Meta has posted robust earnings outcomes for Q3, with a gentle enhance in customers, and its finest quarterly income efficiency to this point.

And whereas it’s nonetheless spending massive on VR, issues are additionally beginning to look a little bit extra rosy on that entrance as properly.

First off, on customers. Fb added one other 19 million month-to-month lively customers in Q3, taking it to three.049 billion actives.

As you may see in these charts, nearly all of Fb’s development is coming from the “Asia Pacific” and “Remainder of the World” segments, with the platform seeing important development in India and Indonesia, particularly, consistent with native connectivity enhancements.

The regarding half right here is that Meta misplaced customers as soon as once more in Europe, and gained solely 1,000,000 in North America, that are its two greatest markets, by a good distance, by way of income per person.

That tempers these positive aspects to a point. Besides, they do level to future potential, and of all social platforms, Fb might be the almost definitely to have the sources to capitalize on such tendencies.

Fb’s day by day lively customers additionally rose by 21 million, with extra customers coming again to the app to examine in on the most recent updates.

That, largely, has been pushed by Meta’s push to combine extra AI-based content material suggestions, primarily by way of Reels, which at the moment are being proven in additional locations throughout Fb and Instagram. Following TikTok’s lead, Meta has regularly expanded its use of broader content material suggestions, from past the folks and profiles that you just comply with, which is driving will increase in time spent inside its apps.

Which has additionally led to extra advert publicity, with general advert impressions growing by a large 31% year-over-year.

And with Threads additionally gaining traction, it’ll be fascinating to see what influence that has on Meta’s general utilization stats, and finally, advert publicity.

For context, Meta’s “Household of Apps” (customers throughout Fb, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads) is now closing in on 4 billion month-to-month actives.

For context, the inhabitants of your entire planet is round 8 billion, with 1.4 billion folks residing in China, the place Fb’s apps will not be (technically) out there. 

For all of the prognostications of Fb’s decline, it’s nonetheless seemingly holding agency, and whereas I wish to see the common time spent per person figures, and the way they’ve modified over time (I think that Fb utilization has fluctuated considerably), it’s fascinating to see Fb’s continued development, even in markets the place it needs to be near peak consciousness.

By way of income, Meta’s outcomes have been even higher, bringing in $34.15 billion for Q3, a rise of 23% year-over-year.

As you may see on this chart, Meta’s subsequent finest quarterly consequence was in This autumn 2021, which components within the vacation rush, and on condition that this consequence has are available Q3, analysts view this as a strong indicator of the corporate’s potential for future success.

Meta additionally upped its steerage for This autumn, which despatched Meta shares up 5% in after hours buying and selling, although it has additionally warned that macroeconomic situations (i.e. international conflicts, regional disputes/bans) may influence its outcomes.

One other key ingredient in Meta’s numbers is value discount, which has been a major concern for analysts of late, because it sinks an increasing number of cash into its metaverse undertaking. Meta really reported a 7% YoY lower in prices in Q3, largely on account of layoffs performed earlier within the 12 months, which at the moment are full.

Although Actuality Labs, its VR division, continues to weigh heavy on the underside line.

As you may see on this itemizing, VR headset gross sales slipped decrease once more, with Actuality Labs bringing in $210 million in income, which is primarily by Quest unit gross sales.

Meta’s set to make an even bigger push right here, with its new Quest 3 headset getting good opinions, whereas the subsequent iteration of its Ray Ban Tales glasses are additionally wowing early customers. And with the capability to stay stream for Fb and IG immediately from the system, I do assume that there’s going to be extra curiosity there, as Meta appears to be like to glean extra instant worth from its VR/AR bets.

Meta’s complete prices and bills for the quarter got here in at $20.40 billion, with Actuality Labs alone costing $3.7 billion. That implies that Meta’s nearly undoubtedly going to finest the $14 billion loss it posted final 12 months for its VR improvement final 12 months.

There’s quite a bit to love about Meta’s outcomes, with the primary takeaway being that it’s now obtained its advert enterprise again on monitor once more, after the impacts of Apple’s iOS 14 privateness replace, and the assorted regulatory shifts in Europe. Meta’s additionally probably benefited from decreased advert spending on X, amid considerations round the way it’s altering beneath Elon Musk, with entrepreneurs then reverting more cash to Fb and IG as a substitute.

That appears like a constructive development for the longer term, and as famous, with Threads additionally seemingly taking no less than a few of X’s thunder, Meta does appear properly positioned, even with its VR improvement prices nonetheless rising.

Enthusiasm across the Quest 3 additionally bodes properly for the corporate, whereas the most recent Ray Ban Tales glasses additionally current a clearer image of what its transfer into AR wearables could appear to be. And with established manufacturing and distribution processes, and a a lot lower cost level for its combined actuality unit than Apple, the broader market could now be seeing extra of Zuck’s broader metaverse imaginative and prescient, and the place issues are regularly headed within the VR house.

When he posted that one image of the metaverse final 12 months, along with his avatar in entrance of a line drawing of an Eiffel Tower reproduction, Meta shares dipped, however issues at the moment are trying up once more, as readability settles into Meta’s numerous initiatives.

There’s nonetheless a option to go, and you may guess that there’ll be many extra questions in This autumn as to the place Meta’s $16 billion (or extra) of annual funding into VR is definitely going. However it’s more and more trying prefer it’ll have the ability to present a extra viable pitch on this entrance, whereas it additionally continues to herald income from its major social advertisements enterprise.