"Meta's Strategic Moves Propel Stock Soaring with Record Earnings and Dividend Debut"

Meta Platforms (META) reported fourth quarter earnings that surpassed analyst estimates, with adjusted EPS of $5.33 on revenue of $40.11 billion, and announced a $50 billion stock buyback and a $0.50 per share dividend. The company anticipates revenue of $34.6 billion-$37 billion for the current quarter. Despite a $4.65 billion loss in its Reality Labs division, Meta's shares soared by 17% in premarket trading. The company's long-term strategy involves developing general artificial intelligence and making it open source, with expenses expected to total $94 billion-$99 billion in 2024.