Meta Platforms, Inc. released its financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2025, showing a notable increase in revenue and operational performance, as announced in Menlo Park, California, on January 28, 2026.
"We had strong business performance in 2025," said Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Meta. He emphasized his enthusiasm for the future, stating, "I'm looking forward to advancing personal superintelligence for people around the world in 2026."
The company's financial highlights during the last three months of 2025 revealed revenue reaching $59.89 billion, marking a 24% increase from $48.39 billion in the same period the previous year. For the entire year, the revenue totaled $200.97 billion, up 22% compared to $164.50 billion in 2024.
Despite the impressive revenue growth, Meta reported a rise in costs and expenses, which surged to $35.15 billion for the fourth quarter—a 40% increase year-over-year. Yearly expenses also grew to $117.69 billion, reflecting a 24% rise from the previous year. "The costs and expenses portion of our report certainly shows our commitment to growth and innovation," noted the company’s financial overview.
Income from operations for the fourth quarter stood at $24.75 billion, slightly up from $23.37 billion in 2024, with a net income of $22.77 billion, which was a 9% rise. However, for the full year, net income slightly declined by 3% to $60.46 billion.
Key operational highlights included a headcount increase, reaching 78,865 employees as of December 31, 2025, representing a 6% rise from the previous year. The company's long-term debt was noted at $58.74 billion, and cash flow from operating activities totaled $36.21 billion for the fourth quarter and $115.80 billion for the full year.
Meta maintained a robust balance sheet, with cash and marketable securities totaling $81.59 billion by the year's end. The company also engaged in share repurchases totaling $26.26 billion for the full year and paid out $5.32 billion in dividends. In addition, capital expenditures amounted to $72.22 billion for 2025.
Regarding advertising, the average price per ad experienced a year-over-year increase of 6% in Q4 and 9% for the entire year. Ad impressions across Meta's Family of Apps grew significantly, increasing by 18% in the fourth quarter and 12% over the full year, further highlighting the company's sustained engagement with its users.
For the fourth quarter of 2025, the average daily active people (DAP) on its platforms reached 3.58 billion, showcasing a 7% increase year-over-year.
In looking ahead, CFO projections indicate that the first quarter of 2026 is expected to bring total revenue in the range of $53.5 billion to $56.5 billion, benefitting from a potential 4% tailwind from foreign currency fluctuations. Additionally, full year expenses for 2026 are forecasted to fall between $162 billion and $169 billion, largely driven by the Family of Apps segment.
"Expense growth will largely be influenced by our investments in technical talent and the necessary infrastructure to support our ongoing innovations, especially in artificial intelligence," stated the CFO. The anticipated capital expenditures for 2026 are projected to be between $115 billion and $135 billion, with a strong focus on investments to enhance Meta's operational framework.
As Meta continues to navigate the challenges of the tech landscape, the financial results reflect resilience and a commitment to advancing its strategic objectives for growth and innovation moving forward.