Meta Platforms stock reports 28 percent Q2 revenue growth despite EPS miss
Published on 10/04/2026 at 16:06 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Meta Platforms (ISIN US30303M1027) closed at USD 728.08 on Nasdaq on October 2, 2026, up 0.30 percent from USD 725.93. The latest quarterly picture combines 28 percent revenue growth with a sharp earnings miss, putting AI investment at the center of the valuation debate.
Revenue growth stays strong
According to Yahoo Finance, Meta reported USD 60.80 billion in second-quarter 2026 revenue on July 29, 2026, up 28 percent year over year and ahead of the USD 60.29 billion consensus. Diluted EPS was USD 6.18, below the USD 7.22 estimate, while GAAP operating margin fell to 31 percent from 43 percent.
The contrast matters because revenue is still expanding rapidly while costs are rising faster. Total costs and expenses reached USD 42.03 billion in Q2, up 55 percent year over year, including USD 2.40 billion in legal charges and USD 1.18 billion in severance expenses, according to Yahoo Finance.
Analysts price in further upside
Meta's AI strategy remains the main bullish counterweight to the cost pressure. Muse and the enterprise AI platform are intended to extend Meta's advertising and commerce ecosystem, but monetization must catch up with the scale of investment before the earnings miss becomes the dominant narrative.
According to MarketBeat on October 2, 2026, the consensus rating was Moderate Buy, based on three Strong Buy ratings, 44 Buy ratings and 10 Hold ratings. The average price target was USD 787.86, which lies 8.2 percent above the October 2 closing price of USD 728.08.
Privacy case adds a risk
Privacy litigation is a separate risk to the AI expansion story. Yahoo Finance reported that New Mexico asked a judge to impose USD 35 billion to USD 40 billion after a jury found Meta misled users in 43 million instances. Meta's attorney urged the court to cap damages at USD 3.45 billion, leaving the final amount unresolved.
Meta Platforms stock stays below its high
Meta Platforms stock closed at USD 728.08 on Nasdaq on October 2, 2026, with volume of 11,222,230 shares. The USD 1.855 trillion market capitalization and the USD 520.26 to USD 779.82 52-week range show that the stock remains 6.6 percent below its yearly high, even as Q2 revenue growth supports the long-term AI case.
Meta Platforms stock facts
- Company: Meta Platforms, Inc.
- ISIN: US30303M1027
- Ticker: META
- Trading venue: Nasdaq
- Price (as of October 2, 2026): Closing price USD 728.08
- Market capitalization: USD 1.9 trillion (as of October 2, 2026)
- 52-week range: USD 520.26-779.82 (as of October 2, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Communication Services / Internet Content and Information
