Meta Platforms has raised the lower end of its 2026 capital expenditure forecast as the company continues expanding the data-centre and computing infrastructure supporting its artificial intelligence strategy.
The Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp parent now expects capital expenditure of between $130 billion and $145 billion in 2026, compared with its previous forecast of $125 billion to $145 billion. Capital expenditure, including principal payments on finance leases, reached $31.08 billion during the second quarter.
Meta reported revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter ended June 30, an increase of 28% from $47.52 billion in the corresponding period last year. However, net income declined 14% to $15.85 billion from $18.34 billion.
The article shared contains an important numerical error: Meta’s latest profit was $15.85 billion—not $18.3 billion. The $18.34 billion figure relates to the year-earlier quarter.
Costs and expenses increased 55% to $42.03 billion. This included $2.40 billion in charges related to legal proceedings and $1.18 billion in severance expenses associated with Meta’s May 2026 workforce reduction. Operating income declined 8% to $18.78 billion, while the operating margin narrowed to 31% from 43%.
“AI is accelerating our core business today, powering our next generation of products, and opening the door to entirely new enterprise opportunities,” Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.
Meta’s Family daily active people reached an average of 3.60 billion in June, representing 3% year-on-year growth. Advertising impressions across its Family of Apps increased 14%, while the average price per advertisement rose 12%.
The company ended the quarter with 75,472 employees, down 1% from a year earlier. This figure includes approximately 8,000 employees affected by the May workforce reduction, most of whom are expected to leave Meta’s reported headcount by the end of the third quarter.
For the third quarter, Meta expects revenue of between $61 billion and $64 billion. It also raised the lower end of its full-year expense forecast and now expects total expenses of $165 billion to $169 billion.
