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Meta Q1 profit jumps 61 per cent as revenue climbs to $56.3 billion
Ad growth and AI momentum drive strong quarter with steady margins
CALIFORNIA: Meta Platforms, Inc. posted a robust performance for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, with net income surging 61 per cent year-on-year to $26.77 billion, driven by strong advertising demand and continued user growth across its platforms.
Revenue rose 33 per cent to $56.31 billion, compared to $42.31 billion in the same quarter last year. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased 29 per cent. Operating income grew 30 per cent to $22.87 billion, while operating margin remained steady at 41 per cent.
Diluted earnings per share jumped 62 per cent to $10.44 from $6.43 a year ago. The results included a $8.03 billion income tax benefit, without which earnings would have been lower.
Meta Platforms, Inc. founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “We had a milestone quarter with strong momentum across our apps and the release of our first model from Meta Superintelligence Labs. We’re on track to deliver personal superintelligence to billions of people.”
Daily active users across Meta’s family of apps reached 3.56 billion in March 2026, up 4 per cent year-on-year. Advertising remained the primary growth driver, with ad impressions increasing 19 per cent and average price per ad rising 12 per cent.
Total costs and expenses climbed 35 per cent to $33.44 billion, reflecting higher investments in artificial intelligence and infrastructure. Capital expenditure stood at $19.84 billion during the quarter.
Cash flow from operating activities was $32.23 billion, while free cash flow came in at $12.39 billion. The company reported $81.18 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of March 31, 2026.
Looking ahead, Meta expects second quarter revenue to range between $58 billion and $61 billion, with foreign exchange expected to provide a 2 per cent tailwind. Full-year expenses are projected between $162 billion and $169 billion, while capital expenditure guidance has been raised to $125 billion to $145 billion.
With strong ad momentum and continued investment in AI, Meta is maintaining its growth trajectory while preparing for the next phase of digital innovation.
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Indeed expands ChatGPT job search app to India and 50 plus countries
Conversational AI meets hiring as users get personalised roles via chat
NEW DELHI: Indeed has expanded its integration with ChatGPT to India and more than 50 countries, opening up a new, conversational way for users to search and explore job opportunities.
The move brings job discovery directly into chat, allowing users to describe roles in plain language instead of relying on filters. By typing prompts such as “remote marketing jobs” or “data analyst roles in Pune above Rs 8 lakh per annum”, users can instantly receive tailored listings drawn from Indeed’s platform.
To unlock personalised recommendations, users can connect their Indeed profiles, enabling the system to match roles based on their skills, work experience, education and preferences. The integration pulls from a vast dataset of over 645 million job seeker profiles and analyses more than 140 million hiring signals daily to refine results.
While job discovery happens within ChatGPT, applications are still completed on Indeed’s platform, where users can apply, schedule interviews and connect with employers.
Indeed vice president product Sol Garger said, “Career inspiration often strikes in unexpected places. Integrating Indeed’s hiring marketplace with ChatGPT helps job seekers turn those moments into action.”
The feature is available through the ChatGPT Apps directory, where users can connect their Indeed accounts and activate the service by typing “@Indeed” in a chat. The app also provides company insights, including overviews and employee ratings, helping candidates make more informed decisions.
Importantly, Indeed said it does not share sensitive personal data such as contact details or application history with OpenAI. Only basic profile information required for job matching is used.
The collaboration marks a broader shift in how people approach job hunting. Instead of scrolling through listings, users can now refine searches through conversation, adjusting criteria in real time and receiving increasingly relevant results.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape recruitment, the Indeed-ChatGPT tie-up points to a future where job searches are not just faster, but far more intuitive and personalised.
