Operating Expenses
Stock-based compensation expense
Meta Platforms, Inc. Stock-based compensation expense increased by 2.4% to $6.03B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 45.5%, from $4.15B to $6.03B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Stock-based compensation expense shows an upward trend with a 22.2% CAGR. This is a positive signal — lower values indicate better performance for this metric.
Analysis
StatementIncome Statement
SectionOperating Expenses
CategoryEfficiency
SignalLower is better
VolatilityStable
First reportedQ1 2013
Last reportedQ1 2026Apr 30, 2026
How to read this metric
Higher levels indicate significant use of equity for compensation, which can lead to shareholder dilution over time.
Detailed definition
This represents the expense recognized for equity-based awards granted to employees, such as stock options or restricted...
Peer comparison
Standard operating expense for most public companies, particularly in competitive talent markets.
Metric ID:
ms_stock_based_compensationHistorical Data
20 periods
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $2.55B | $2.38B | $2.41B | $2.50B | $3.35B | $3.13B | $3.01B | $3.05B | $4.06B | $3.49B | $3.42B | $3.56B | $4.62B | $4.25B | $4.26B | $4.15B | $4.83B | $5.56B | $5.89B | $6.03B |
| QoQ Change | — | -6.6% | +1.2% | +3.8% | +34.1% | -6.5% | -4.0% | +1.4% | +33.1% | -14.0% | -1.9% | +4.0% | +29.6% | -7.9% | +0.3% | -2.7% | +16.6% | +14.9% | +6.0% | +2.4% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +31.5% | +31.7% | +25.0% | +22.1% | +21.2% | +11.4% | +13.8% | +16.7% | +13.7% | +21.7% | +24.5% | +16.4% | +4.7% | +30.7% | +38.2% | +45.5% |
Range$2.38B – $6.03B
CAGR+19.9%
Avg YoY Growth+23.1%
Median YoY Growth+21.9%
Current Streak4 quarters growth
Stock-based compensation expense at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Meta Platforms, Inc.'s stock-based compensation expense?
- Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) reported stock-based compensation expense of $6.03B in Q1 2026.
- How has Meta Platforms, Inc.'s stock-based compensation expense changed year-over-year?
- Meta Platforms, Inc.'s stock-based compensation expense increased by 45.5% year-over-year, from $4.15B to $6.03B.
- What is the long-term trend for Meta Platforms, Inc.'s stock-based compensation expense?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Meta Platforms, Inc.'s stock-based compensation expense has grown at a 22.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $9.16B to $20.43B.
- What does stock-based compensation expense mean?
- The cost of paying employees with company stock instead of cash.