Microsoft and Meta Report Strong AI-Driven Earnings in 2026
Both Microsoft Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. posted solid financial results while expanding artificial‑intelligence investments in 2026. Meta reported first‑quarter revenue of $56.311 billion, a 33.08% year‑over‑year rise, with an operating margin of 41% and returns on invested capital (20.69%) and equity (30.24%). The company spent $18.997 billion on AI‑related capital expenditures, funding data‑center expansion and GPU purchases while keeping margins high despite a $4.03 billion loss at its Reality Labs division.
Microsoft’s latest quarter showed cloud revenue of $54.5 billion, up 29% YoY, and an AI‑related annual revenue run rate of $37 billion, a 123% increase. The firm posted an operating margin of 45.62% and a return on equity of 33.28%, with Q3 capex jumping 84.39% to $30.88 billion and a planned $190 billion capex program for 2026. Analysts expect Microsoft to raise its 2026 capex outlook to roughly $238 billion. Despite the strong earnings, both companies’ share prices have declined, reflecting market concerns about the scale of AI spending.
Entities: Amy Hood · Mark Zuckerberg · Meta Platforms Inc. · Meta Platforms, Inc. · Microsoft Corp · Microsoft Corp. · OpenAI
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Microsoft recorded cloud revenue of $54.5 billion in its latest quarter, up 29% YoY. (Microsoft se mantém forte apesar do medo sobre gastos em IA)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Meta invested $18.997 billion in AI‑related capital expenditures during Q1 2026. (Meta Mantém Margens Apesar de Alto Gasto com IA)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Analysts expect Microsoft to raise its 2026 capex forecast to about $238 billion. (5 Quartalsberichte im Fokus: KI-Ausgaben der Tech-Riesen auf dem Prüfstand)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Microsoft posted an operating margin of 45.62% and a return on equity of 33.28% for the reporting period. (Microsoft se mantém forte apesar do medo sobre gastos em IA)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Meta's operating margin in Q1 2026 was 41% with ROIC 20.69% and ROE 30.24%. (Meta Mantém Margens Apesar de Alto Gasto com IA)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Microsoft's Q3 capital spending rose 84.39% to $30.88 billion, with a 2026 capex plan of $190 billion. (Microsoft se mantém forte apesar do medo sobre gastos em IA)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Meta Platforms reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $56.311 billion, a 33.08% increase year‑over‑year. (Meta Mantém Margens Apesar de Alto Gasto com IA)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Microsoft's AI annual revenue run rate reached $37 billion, a 123% increase YoY. (Microsoft se mantém forte apesar do medo sobre gastos em IA)