Why Did Facebook Inc. Shares Gain 31% in the First Half of 2017?

Sometimes, Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) competing with everyone else in the social media universe looks like the New England Patriots taking on a high school football team.

The company adds users and ad revenue every quarter, and never seems to plateau. As new competitors emerge, technology shifts, and other companies attempt to take its throne, Facebook knocks off all challengers, seemingly without much effort.

The social media giant just keeps getting bigger at a feverish pace. In Q1 2017, for example, it ad revenue grew by 51% year over year, from $5.2 billion to $8.85 billion. During that period, its total revenue climbed 49%, and diluted earnings per share (EPS) went from $0.60 to $1.04.

Source: Fool.com