Meta approves Class C shares and declares dividend per Meta Platforms stock
Published on 10/26/2026 at 12:04 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSCapital structure and key dates
- Meta reported USD 64.60 billion in third-quarter revenue on October 21, 2026.
- The Class C share structure takes effect on January 19, 2027.
- Meta Platforms stock was quoted at EUR 577.90 on October 23, 2026 at Tradegate.
- Meta is scheduled to report fourth-quarter results on February 3, 2027.
Meta Platforms (ISIN US30303M1027) reported USD 64.60 billion in third-quarter revenue and approved a new non-voting Class C share structure on October 21, 2026, according to Morningstar. The plan includes a one-time Class C share dividend that is intended to create a two-for-one effect for the existing Class A common stock and Class B common stock.
The capital structure changes
Meta said the new publicly listed Class C shares will be non-voting and will take effect on January 19, 2027. The company also said its Class A shares will continue trading on Nasdaq, while the new class is intended to support capital raising, employee compensation and potential acquisitions, according to Morningstar.
The announcement arrived with a strong sales figure but a material cost burden. Third-quarter revenue rose 26.00 percent year over year to USD 64.60 billion, while total costs and expenses increased 68.00 percent to USD 51.61 billion. A USD 9.89 billion legal charge tied to an agreement with state attorneys general reduced GAAP diluted earnings per share to USD 3.83 and operating margin to 20.00 percent, the release said.
What does the split mean for Meta?
The structure gives Meta another financing instrument while keeping founder Mark Zuckerberg's leadership model in place. The company expects fourth-quarter revenue between USD 73.00 billion and USD 76.00 billion, with the midpoint above the USD 73.73 billion analyst estimate cited by CNBC.
Analyst reactions also exposed the central trade-off. Wedbush raised its target from USD 700.00 to USD 730.00, while TD Cowen cut its target from USD 865.00 to USD 830.00 after the results, according to Benzinga. The contrast reflects the same issue visible in the accounts: advertising growth remains rapid, but legal costs and AI investment make profit quality more important than sales growth alone.
Three events define the timeline
On August 2026, Meta agreed to payments of up to USD 18.59 billion in a state attorneys general settlement, including a USD 9.89 billion third-quarter charge. On October 21, 2026, revenue reached USD 64.60 billion and the board approved the Class C structure. On October 21, 2026, Meta set the effective date for the new shares at January 19, 2027.
The next dates are set
The Class C structure is scheduled to take effect on January 19, 2027. Meta is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2026 results on February 3, 2027, according to Barrons.
Stock context after the results
The Tradegate quote stood at EUR 577.90 on October 23, 2026 at 1:59 p.m. CEST. The Nasdaq-listed Class A stock had closed at USD 642.62 on October 23, 2026, while the company carried a market capitalization of USD 1.6 trillion in the latest market data.
The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Meta Platforms stock.
Meta Platforms stock facts
- Company: Meta Platforms, Inc.
- ISIN: US30303M1027
- Ticker: META
- Primary exchange: Nasdaq
- Last eligible euro quote: EUR 577.90 at Tradegate on October 23, 2026 at 1:59 p.m. CEST
- Market capitalization: USD 1.6 trillion as of October 23, 2026
Market context: Market report S&P 500.
