Meta share count is only down 6% total since the start of the pandemic. And down ~10% total since their share count peak in 2017
Looks like you're referencing YoY rates as measured on a quarterly basis from the link above, which is not the same as the absolute percentage of shares.
Likely the pace will rise somewhat with recent job cuts/buybacks, but historically they've mostly just tread water with shares issued via software based comp
As of December 31, 2020, there were 2,406 million shares of Class A common stock and 443 million shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding.
As of December 31, 2021, there were 2,328 million shares of Class A common stock and 413 million shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding.
2021: 2849 -> 2741
We don't have the end of year figures yet but from the Q3 report:
2,248,672,204 shares outstanding as of October 21, 2022
402,876,470 shares outstanding as of October 21, 2022
Class A shares [...] 2,262 million [...] outstanding, as of September 30, 2022
Class B shares [...] 403 million [...] outstanding, as of September 30, 2022
and from yesterday's earnings release:
Weighted-average shares used to compute earnings per share attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders (Three Months Ended December 31, 2022): Basic 2,638
While we wait for the filing we can take a guess:
Sep 30: 2665
Oct 21: 2652
Q4 average: 2638
Dec 31: ~2615 ?
> As of December 31, 2022, there were 2,247 million shares of Class A common stock and 367 million shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding.
2614. Not bad!
8.2% fewer outstanding shares than two years ago. If that’s “mostly flat” so be it.
Looks like you're referencing YoY rates as measured on a quarterly basis from the link above, which is not the same as the absolute percentage of shares.
Likely the pace will rise somewhat with recent job cuts/buybacks, but historically they've mostly just tread water with shares issued via software based comp