Facebook Inc. posted sharp growth in quarterly revenue and profit, fueled by robust digital ad spending, as it continues to face scrutiny over the size and influence of its platforms.
The social-media company’s second-quarter earnings report Wednesday showed that advertisers’ greater focus over the past year on reaching consumers online continues to be a tailwind. Analysts also expected the parent of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to continue benefiting from a rise in consumers making purchases from brands directly through its apps.
Facebook’s profit doubled from a year earlier to $10.39 billion, or $3.61 a share, soundly beating analysts’ expectations. Revenue rose 56% to $29.08 billion.
However shares fell 3% in after-hours trading as the company said it expects revenue growth to slow in the second half of this year.
The results come as Google parent Alphabet Inc. on Tuesday reported its best quarter ever for sales and profit, bolstered by a strong digital advertising market. Last week, Snap Inc. said its revenue more than doubled in the second quarter and user growth jumped the most in four years, while Twitter Inc. said sales rose 74% and that it swung to a profit from a year earlier.
