Meta Platforms to Release Q3 Earnings; Here’s What to Expect

Meta is walking into its third quarter results with a story that is hard to ignore. Revenue momentum from ads looks healthy, investor faith in the company’s AI push is growing, and the stock has been rallying into the print. Yet far from being a simple ad company, Meta is asking the market to value a very large ad business together with an even larger, still uncertain bet on building personal artificial intelligence and next generation consumer devices. The Q3 number will not only show whether the ad engine keeps humming, it will be a check on whether heavy AI spending is starting to show returns.

Let’s break down with this blog a snapshot of the timing and the numbers analysts expect, the data points to watch on the results day, what has changed at Meta since Q2, and what the market might take away.

What to Know Before the Bell: Meta’s Q3 2025 Results

Meta will release third quarter 2025 results after the market close on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, with the earnings call scheduled shortly after.

Analyst Expectations Are Running High

Wall Street has elevated expectations going into Q3. Recent analyst consensus sits around roughly $49.5 billion in revenue and earnings per share near $6.7. Those forecasts reflect continued strength in ad demand and improving monetization across short form content.

What Investors Should Watch Closely

1. Ad Revenue Growth and Pricing Trends

Advertising is still the main engine. Investors want to see whether ad revenue growth sustains the pace set in prior quarters and whether average ad prices are firm or slipping. Strong ad pricing would reinforce the case that AI tools and improved targeting are boosting advertiser returns.

2. Engagement on Facebook, Instagram, and Reels

Growth and engagement for Facebook and Instagram remain important. Signals that Reels and short form monetization are improving will be taken as evidence that Meta’s product mix is moving in the right direction.

3. AI Spending and Return on Investment

Meta is in the middle of an enormous AI build out, including large capital spending and investments in training data and compute. The market will look for signs that these investments are translating into better ad targeting or new revenue streams, or at least that they are not destroying margins. Commentary on near term and full year capital expenditure expectations will be crucial.

4. Reality Labs and the Device Roadmap

Reality Labs remains a loss making but strategic unit. Any incremental progress on product milestones, partnerships, or clearer timelines for commercial products will matter even if near term revenue stays small.

5. Management Guidance and Tone

Management’s outlook and language will likely move the stock more than the headline numbers. Investors will listen for pragmatic commentary on ad demand, AI returns, and capital spending plans.

Key Developments at Meta Between Q2 and Q3

Here’s what has happened since Meta’s last results:

• Strong Q2 results: Revenue and profit growth reaffirmed the strength of the ad engine, while management reiterated its big AI ambition.
• Heavy AI investment: Meta has stepped up AI infrastructure spending and partnerships, while expanding its compute and model training footprint.
• Product innovation: The company advanced Reels monetization, introduced AI-powered ad products, and continued business monetization pilots on WhatsApp and Messenger.

A Few Practical Takeaways for Investors

• If ad revenue and margins surprise to the upside, the stock could climb further, validating both the core ad business and the early AI payoff.
• A cautious outlook on capital spending or continued losses at Reality Labs could limit near term upside, as investors remain sensitive to heavy investment cycles.
• Long term investors will focus on whether Meta can balance ad growth with sustainable AI monetization, building a durable edge over peers.

This quarter is a milestone. Meta does not need Q3 to prove its long term case, but it does need to keep delivering on ad growth while showing credible progress on AI investments and product monetization. Expect the market reaction to hinge on the tone of management’s guidance and any fresh detail about how AI is starting to help the core business.

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