Facebook earnings nearly double; results top forecasts

 

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REXCRUM

TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

 

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Facebook Inc. FB, -1.24% on Tuesday reported a third-quarter profit of $806 million, or 30 cents a share, on $3.2 billion in revenue, compared with earnings of $425 million, or 17 cents a share, on $2.02 billion in the same period a year ago. Excluding one-time items, Facebook earned 43 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast Facebook to earn 40 cents a share on $3.12 billion in sales. Facebook shares rose slightly in after-hours trading following the release of the company's results.