Meta shares slide after company projects higher expenses for 2026

Meta’s stock slid in after-hours trading Wednesday after the tech giant posted strong third-quarter results but warned that its expenses will be significantly higher in 2026 than this year. Like is rivals, Meta Platforms Inc. has been on an artificial intelligence spending spree and said its costs will grow much faster next year, driven by infrastructure costs and employee compensation as it has hired AI experts at eye-popping compensation levels. Menlo Park, California-based Meta Platforms Inc. earned $2.71 billion, or $1.05 per share, in the July-September period. Excluding tax-related special expenses, the company would have earned $7.25. Revenue rose 26% to $51.42 billion.