Meta's Shares Soar 17% on Stellar Q4 Performance and First-Ever Dividend

Meta's shares surged 17% in pre-market trading on Friday after the company reported a tripling of profits in the fourth quarter and issued its first-ever cash dividend. Meta's revenue jumped 25% year-over-year to $32.2 billion in the fourth quarter, marking its fastest growth rate since mid-2021, as the online ad market rebounded. Investors welcomed Meta's decision to pay a $0.50 per share dividend on March 26th, the company’s first-ever cash dividend. Meta also announced a $50 billion share buyback program, boosting shareholder returns.