Meta has posted its newest earnings outcomes, overlaying This autumn 2024, and regardless of the continued and constant predictions of the collapse of Zuckerberg’s Fb empire, the precise knowledge exhibits that Meta continues to go from power to power.
First off, on utilization, Meta added extra actives in This autumn, taking it to three.35 billion customers throughout its apps.
The regular rise of Threads might have helped on this respect, although Fb stays its hottest floor. However then once more, Instagram now has extra customers than Fb in Europe, although both approach, mixed, Meta continues to increase its viewers, which can present extra alternative for entrepreneurs, and extra advert {dollars} for the corporate.
On that entrance, Meta not too long ago introduced the preliminary check of Threads adverts, which can assist it additional construct on this factor:
Meta introduced in a large $48.39 billion in income for This autumn, taking it $164.5 billion for the complete yr. For comparability, Meta introduced in $134.9 billion in 2023.
The overwhelming majority of the corporate’s consumption nonetheless comes from adverts (96%), with its different bets solely simply beginning to achieve any vital traction out there.
However in addition they contributed to its numbers this time round:
Actuality Labs, its VR and AR division, reached a brand new income file in This autumn, as extra folks bought Ray Ban Meta glasses and VR models.
Certainly, Ray Ban Meta gross sales have exceeded expectations, and can proceed to grow to be an even bigger contributor to Meta’s backside line as their performance expands (finally into AR as effectively), whereas the Quest app reached the highest of the App Retailer charts at Christmas, reflecting the variety of Quest models that Santa delivered.
It’s nonetheless dropping cash on these bets general (Meta tasks that it’s going to spend $65 billion on AI growth alone this yr, when you can see the continued losses for Actuality Labs within the above itemizing), however we’re seeing the preliminary seeds of promise for Meta’s imaginative and prescient, and the place that funding may finally lead for the corporate.
And the place it could lead on is market dominance, particularly in VR, the place it actually doesn’t have a rival as but.
And because the firm’s consumption continues to develop, with its general income up 22% year-over-year, now could be the time for Meta to make these key investments in its future.
Meta’s additionally getting smarter with its adverts, and presenting extra of them in-stream.
And once more, that’s earlier than you think about Threads, which, at 300 million customers, and rising, presents one other big canvas for Meta’s promotions.
Which is able to additional enhance its income per consumer figures:
This chart ought to make all Meta buyers comfortable, and whereas some customers have complained concerning the rising variety of adverts in Meta’s apps, that clearly hasn’t impacted general utilization, with all of its key metrics trending up at this stage.
Although that might nonetheless change on account of Meta’s revised moderation technique, in transferring to a Neighborhood Notes strategy, and retiring third-party fact-checking. Some folks at the moment are trying to go away Meta’s apps in protest over what they see as Zuckerberg bowing to President Trump’s calls for on this entrance.
However on the identical time, Zuckerberg’s decision-making right here will probably be good for enterprise, with the corporate hoping to achieve favor to assist maximize its growth into Europe, develop next-level AI fashions, and push forward with VR growth.
It’s additionally hoping to keep away from the impacts of overseas tariffs on imports, with a lot of its wearables parts made in China, and different areas. Trump’s vow to extend tariffs to hunt extra favorable offers for the U.S. may have a significant impression right here, significantly on Meta’s AR glasses, which it’s nonetheless working to cut back the price of, to be able to make them a extra interesting shopper product.
As such, if Meta can get an in with the Trump workforce, that might have a spread of advantages, and stories have prompt that Zuckerberg himself is trying to purchase a home in Washington to strengthen these ties.
So when you might not prefer it, Zuckerberg’s strikes do make sense. The query then is whether or not the elevated dangers of misinformation on account of this shift outweigh the broader advantages for the enterprise.
And in addition, if Zuck and Co. actually care about that both approach.
By way of different impacts, Meta’s additionally nonetheless grappling with EU rules, which not too long ago noticed it fined one other $841 million for antitrust violations. It’s additionally nonetheless rationalizing its employees, with one other spherical of job cuts in October, although its general headcount truly elevated by 10% in 2024.
On the flip facet, when it comes to potential features, Meta stands to learn quite a bit from the confusion round TikTok’s standing within the U.S., with extra manufacturers and creators trying to shift away from the platform for extra stability.
Meta’s additionally growing a plan to deploy AI bot profiles in its apps, which sounds unusual, however may additionally find yourself boosting in-app income, by offering extra customers with the dopamine hit of additional engagement.
General, it’s an ideal end result for Meta, underlining its key strengths, and its stable market positioning. It’s arguably main the best way within the three key areas of tech growth, in AI, AR, and VR connection, whereas it’s additionally nonetheless bringing in more cash regardless of its deal with the following stage.
And whereas not all of its selections have been well-liked, the info doesn’t lie, and Meta seems to be making the suitable strikes to propel the enterprise ahead.
The consumer impacts are one other query, and too typically these are solely raised with any drive on reflection. However as a enterprise report, there are few corporations with higher prospects.
