April 28 - Meta Platforms (META, Financial) will report first-quarter earnings on April 30 after the closing bell. Investors are eager to see if the social-media giant can keep up its strong ad-revenue pace.
Analysts expect adjusted EPS of $5.21, up 11% from $4.71 a year ago. Revenue is forecast at $41.22 billion, a 13% jump, driven by traditional ads and growing Reels monetization.
Interestingly, over the last month, analysts have trimmed their EPS forecasts by about 7%. That pullback suggests some are growing cautious about the advertising landscape and heightened competition for digital ad dollars.
Ahead of the report, estimate revisions are a key metric. History shows that when analysts lower their targets, stocks often see bigger swings on earnings day, either good or bad.
All eyes will be on management's commentary, too. Will Meta dial back spending on its metaverse and AI projects, or keep its foot on the gas? With more than $39 billion in cash, the company has room to maneuver.
Earnings guidance for Q2 and fiscal 2025 will round out the picture. Investors will judge whether Meta's long-term bets still justify the current valuation.
