Meta's stock sank after legal charges and AI spending eroded its profit

The social media company's net income fell 14% year over year as expenses surged 55%, and its free cash flow shrank to $784 million

4 min readNew DelhiJul 30, 2026 09:31 AM IST Products on display at the Meta lab pop-up on 5th Avenue in Manhattan on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Lexi Parra/The New York Times) Meta has bet big on artificial intelligence. On Wednesday, it said that bet would not let up. The Silicon Valley company, which owns Facebook, I

Meta profits fall as cost of layoffs bites  The Times

The Silicon Valley company’s costs rose more steeply than revenue growth, as it continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence.

Meta shares drop as Q2 profit declines due to legal expenses and severance costs  AP News