**Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) recently reported significant financial growth, with Q3 revenue rising 26% year-over-year to approximately $51.2 billion. The company’s earnings have allowed it to initiate a dividend program, currently offering $0.525 per share for an annualized yield of 0.3%, while maintaining a minimal payout ratio of just 9%. This positions Meta for potential future dividend increases amid ongoing business expansion, fueled by investments in artificial intelligence.**
**In addition to dividends, Meta returned approximately $1.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and spent nearly $3.2 billion on share repurchases in Q3 alone. The company anticipates capital expenditures ranging from $70 billion to $72 billion in 2025, largely driven by AI investments, which could limit short-term increases in dividends. Despite this, Meta’s robust free cash flow of about $10.6 billion offers a solid foundation for future growth.**
