By Barbara Ortutay
Facebook capped a tumultuous 2020 with soaring earnings in the final quarter, its user base boosted by people staying home, and its revenue buoyed by a shift to digital advertising amid the pandemic.
But the company predicted uncertainty for 2021 and said its revenue in the latter half of the year could face significant pressure. Because revenue grew so quickly in the second half, the social network could have trouble keeping up that pace.
It’s also facing challenges in how it targets advertisements, including Apple’s coming launch of privacy protections that could limit Facebook’s ability to target ads.
Facebook earned $11.22 billion, or $3.88 per share, in the October-December period, well above the $3.19 that analysts expected and up 53% from a year earlier. Revenue grew 22% to $28.07 billion, higher than the $26.36 billion analysts were predicting, according to a poll by FactSet.
Its monthly user base grew 12% to 2.8 billion. Facebook ended 2020 with 58,604 employees, a 30% increase from a year earlier.
Shares of the Menlo Park, California-based company slipped about 2% in after-hours trading to $268.98.
The earliest version of Disney's Mickey Mouse will become public domain on Jan. 1, 2024.
The toy magic oven called the Cookeez Makery is one of the hottest toys for kids this holiday season.
In the UK, IKEA is looking to give away some meatballs, and not just regular-size meatballs.
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is set to star in a movie playing MMA and UFC legend, Mark Care, while Kevin Hart will headline a boxing project over on Peacock.
Coca-Cola is recalling drinks sold in three southern states due to possible "foreign materials" inside cans.
Stocks jumped after the Dow Jones closed at a record high while fresh retail sales data showed positive consumer spending ahead of the holidays.
The Food and Drug Administration is asking Congress for new powers, including the ability to mandate drug recalls and require eyedrop makers to undergo inspections before shipping products to the U.S.
The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday for a third straight time, and its officials signaled that they expect to make three quarter-point cuts to their benchmark rate next year.
StellerFi debt forgiveness.
'Married to Real Estate' stars dish on their 19 year marriage and even share some useful tip for new homeowners.
