Meta reports strong Q4 and Full Year 2023, Initiates Quarterly Dividend

Meta Platforms (META) today reported solid financial results for Q4 and full year 2023, exceeding analyst expectations. The company also announced a new quarterly dividend program and provided an outlook for 2024.

• Revenue:
  • Q4: $40.11 billion, up 25% YoY
  • FY: $134.90 billion, up 16% YoY
• Earnings per share (EPS):
  • Q4: $5.33, up 203% YoY
  • FY: $14.87, up 73% YoY
• Daily active people (DAP):
  • 3.19 billion on average for December 2023, up 8% YoY
• Monthly active people (MAP):
  • 3.98 billion as of December 31, 2023, up 6% YoY
• Dividend: Initiated a $0.50 per share quarterly dividend program, payable March 26, 2024
• 2024 Outlook:
  • Revenue: $34.5-37 billion in Q1
  • Total expenses: $94-99 billion
  • Capital expenditures: $30-37 billion
  • Tax rate: mid-teens

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO, stated: "We had a good quarter as our community and business continue to grow. We've made a lot of progress on our vision for advancing AI and the metaverse."

Meta's financial performance was driven by continued growth in its advertising business, despite headwinds like privacy changes and regulatory scrutiny. The company also highlighted its progress in developing new technologies, such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), as part of its metaverse vision.

The initiation of a quarterly dividend marks a significant change for Meta and reflects its strong financial position and confidence in its future growth. The company also provided a cautious outlook for 2024, expecting continued headwinds but also significant investments in AI and the metaverse.

Overall, Meta's Q4 and full-year 2023 results were positive, and the company's outlook for 2024 suggests continued growth and investment in new technologies.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Meta's user base continues to grow, despite concerns about user privacy and competition from other platforms.
• The company is investing heavily in AI and the metaverse, which could be long-term growth drivers.
• Regulatory scrutiny remains a risk for Meta, and the outcome of the FTC case could have a significant impact on the company.