Meta Platforms (META) stock
Communication Services · Interactive Media & Services
Meta Platforms (META) is an Interactive Media & Services company in the Communication Services sector, headquartered in Menlo Park, California. As of October 23, 2026, META closed at $642.62, a market capitalization of $1.64 trillion, the 7th largest company in the S&P 500. Over the last twelve months it generated $241.61 billion in revenue (+26% year over year) and $40.98 billion in free cash flow. The stock trades at 21.9x trailing earnings and 18.5x forward earnings.
- 1-year total return: -12.2% (dividends reinvested)
- 5-year return: +14.9% a year
- 52-week range: $520.26 – $779.82
- Gross margin 81.0%, operating margin 35.4%
- Dividend yield: 0.33%, 1 straight years of increases
- FI Handbook report card: A- across 10 metrics
- 3rd largest of 22 Communication Services stocks in the S&P 500
META price chart
1Y price change: -12.4% (price only; total returns below include dividends)
| Total return | 1M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| META | -13.6% | -2.4% | -12.2% | +27.4% | +14.9% | +17.3% | +21.7% |
Dividends reinvested. 3Y and longer are annualized; MAX is annualized since 2012.
META key statistics
- Market cap
- $1.6T
- #7 in S&P 500
- P/E (TTM)
- 21.9x
- Forward P/E
- 18.5x
- EPS (TTM)
- $29.31
- Revenue (TTM)
- $241.6B
- +26%
- Free cash flow
- $41.0B
- Gross margin
- 81.0%
- Operating margin
- 35.4%
- Return on equity
- 32.3%
- Dividend yield
- 0.33%
- 52-week range
- $520.26 – $779.82
- Beta
- 1.19
- Price / sales
- 6.8x
- EV / EBITDA
- 14.4x
- Debt / equity
- 0.42x
- Employees
- 66,775
META report card
A-Ten fundamentals graded A to F against fixed thresholds. Not a buy or sell rating.
- Revenue growth26.1%A
- Gross margin81.0%A
- Operating margin35.4%A
- FCF margin17.0%B
- Return on equity32.3%A
- Net debt / EBITDA0.3xB
- Forward P/E18.5xB
- PEG ratio0.8xA
- Shareholder yield1.9%C
- Share count change / yr-2.3%A
Meta Platforms financials
Revenue went from $27.6B in fiscal 2016 to $201.0B in fiscal 2025, growing 24.7% a year.
| Fiscal year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $27.6B | $40.7B | $55.8B | $70.7B | $86.0B | $117.9B | $116.6B | $134.9B | $164.5B | $201.0B |
| Gross profit | $23.8B | $35.2B | $46.5B | $57.9B | $69.3B | $95.3B | $91.4B | $108.9B | $134.3B | $164.8B |
| Operating income | $12.4B | $20.2B | $24.9B | $24.0B | $32.7B | $46.8B | $28.9B | $46.8B | $69.4B | $83.3B |
| Net income | $10.2B | $15.9B | $22.1B | $18.5B | $29.1B | $39.4B | $23.2B | $39.1B | $62.4B | $60.5B |
| EPS (diluted) | $3.49 | $5.39 | $7.57 | $6.43 | $10.09 | $13.77 | $8.59 | $14.87 | $23.86 | $23.49 |
| Free cash flow | $11.6B | $17.5B | $15.4B | $21.2B | $23.6B | $39.0B | $19.3B | $44.1B | $54.1B | $46.1B |
| Buybacks | $0 | $2.0B | $12.9B | $4.2B | $6.3B | $44.5B | $28.0B | $19.8B | $30.1B | $26.2B |
| Dividends paid | — | — | — | — | — | — | $0 | $0 | $5.1B | $5.3B |
| Diluted shares | 2.9B | 3.0B | 2.9B | 2.9B | 2.9B | 2.9B | 2.7B | 2.6B | 2.6B | 2.6B |
Source: SEC filings (10-K XBRL). EPS and share counts are split-adjusted.
What's priced into META?
A reverse DCF asks what growth the current price requires. With an enterprise value of $1.7T and $41.0B of trailing free cash flow, Meta Platforms needs to grow free cash flow about 29.0% a year for ten years (fading to 3.0% terminal growth) to earn a 10% annual return. For context, free cash flow grew 14.3% a year over the last five years.
P/E ratio history
Current 27.4x vs. median 37.8x (10th–90th percentile 23.8x–124.9x).
A model, not a forecast or advice. Small changes in assumptions move the answer a lot.
META dividend
- Dividend yield
- 0.33%
- Annual dividend
- $2.10
- Years of increases
- 1
- 5-yr dividend growth
- —
- per year
- Payout ratio
- 7%
- Payments per year
- 4
Regular dividends per share by calendar year; special dividends excluded. Current year omitted until complete.
META earnings
Next report: January 27, 2027.
| Report date | EPS estimate | EPS actual | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 2026 | $5.46 | $3.83 | -29.9% |
| Jul 29, 2026 | $7.22 | $6.18 | -14.4% |
| Apr 29, 2026 | $6.82 | $7.31 | +7.2% |
| Jan 28, 2026 | $8.22 | $8.88 | +8.0% |
| Oct 29, 2025 | $6.67 | $7.25 | +8.7% |
| Jul 30, 2025 | $5.86 | $7.14 | +21.8% |
| Apr 30, 2025 | $5.21 | $6.43 | +23.5% |
| Jan 29, 2025 | $6.74 | $8.02 | +19.0% |
Stocks like META
| Name | Today | 1Y | Mkt cap | P/E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 GOOGL Alphabet | -1.24% | +27% | $3.9T | 16.1x | Compare |
 GOOG Alphabet | -1.08% | +25% | $3.9T | 15.9x | Compare |
 RDDT Reddit | -4.00% | -28% | $27.8B | 33.5x | Compare |
 NFLX Netflix | -1.79% | -41% | $274.2B | 19.0x | Compare |
 DIS Walt Disney | -0.54% | +1% | $194.3B | 23.2x | Compare |
 VZ Verizon Communications | -1.19% | +24% | $185.6B | 11.6x | Compare |
 TMUS T-Mobile US | -7.71% | -32% | $157.2B | 15.3x | Compare |
 T AT&T | -7.96% | -11% | $141.0B | 11.2x | Compare |
META news
- SpaceX, Meta, and other hyperscalers are dropping clues you should not ignore · Oct 25, 2026
- What Is Meta Platforms (META) Telling Investors With Its Sundial Deal And New Stock? · Oct 25, 2026
- Does enough capital exist to finance everyone’s ambitious AI spending plans? · Oct 25, 2026
- The Enterprise Agent Price Nobody Will Show You · Oct 25, 2026
- Should Investors Buy the Meta Platforms Dip? · Oct 25, 2026
META stock FAQ
What is META's market cap?
Meta Platforms's market capitalization is $1.64 trillion as of October 23, 2026, ranking 7th in the S&P 500.
What is META's P/E ratio?
META trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 21.9x and a forward P/E of 18.5x. Its median P/E over the period we track is 37.8x.
Does META pay a dividend?
Yes. Meta Platforms pays $2.10 per share a year, a 0.33% yield. It has raised its dividend 1 years in a row.
How much has META stock returned?
Including reinvested dividends, META returned -12.2% over one year, +14.9% a year over five years, +17.3% a year over ten years through October 23, 2026.
Is META stock overvalued?
At today's price, a reverse discounted cash flow model (10% discount rate, 3% terminal growth) implies Meta Platforms must grow free cash flow about 29% a year for the next decade. Its free cash flow grew 14% a year over the last five years. Whether that is achievable decides if the stock is cheap or expensive. This is a model, not advice.
When does META report earnings?
Meta Platforms is expected to report earnings on January 27, 2027.
How many employees does Meta Platforms have?
Meta Platforms has about 66,775 full-time employees, or $3.6 million of revenue per employee.
Sources: SEC EDGAR filings, Yahoo Finance market data (delayed), FI Handbook calculations. Last close October 23, 2026. Methodology