Meta exceeded investor expectations for third-quarter revenue on Oct. 21, but profit fell to $9.86 billion after a reported $9.9 billion charge tied to an $18 billion multistate legal settlement. The company also faces a $25 billion New Mexico judgment after a jury found more than 43 million violations of the state’s Unfair Practices Act in a case concerning Facebook’s handling of user data and the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Meta said it will appeal, while continuing to invest heavily in artificial intelligence, including data centers, AI-powered glasses and its Muse model. Sales rose 26% year over year to more than $64 billion in the September quarter, operating income was nearly $13 billion, and capital expenditures reached $35 billion. Reports differ on the settlement’s value and related charge: an earlier account cited $17.1 billion and $9.89 billion, respectively.