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The Rise of Meta: A Deep Dive into the Social Media Giant’s Q1 Earnings and Potential for Growth

Meta Platforms, the parent company of social media giants Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has seen an impressive 11% jump in its stock price in premarket trading after the company’s first-quarter earnings beat Wall Street expectations. The strong financial results, including revenue growth of 3% year-on-year, comes after three consecutive quarters of decline. CEO Mark Zuckerberg credited the company’s focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and efficiency for the positive outcome, announcing plans to slow hiring and prioritize technical projects to improve work quality and speed.

Meta’s Technical Analysis:

As the stock market heats up, Meta has emerged as a promising player, with strong earnings growth and a technical price target of $266 based on Fibonacci’s levels and Analyst Estimates. The Bulls are in control, with short-term price trends indicating a strong uptrend move for Meta up till the next quarter.

Let’s take a closer look at the numbers and figures:

  • Meta’s current price is above the critical $190 level, and a noticeable volume accumulation has been observed at the $212 price range, indicating a robust upward momentum.
  • Short-term Relative Strength Index (RSI) is not yet heading to the Oversold or Overbought territory, suggesting that there is still room left for price momentum to pick up.
  • Short-term Momentum is considered up, with a short-term price level target at the $240 range.
  • Upward trending channel from November lows of 2022.

But as any seasoned trader knows, the stock market is unpredictable, and a quick selloff may be observed in the short term if the price heads towards the $240 range. It’s important to stay on top of the market trends and make informed decisions.

The tech sector, in particular, is experiencing a stronger shift in momentum in the coming weeks, with Microsoft and Alphabet following suit. As such, investors should be mindful of the market’s bullish trends and consider the potential for strong earnings this season.

To sum it up, Meta’s recent performance is promising, and traders and investors alike should keep an eye on the stock’s upward momentum. The Bulls are in control, and as long as the momentum holds, the sky’s the limit for Meta. But always be prepared for any unexpected market turns and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Meta’s Advantage:

  • ARPU:

Looking at the revenue by user geography, we can see that the US & Canada region generates the most revenue, with $15.062 billion in Q4’21 and $15.636 billion in Q1’22. This is followed by Europe, with $13.094 billion in Q4’21 and $14.23 billion in Q1’23. The Asia-Pacific region and Rest of World generate less revenue compared to the US & Canada and Europe regions.

In terms of user activity, Facebook has reported a steady increase in its monthly active users (MAUs) from 2.853 billion in Q2’21 to 2.989 billion in Q1’23. The US & Canada region has the highest ARPU at $58.77 in Q4’21, followed by Europe at $9.54 and Asia-Pacific at $4.61. The Rest of World region has the lowest ARPU at $3.35 in Q1’22 and $3.21 in Q1’23.

Looking at the average revenue per person (ARPP) for Facebook’s Family products, we can see that it has been steadily increasing from $7.59 in Q1’21 to $7.75 in Q1’23. This can be attributed to the increase in Family Monthly Active People (MAP), which has increased from 3.81 billion in Q1’21 to 3.74 billion in Q1’23.

Overall, Facebook’s revenue and user activity continue to show growth, particularly in the US & Canada and Europe regions. However, the company will need to continue to innovate and adapt to changes in the digital landscape to maintain its position as a leader in the social media industry.

  • MAU’s

Analysis:

  • The US & Canada and Europe regions are the largest revenue generators for Facebook, with $15.062 billion and $13.094 billion in Q4’21, respectively. In Q1’22, the US & Canada generated $15.636 billion, and Europe generated $14.23 billion.
  • The US & Canada region has the highest ARPU at $58.77 in Q4’21, followed by Europe at $9.54 and Asia-Pacific at $4.61. The Rest of World region has the lowest ARPU at $3.35 in Q1’22 and $3.21 in Q1’23.

  • Facebook’s monthly active users (MAUs) have increased steadily from 2.853 billion in Q2’21 to 2.989 billion in Q1’23.
  • Facebook’s Family products’ average revenue per person (ARPP) has been steadily increasing from $7.59 in Q1’21 to $7.75 in Q1’23. Family Monthly Active People (MAP) increased from 3.81 billion in Q1’21 to 3.74 billion in Q1’23.

Recommendation:

  • Facebook should continue to focus on the US & Canada and Europe regions to maintain revenue growth.
  • The company should invest in innovations and adaptations to stay ahead of changes in the digital landscape.
  • Prioritizing the growth of Facebook’s Family products is recommended to increase ARPP and maintain revenue growth.
  • Based on Meta’s Q1 2023 Earnings Presentation:
  • Meta’s revenue by user geography shows that the US & Canada region generates the most revenue, with $15.062 billion in Q4’21 and $15.636 billion in Q1’22. This is followed by Europe, with $13.094 billion in Q4’21 and $14.23 billion in Q1’23. The Asia-Pacific region and Rest of World generate less revenue compared to the US & Canada and Europe regions.

  • In terms of user activity, Facebook has reported a steady increase in its monthly active users (MAUs) from 2.853 billion in Q2’21 to 2.989 billion in Q1’23. The US & Canada region has the highest average revenue per user (ARPU) at $58.77 in Q4’21, followed by Europe at $9.54 and Asia-Pacific at $4.61. The Rest of World region has the lowest ARPU at $3.21 in Q1’23.
  • The average revenue per person (ARPP) for Meta’s Family products has been steadily increasing from $7.59 in Q1’21 to $7.75 in Q1’23. This can be attributed to the increase in Family Monthly Active People (MAP), which has increased from 3.81 billion in Q1’21 to 3.74 billion in Q1’23.
  • Meta’s total revenue for Q1’23 was $28.645 billion, with the Family of Apps (FoA) segment generating $28.306 billion and Reality Labs (RL) generating $339 million.
  • The FoA segment’s operating income was $11.219 billion in Q1’23, while RL had an operating loss of $3.992 billion.
  • Meta’s income before provision for income taxes was $7.307 billion in Q1’23, with a net income of $5.709 billion.
  • Capital expenditures for Q1’23 were $5.548 billion, and for the annual period were $19.244 billion.
  • Meta’s Family Daily Active People (DAP) in Q1’23 was 2.93 billion, with an engagement rate of 79% DAP/MAP.
  • Observations and recommendations include:
  • Meta’s revenue and user activity continue to show growth, particularly in the US & Canada and Europe regions. However, the company will need to continue to innovate and adapt to changes in the digital landscape to maintain its position as a leader in the social media industry.
  • The increase in ARPP for Meta’s Family products is a positive sign for the company’s revenue growth potential, and suggests that users are becoming more engaged with the platform.
  • While the FoA segment continues to generate significant revenue and operating income for Meta, the RL segment is still struggling to turn a profit. The company may need to consider restructuring or rethinking its approach to this segment in order to drive more sustainable growth.
  • The significant amount of capital expenditures suggests that Meta is investing heavily in its future growth and development, which could be a positive sign for investors.
  • The high engagement rate for Meta’s DAP/MAP is a positive sign for the company’s overall user engagement and retention, which will be important for continued revenue growth.

Overall, Meta Platforms’ Q1 2023 earnings report shows positive signs of revenue and user growth, particularly in the US & Canada and Europe regions. The company’s focus on artificial intelligence and efficiency, as well as its investments in future growth, have contributed to the strong financial results. While the Family of Apps segment continues to generate significant revenue and operating income, the company may need to consider restructuring its struggling Reality Labs segment to drive sustainable growth. In order to maintain its position as a leader in the social media industry, Meta will need to continue to innovate and adapt to changes in the digital landscape.

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