Key Earnings Highlights from Philip Morris, Meta, and Netflix
The 2024 Q4 earnings season is concluding, as over 98% of S&P 500 companies have reported their quarterly results. Several stocks, notably Philip Morris PM, Meta Platforms META, and Netflix NFLX, have shown positive momentum following their earnings reports. For those tracking post-earnings trends, we take a closer look at these notable performances.
Philip Morris Shows Strong Innovation
Philip Morris has experienced a boost from their recent earnings results, with earnings per share (EPS) increasing by 14% and sales rising by 7%. The company’s strong demand reflects its robust market presence, bolstered by ongoing product innovations.
In a significant milestone, smoke-free products surpassed 40 billion units for the first time during FY24. Additionally, the Smoke-free Business (SFB) saw net revenues increasing by 14.2%, alongside an 18.7% rise in gross profit.
The stock also provides an attractive passive income option, boasting an annual yield of 3.5% that outperforms the market average. Philip Morris has a strong track record of dividend growth, earning the status of a Dividend King. Below is a chart illustrating annual dividends paid by the company.
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Meta Platforms Achieves Record Profit
Meta Platforms reported impressive headline figures, with adjusted EPS at $8.02 and record sales totaling $48.4 billion, demonstrating year-over-year growth rates of 50% and 21%, respectively. The net income of $20.9 billion marked a historic high for the company.
The ad business remains a core strength, with $46.8 billion in revenue exceeding expectations, reflecting 20% growth from the previous year. Recent measurements indicate that Meta’s advertising results have consistently surpassed market predictions.
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Moreover, Meta continues to see user growth, with Family Daily Active People (DAP) increasing by 4% year-over-year, now totaling approximately 3.4 billion. Average revenue per user has similarly risen, showing a 41% increase from last year, bolstered by strong advertising initiatives.
Netflix’s Ad-Supported Tiers Propel Growth
Netflix’s recent success stems from user growth and the favorable impact of ad-supported membership tiers. Shares have shown significant performance throughout the past year, leading to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) designation.
In Q4, ad-supported plans represented over 55% of sign-ups in available regions, with membership in these plans growing nearly 30% from the previous quarter.
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Conclusion
While recent market trends may be forgettable, the Q4 results from Philip Morris PM, Meta Platforms META, and Netflix NFLX showcase positive performance, with shares of each company gaining momentum following their earnings announcements.
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Netflix, Inc. (NFLX): Free Stock Analysis report
Philip Morris International Inc. (PM): Free Stock Analysis report
Meta Platforms, Inc. (META): Free Stock Analysis report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
