Investors in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) had a good week, as its shares rose 8.8% to close at US$717 following the release of its yearly results. Meta Platforms reported US$201b in revenue, roughly in line with analyst forecasts, although statutory earnings per share (EPS) of US$23.49 beat expectations, being 2.4% higher than what the analysts expected. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. So we collected the latest post-earnings statutory consensus estimates to see what could be in store for next year.

Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from Meta Platforms' 56 analysts is for revenues of US$249.4b in 2026. This reflects a sizeable 24% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to bounce 24% to US$29.56. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of US$236.2b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$29.67 in 2026. There doesn't appear to have been a major change in sentiment following the results, other than the small increase to revenue estimates.

It may not be a surprise to see thatthe analysts have reconfirmed their price target of US$858, implying that the uplift in revenue is not expected to greatly contribute to Meta Platforms's valuation in the near term. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Meta Platforms at US$1,144 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$700. Analysts definitely have varying views on the business, but the spread of estimates is not wide enough in our view to suggest that extreme outcomes could await Meta Platforms shareholders.

Taking a look at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can understand these forecasts is to see how they compare to both past performance and industry growth estimates. It's clear from the latest estimates that Meta Platforms' rate of growth is expected to accelerate meaningfully, with the forecast 24% annualised revenue growth to the end of 2026 noticeably faster than its historical growth of 14% p.a. over the past five years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 12% annually. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Meta Platforms is expected to grow much faster than its industry.

The Bottom Line

The most obvious conclusion is that there's been no major change in the business' prospects in recent times, with the analysts holding their earnings forecasts steady, in line with previous estimates. Happily, they also upgraded their revenue estimates, and are forecasting them to grow faster than the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at US$858, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have forecasts for Meta Platforms going out to 2028, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Another thing to consider is whether management and directors have been buying or selling stock recently. We provide an overview of all open market stock trades for the last twelve months on our platform, here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.