Balance Sheet: Assets
The balance sheet provides creditors, investors, and analysts with information on company resources (assets) and its sources of capital (its equity and liabilities). It normally also provides information about the future earnings capacity of a company assets as well as an indication of cash flows that may come from receivables and inventories.
Assets are resources controlled by the company as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity.
Meta Platforms Inc., consolidated balance sheet: assets
US$ in millions
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
The financial data reveals several notable trends in the company’s asset structure and liquidity position over the five-year period analyzed.
- Liquidity and Short-term Assets
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Cash and cash equivalents decreased slightly from 17,576 million US dollars at the end of 2020 to 14,681 million in 2022, and then surged to 41,862 million in 2023, further rising to 43,889 million in 2024. This indicates a significant strengthening of the company’s immediate liquidity position beginning in 2023.
Marketable securities showed a consistent decline from 44,378 million in 2020 to 23,541 million in 2023, before rebounding to 33,926 million in 2024. The decline followed by partial recovery suggests adjustments in investment strategies or shifts towards more liquid cash assets during this period.
Accounts receivable increased overall from 11,335 million in 2020 to 16,994 million in 2024, with a slight dip in 2022. This upward trend points to growing sales or credit extended to customers, reflecting increased business activity.
Prepaid expenses and other current assets fluctuated, with a peak at 5,345 million in 2022, a decrease in 2023, and a rise again to 5,236 million in 2024. Such variation may relate to changes in operational expenditures or settling timing of prepaid items.
Overall, current assets first decreased from 75,670 million in 2020 to 59,549 million in 2022, then markedly increased to reach 100,045 million by the end of 2024, highlighting an expansion in short-term resources after a contraction phase.
- Long-term and Non-current Assets
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Non-marketable equity securities remained relatively stable, slightly declining from 6,234 million in 2020 to 6,070 million in 2024. This stability suggests minimal changes in holdings of such financial assets.
Property and equipment, net, exhibited a strong upward trend, nearly tripling from 45,633 million in 2020 to 121,346 million in 2024. This substantial growth indicates significant investments in fixed assets, reflecting expansion and capacity enhancement.
Operating lease right-of-use assets grew steadily from 9,348 million in 2020 to 14,922 million in 2024, illustrating increased lease commitments, likely supporting operational growth.
Goodwill showed modest growth from 19,050 million in 2020 to 20,654 million in 2023, with no increase thereafter, indicating limited acquisition activity in the latter years.
Other assets increased significantly, more than tripling from 3,381 million in 2020 to 13,017 million in 2024. This rise suggests accumulation of miscellaneous non-current resources or deferred charges.
Consequently, total non-current assets expanded remarkably from 83,646 million in 2020 to 176,009 million in 2024, signaling aggressive capital expenditure and asset base growth.
- Total Assets
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Total assets showed a consistent upward trajectory throughout the period, rising from 159,316 million in 2020 to 276,054 million in 2024. The accelerating increase especially after 2022 indicates overall growth and asset accumulation, supported by increases in both current and non-current assets.
In summary, the company strengthened its liquidity profile from 2023 onward, increased investment in long-term assets substantially, and consistently grew its total asset base. These trends collectively point to expansionary activities and enhanced financial capacity during the latter part of the period.