Meta
WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, paid for by advertising.
52-week range
As of 5 Oct 2026, 17:07What does Meta do?
Meta, based in Menlo Park, California, runs Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. More than 3 billion people use at least one of these apps every day, for free. Almost all the money comes from businesses placing targeted ads. Through its Reality Labs unit, Meta also builds VR headsets and smart glasses with Ray-Ban.
From WhatsApp groups with family and friends, Instagram stories and Reels, or Facebook Marketplace.
How Meta makes money
- Advertising in the apps98 %
- Other app revenue (e.g. WhatsApp Business)1 %
- Reality Labs (VR & AI glasses)1 %
Strengths
- More than 3 billion daily users, a reach few other companies can match.
- AI helps target ads more precisely, and advertisers pay more for that.
- The ad business is highly profitable and funds new projects on its own.
Risks
- Almost all revenue comes from ads, and companies cut ad budgets first in a downturn.
- Reality Labs loses billions every year, and AI spending is rising sharply.
- Strict privacy and youth-protection rules, especially in the EU, plus dollar risk.
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- Menlo Park, California
- Employees
- about 79,000
What if you had invested in Meta earlier?
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This page explains the company and is not a recommendation to buy or sell.