Meta Platforms (META) Stock Skyrockets 9% After Blowout Q2 Earnings—22% YoY Growth Stuns Market

Meta just flexed its dominance—again. Shares surged 9% as Q2 earnings crushed expectations, fueled by a 22% revenue jump year-over-year. Wall Street’s algo-traders high-fived their servers.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

No fluff, no spin: Meta’s ad engine is still printing money. Reality Labs’ losses? Barely a footnote when core revenue grows at this pace. Zuckerberg’s ‘year of efficiency’ pivot now looks like a masterclass in ruthless execution.

Short Sellers Left Grinding Teeth

The bears got steamrolled—again. Between Threads’ explosive growth and AI-driven ad targeting, Meta’s moat keeps widening. Remember when analysts called this a ‘melting ice cube’? Cue the world’s smallest violin.

The Cynic’s Corner

Sure, the stock popped—but let’s see how long until the next ‘metaverse reallocation’ write-down. For now, enjoy the ride while Meta’s reality distortion field still works on shareholders.

TLDR

• Meta soars 9% after hours on Q2 earnings beat and strong ad revenue growth.
• Q2 revenue hits $47.5B; Meta posts 22% YoY growth, ad pricing up 9%.
• Daily active users climb to 3.48B as Meta engagement stays strong.
• Meta boosts capex to $17B, signals long-term tech and infra investment.
• $9.76B stock buyback, $1.33B in dividends show Meta’s capital strength.

Meta Platforms Inc. (META) shares closed at $695.21 on July 30, down 0.68% during regular trading hours. In  After-hours trading, shares saw a sharp surge to $760.00 a gain of 9.32%.

Meta Platforms Inc. (META)

Robust Revenue Growth Boosts Market Confidence

Meta reported $47.52 billion in revenue for the second quarter of 2025, reflecting a 22% year-over-year increase. This growth remained consistent across both reported and constant currency metrics, reinforcing the platform’s global momentum. The rise in revenue coincided with a 9% increase in average ad pricing, indicating strong demand.

$META (Meta Platforms) #earnings are out: pic.twitter.com/8WMJnI3B27

— The Earnings Correspondent (@earnings_guy) July 30, 2025

Total ad impressions across Meta’s Family of Apps increased by 11% year-over-year during the same period. This combination of higher pricing and greater volume contributed to the substantial revenue improvement. Analysts view this revenue mix as a sign of improved monetization and platform efficiency.

The company’s capital strength added further weight to the earnings report. Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities stood at $47.07 billion at the quarter’s end. Free cash FLOW reached $8.55 billion, while operating activities generated $25.56 billion in cash.

User Activity and Platform Reach Continue to Expand

Meta’s Family daily active people (DAP) averaged 3.48 billion in June 2025, rising 6% year-over-year. The steady growth in daily engagement underscores the platform’s continued relevance in global digital communication. Usage trends across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp contributed to this expansion.

The company’s headcount increased by 7% year-over-year, reaching 75,945 employees as of June 30, 2025. This suggests sustained operational scaling and ongoing investment in product development and infrastructure. Hiring growth reflects confidence in forward momentum and product roadmaps.

Meta also maintained strong engagement through product integration and consistent feature updates. Higher user participation likely supported increased ad delivery and overall platform utility. This dynamic helped fuel both traffic and monetization gains across its suite of apps.

Cost Structure and Capital Deployment Remain Balanced

Total costs and expenses ROSE to $27.07 billion, a 12% increase from the previous year. Despite the rise, the company maintained strong margins due to its higher revenue base. Spending aligned with continued platform investment and data center expansion.

Capital expenditures for the quarter, including lease payments, totaled $17.01 billion. These investments reflect a focus on infrastructure to support long-term platform scalability and performance. Meta appears committed to enhancing its technological backbone amid growing user demand.

Meta repurchased $9.76 billion of Class A common stock and returned $1.33 billion to shareholders through dividends and dividend equivalent payments. These returns highlight a proactive approach to capital returns, complemented by operational investments.

Meta’s strong second-quarter performance triggered a notable surge in its stock price during after-hours trading. The results demonstrated strength in both financial outcomes and platform engagement. With rising ad pricing, expanding user activity, and solid capital returns, the company continues to signal long-term momentum.