Meta Platforms delivered a strong start to 2025, reporting first-quarter earnings of $6.43 per share on $42.3 billion in revenue, both figures exceeding Wall Street expectations. The robust performance underscores Meta’s growing dominance in digital advertising and its strategic pivot toward artificial intelligence (AI).

Despite growing uncertainty over impending U.S. tariffs that could impact the tech sector, Meta’s advertising business demonstrated notable resilience. The company saw a surge in ad impressions alongside rising prices, bolstering overall revenue growth. Analysts noted that Meta continues to benefit from its advanced ad targeting capabilities and integration of AI tools across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg attributed the company\'s success to its aggressive investment strategy in AI development and infrastructure. \"We’re not just adapting to the AI era—we\'re helping shape it,\" Zuckerberg said in the earnings call. He announced a sharp increase in Meta’s projected capital expenditures for 2025, raising the estimate to $68 billion, up from earlier projections. The additional spending will fund the expansion of data centers, custom silicon chips, and other AI-related technologies.

While Meta faces external risks—ranging from regulatory scrutiny to geopolitical trade policies—investors appear optimistic about its long-term prospects. The company\'s stock rose in after-hours trading following the earnings release.

Zuckerberg emphasized Meta’s commitment to building “the infrastructure of the intelligent age,” with AI expected to play a central role in everything from content moderation and search to user personalization and advertising optimization.

With strong fundamentals, sustained user engagement, and an ambitious AI roadmap, Meta appears well-positioned to navigate the headwinds of 2025 and beyond.