traded non-voting Class C common shares, which are expected to become effective in January 2027. As of the close of trading on October 21, Eastern Time, Meta reported 697.