Facebook's stock drops 20% after weak earnings and a big forecast miss
Late Wednesday, Meta Platforms (FB) reported fourth-quarter results and outlook below
EXPECTATIONS. THE COMPANY'S FIRST REPORT SINCE REBRANDING FROM FACEBOOK THREE MONTHS
AGO. FB STOCK FELL. THE COMPANY EARNED $3.67 PER SHARE ON $33.67 BILLION IN REVENUE. ACCORDING TO
FACTSET, META EARNED $3.85 ON $33.7 BILLION IN REVENUE. REVENUE INCREASED 20% FROM THE
PRIOR QUARTER, THE SLOWEST GROWTH IN SIX QUARTERS. FACEBOOK EXPECTS FIRST-QUARTER REVENUE OF $27-29 BILLION,
A 3-11% INCREASE. $30.2 BILLION WAS EXPECTED. "WE EXPECT HEADWINDS TO BOTH IMPRESSION AND PRICE
GROWTH IN THE FIRST QUARTER," FACEBOOK SAID IN ITS EARNINGS RELEASE. FB STOCK FELL 20.7 PERCENT TO 256.50 IN AFTER-HOURS
TRADING TODAY. META HAD PREVIOUSLY WARNED OF EARNINGS REPORT UNCERTAINTY. THIS INCLUDES CONTINUED
HEADWINDS FROM APPLE'S (AAPL) OPERATING SYSTEM CHANGES. CHANGES GIVE USERS MORE PRIVACY CONTROL.