Meta has achieved a remarkable financial performance for the fourth quarter of 2025, reporting record revenue and profits while outlining substantial investments in artificial intelligence for the coming year. The company, which operates platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced revenue of $59.89 billion, a 24% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Net income reached $22.77 billion, reflecting a 9% rise, translating to earnings of $8.88 per diluted share.
The results exceeded Wall Street expectations, with analysts forecasting revenue of $58.35 billion and earnings per share of $8.21, according to LSEG Data & Analytics. This strong performance is attributed to a growing digital advertising market, which Meta continues to dominate.
Strategic Investments in AI and Infrastructure
Looking ahead, Meta plans to significantly increase its capital expenditures, projecting investments between $115 billion and $135 billion in 2026. This is a marked increase from the $72.2 billion spent in 2025. The company aims to bolster its efforts at the Meta Superintelligence Labs and enhance its core business through these investments.
As part of its AI strategy, Meta recently announced a multiyear agreement with Corning worth up to $6 billion for the supply of fiber-optic cables to support its data centers. This collaboration is a crucial element of Meta’s vision to compete with major players in the AI sector, including Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
“We had strong business performance in 2025,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s co-founder, chairman, and CEO, during the announcement of the quarterly results. He expressed optimism about advancing personal superintelligence globally in 2026.
User Engagement and Workforce Changes
Meta’s user engagement metrics have shown stable growth, with daily active users across all its platforms averaging 3.58 billion in December 2025, up from 3.54 billion in September 2025. This consistent user base is a vital component of Meta’s advertising revenue model.
In a significant organizational shift, Meta’s Reality Labs, which has been operating at a loss, laid off 1,500 employees, approximately 10% of its workforce. This decision reflects a strategic pivot away from developing metaverse and virtual reality products, redirecting focus towards AI-powered smart glasses and related technologies.
As Meta continues to navigate the evolving digital landscape, its commitment to AI and infrastructure development positions the company for potential growth in an increasingly competitive market.
