Meta Q3 earnings: AI spending, ad revenue and a $10B legal charge

Meta reports third-quarter 2026 results, with investors watching ad revenue growth driven by the Muse AI assistant and capital expenditures guided at $130–145 billion for 2026. A $17 billion settlement with state attorneys general adds a roughly $10 billion charge that could weigh on earnings per share.

• Meta's 2026 capex guidance is $130–145B; 2027 is forecast at $196.3B
• Free cash flow fell to $784M in Q2 from $8.55B a year earlier
• Daily active people expected at 3.65B, roughly flat quarter over quarter
• The $17B state AG settlement brings a one-time $10B legal charge