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Meta Exceeds Q3 Expectations With Strong Ad Revenue Growth

Meta's ad revenue rose 26% year over year, driven by user engagement and ad load optimizations. The company's investments in AI are paying off, improving ad performance and monetization.

Original reporting · adweek.com

Original: “Meta Beats Q3 Expectations With Strong Earnings”

Read “Meta Beats Q3 Expectations With Strong Earnings” at Adweek →
Meta Beats Q3 Expectations With Strong Earnings
Image: Adweek

How this was written. Adtomix wrote this article with a language model from Adweek’s reporting (model: @cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast); it describes that reporting rather than adding to it. The original, linked above, is the full story.

Key points from Adweek’s report

  • Meta's ad revenue grew 26% year over year, driven by user engagement and ad load optimizations.
  • The company's investments in AI are improving ad performance and monetization.
  • A major legal settlement charge affected the company's quarterly profitability, but underlying trends are positive.
  • Meta's operating income would have increased 11% year over year excluding the legal settlement charge.
  • The company is positioning AI as a key driver of growth in its advertising business.

Meta's advertising business saw significant growth in the third quarter, according to Adweek. The company's ad revenue increased substantially, driven by a rise in user engagement and improvements in ad load. This growth is a positive sign for the company's core business.

The company's investments in artificial intelligence are a key factor in its ad revenue growth. Meta's AI-driven advertising improvements have led to better ad performance and more efficient monetization. Advertisers are also adopting the company's generative AI creative tools at a rapid pace.

Meta reported a significant increase in ad impressions, which rose 10% year over year. The global average price per ad also increased, due to improved ad performance and favorable macro conditions. These trends suggest that the company's advertising business is on a strong upward trajectory.

However, a major legal settlement charge had a significant impact on the company's quarterly profitability. The charge, related to a settlement over the company's handling of youth health on the platform, was a major factor in the company's reduced operating income. Adweek reported that this charge was a one-time expense that affected the company's bottom line.

Despite the legal settlement charge, Meta's operating income would have increased if the charge were excluded. The company's CFO emphasized that the underlying trends in the business are positive, with operating income increasing 11% year over year excluding the charge. This suggests that the company's core business is performing well.

Meta is positioning its investments in AI as a key driver of growth in its advertising business. The company believes that AI will help advertisers achieve better results, leading to further growth in ad revenue. This strategy is critical to the company's long-term success, according to Adweek.

Looking ahead, Meta's investments in AI and advertising are likely to continue to drive growth in the company's core business. The company's ability to innovate and improve its advertising products will be key to its success in the competitive tech industry. Adweek reported that Meta's focus on AI is a major theme in its business strategy.

Questions and answers

What was the impact of the legal settlement charge on Meta's quarterly profitability?

The charge reduced the company's operating income by 37% year over year, but excluding the charge, operating income would have increased 11%.

How are Meta's investments in AI affecting its advertising business?

The company's AI investments are improving ad performance and monetization, leading to increased ad revenue.

What is the outlook for Meta's advertising business going forward?

The company's focus on AI and innovation is expected to drive continued growth in its core business.

Read the full story at Adweek More from Thursday, October 22, 2026’s edition