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Shares of data platform company MongoDB dropped Monday on news that its CEO is leaving.

Meta's AI app just dethroned ChatGPT without outperforming it on a single benchmark, and the reason behind that upset has Wall Street rethinking what actually gives a tech giant an edge in the AI race.

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Meta (NASDAQ:META | META Price Prediction) took the No. 1 free spot on the US App Store with its Muse-powered AI app. It moved ahead of ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok even though Muse trails the frontier models on performance. One number explains the upset: Family Daily Active People (DAP). DAP counts the unique users who open Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or WhatsApp each day. It reached 3.60 billion in Q2 2026, up 3% YoY.

Why Distribution Wins Over Benchmarks Revenue and earnings show what Meta already makes money from. DAP shows how quickly Meta can put a new product in front of people. AI-native rivals have to win each install through marketing and word of mouth. Meta can promote its assistant inside apps that billions of people already open every day, so any new AI product it releases starts with a built-in audience.

The launch data shows that head start. According to Sensor Tower, the app logged 730K downloads in its first 5 days. Apptopia counted 1.8M iOS downloads across the US and Canada in 12 days, vs 1.3M for ChatGPT over the same stretch. It also counted 642K daily active US users, nearly 3x ChatGPT’s 231K at the same point post launch.

Management’s own figures point the same way. Since rebuilding Meta AI and integrating Muse Spark, Meta has seen “a 60% increase in the number of people interacting with the assistant each day”. WhatsApp is “already the leading surface where people engage with Meta AI.” A 24/7 Wall St. podcast host summed up the edge: “They have the distribution of everyone signed up so they can plug AI into their products.”

DAP Is Near Its Peak, but Growth Is Slowing DAP keeps rising in total, but its growth rate has cooled off for four straight quarters:

Quarter DAP YoY Growth Q3 2025 3.54 billion +8% Q4 2025 3.58 billion +7% Q1 2026 3.56 billion +4% Q2 2026 3.60 billion +3% More of the growth now comes from engagement per user. In Q2, ad impressions rose 14% and average price per ad climbed 12%. Instagram time spent grew double digits, and Facebook video time rose 9% globally. Serving AI to that audience is expensive. Meta raised its 2026 capex outlook to $130-145B, and Q2 free cash flow fell to $784M from $8.55B a year earlier.

What to Watch Before Meta’s Next Report Bullish: DAP growth holds steady while Meta AI daily users keep climbing, which would show the funnel still has room. Other good signs would be more adoption of Business Agents, already used by more than 1 million businesses, and more growth in Family of Apps other revenue. That line reached $1 billion for the first time, up 73%. Bearish: DAP growth drops off below its current pace, which would suggest Meta’s audience is close to its ceiling. Another warning sign would be Muse app use fading once launch promotion ends. Recent coverage has also focused on AI overspending fears. Expectations are rising. Shares trade at $734.49 in premarket trading, up 27.57% over the past month. Management has guided Q3 revenue to $61-64B.

Verdict: Reach Is Meta’s Real AI Moat Muse reached No. 1 because 3.6 billion people open a Meta app every day, and that reach will shape Meta’s AI results more than any model benchmark.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Varenne Capital Partners bought a new stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 4,080 shares of the social networking company’s stock, valued at approximately $65,000. Meta Platforms comprises about 0.0% of Varenne Capital Partners’ portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in META. Henrickson Nauta Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its position in Meta Platforms by 35.8% during the second quarter. Henrickson Nauta Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 2,064 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,163,000 after acquiring an additional 544 shares during the period. Kintra Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 7.6% in the 2nd quarter. Kintra Wealth LLC now owns 6,503 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $3,869,000 after purchasing an additional 457 shares during the period. Morling Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Morling Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,590 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $896,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. now owns 3,985 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,245,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sovereign Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 6.0% during the 2nd quarter. Sovereign Investment Advisors LLC now owns 879 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $495,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms recently commented on META. Roth Capital cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $750.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Moffett Nathanson decreased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $740.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Citic Securities decreased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $718.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $800.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Wolfe Research reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $700.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have assigned a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $785.90.

View Our Latest Research Report on Meta Platforms Insider Activity In other Meta Platforms news, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 7,848 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total transaction of $4,379,184.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer directly owned 828 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $462,024. This represents a 90.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total transaction of $2,002,514.40. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at $3,875,854.26. This trade represents a 34.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 123,333 shares of company stock valued at $80,795,845 over the last three months. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting Meta Platforms Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:

Positive Sentiment: Muse momentum remains the main bullish catalyst. Early reviews, rising user traction and Meta’s new early-access program for upcoming Muse features are reinforcing expectations that the AI assistant could become a major consumer product and future revenue stream. Meta opens early access program for new Muse features Positive Sentiment: Analysts are raising price targets. Deutsche Bank, TD Cowen, Canaccord Genuity and other firms lifted targets and maintained bullish ratings, citing Muse’s potential to expand Meta beyond advertising through subscriptions, commerce and AI services. Meta price targets raised as Muse gains momentum Positive Sentiment: AI hardware could broaden Muse’s distribution. Meta is integrating Muse into Ray-Ban AI glasses and introducing additional wearable and VR products, creating potential new hardware, services and commerce opportunities. Neutral Sentiment: Friday’s decline appears largely technical. After rising roughly 36% during September and approaching a $2 trillion market value, Meta faced profit-taking and a pullback from recent highs. Bullish options activity suggests some traders continue to view the weakness as a buying opportunity. Neutral Sentiment: Large capital spending remains a key debate. Investors are encouraged by Meta’s AI strategy but remain uncertain whether heavy spending on infrastructure and Reality Labs will generate sufficient returns. Negative Sentiment: New Mexico litigation adds regulatory risk. A jury found that Meta misled state residents in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, potentially increasing legal costs and scrutiny. Meta misled consumers in New Mexico jury case Negative Sentiment: A Muse security vulnerability was identified. Meta is adding clearer safety warnings after a vulnerability reportedly could expose sensitive user information, raising concerns about trust and adoption of its AI agent. Meta bolsters Muse safety warning after vulnerability Negative Sentiment: Competition and monetization obstacles remain. Amazon blocked Muse from accessing its platform, while privacy concerns around camera-equipped glasses and skepticism toward new AI hardware could limit Meta’s growth plans. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds a cautionary signal. Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares and COO Javier Olivan sold shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The transactions do not necessarily indicate reduced confidence, but they add to concerns after the stock’s rapid advance. Meta Platforms Price Performance META stock opened at $751.66 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $615.16 and its two-hundred day moving average is $612.83. The company has a market capitalization of $1.91 trillion, a PE ratio of 28.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.25. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52-week low of $520.26 and a 52-week high of $779.82.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). The company had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The company’s revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a dividend of $0.5250 per share. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

Meta Platforms Profile (Free Report)

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company’s principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Data Centers Got the AI Hype—But Office REITs May Get the Rent Hikes 2 Cybersecurity Stocks Breaking Out as AI Continues to Be a Tailwind 3 More AI Infrastructure Plays Beyond the Big Names CAVA Stock Slips: Sector Fear or Valuation Reality? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding META? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report).

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Styrax Capital LP lessened its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 43.2% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 175,000 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 132,981 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms comprises 6.5% of Styrax Capital LP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Styrax Capital LP’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $98,576,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Morling Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Meta Platforms by 5.0% during the second quarter. Morling Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,590 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $896,000 after buying an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 4.2% in the 2nd quarter. Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. now owns 3,985 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,245,000 after buying an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Sovereign Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 6.0% in the 2nd quarter. Sovereign Investment Advisors LLC now owns 879 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $495,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. now owns 1,983 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $1,117,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the period. Finally, HB Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 17.8% during the 2nd quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 118,576 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $66,793,000 after acquiring an additional 17,912 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:

Positive Sentiment: Muse momentum remains the main bullish catalyst. Early reviews, rising user traction and Meta’s new early-access program for upcoming Muse features are reinforcing expectations that the AI assistant could become a major consumer product and future revenue stream. Meta opens early access program for new Muse features Positive Sentiment: Analysts are raising price targets. Deutsche Bank, TD Cowen, Canaccord Genuity and other firms lifted targets and maintained bullish ratings, citing Muse’s potential to expand Meta beyond advertising through subscriptions, commerce and AI services. Meta price targets raised as Muse gains momentum Positive Sentiment: AI hardware could broaden Muse’s distribution. Meta is integrating Muse into Ray-Ban AI glasses and introducing additional wearable and VR products, creating potential new hardware, services and commerce opportunities. Neutral Sentiment: Friday’s decline appears largely technical. After rising roughly 36% during September and approaching a $2 trillion market value, Meta faced profit-taking and a pullback from recent highs. Bullish options activity suggests some traders continue to view the weakness as a buying opportunity. Neutral Sentiment: Large capital spending remains a key debate. Investors are encouraged by Meta’s AI strategy but remain uncertain whether heavy spending on infrastructure and Reality Labs will generate sufficient returns. Negative Sentiment: New Mexico litigation adds regulatory risk. A jury found that Meta misled state residents in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, potentially increasing legal costs and scrutiny. Meta misled consumers in New Mexico jury case Negative Sentiment: A Muse security vulnerability was identified. Meta is adding clearer safety warnings after a vulnerability reportedly could expose sensitive user information, raising concerns about trust and adoption of its AI agent. Meta bolsters Muse safety warning after vulnerability Negative Sentiment: Competition and monetization obstacles remain. Amazon blocked Muse from accessing its platform, while privacy concerns around camera-equipped glasses and skepticism toward new AI hardware could limit Meta’s growth plans. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds a cautionary signal. Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares and COO Javier Olivan sold shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The transactions do not necessarily indicate reduced confidence, but they add to concerns after the stock’s rapid advance. Meta Platforms Price Performance META stock opened at $751.66 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $1.91 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $615.16 and a 200 day simple moving average of $612.83. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1 year low of $520.26 and a 1 year high of $779.82. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). The company had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.14 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.91%.

Insider Buying and Selling In other Meta Platforms news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total value of $643,535.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 9,770 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,646,237.90. This trade represents a 8.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total value of $28,510,400.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 123,333 shares of company stock worth $80,795,845 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In META has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday. Moffett Nathanson cut their target price on Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $740.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. KeyCorp raised their target price on Meta Platforms from $780.00 to $900.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 23rd. New Street Research decreased their price target on Meta Platforms from $730.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Tigress Financial reissued a “strong-buy” rating and set a $945.00 price target (down from $995.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $785.90.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Meta Platforms

About Meta Platforms (Free Report)

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company’s principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Data Centers Got the AI Hype—But Office REITs May Get the Rent Hikes 2 Cybersecurity Stocks Breaking Out as AI Continues to Be a Tailwind 3 More AI Infrastructure Plays Beyond the Big Names CAVA Stock Slips: Sector Fear or Valuation Reality?

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First Eagle Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 0.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 3,217,353 shares of the social networking company’s stock after acquiring an additional 24,255 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms comprises approximately 2.0% of First Eagle Investment Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 14th largest holding. First Eagle Investment Management LLC owned 0.13% of Meta Platforms worth $1,812,303,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Auto Owners Insurance Co lifted its position in Meta Platforms by 76,587.7% during the fourth quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 105,292,277 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $69,502,379,000 after purchasing an additional 105,154,977 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 52,806,712 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $34,734,628,000 after buying an additional 878,396 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter worth about $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 14.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 21,038,035 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $12,036,491,000 after buying an additional 2,673,494 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 18,200,469 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $12,013,948,000 after buying an additional 1,046,715 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Meta Platforms In other Meta Platforms news, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 7,848 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total value of $4,379,184.00. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer owned 828 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $462,024. This represents a 90.46% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total value of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. The trade was a 17.82% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 123,333 shares of company stock worth $80,795,845 over the last quarter. 13.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week: Positive Sentiment: Muse momentum remains the main bullish catalyst. Early reviews, rising user traction and Meta’s new early-access program for upcoming Muse features are reinforcing expectations that the AI assistant could become a major consumer product and future revenue stream. Meta opens early access program for new Muse features Positive Sentiment: Analysts are raising price targets. Deutsche Bank, TD Cowen, Canaccord Genuity and other firms lifted targets and maintained bullish ratings, citing Muse’s potential to expand Meta beyond advertising through subscriptions, commerce and AI services. Meta price targets raised as Muse gains momentum Positive Sentiment: AI hardware could broaden Muse’s distribution. Meta is integrating Muse into Ray-Ban AI glasses and introducing additional wearable and VR products, creating potential new hardware, services and commerce opportunities. Neutral Sentiment: Friday’s decline appears largely technical. After rising roughly 36% during September and approaching a $2 trillion market value, Meta faced profit-taking and a pullback from recent highs. Bullish options activity suggests some traders continue to view the weakness as a buying opportunity. Neutral Sentiment: Large capital spending remains a key debate. Investors are encouraged by Meta’s AI strategy but remain uncertain whether heavy spending on infrastructure and Reality Labs will generate sufficient returns. Negative Sentiment: New Mexico litigation adds regulatory risk. A jury found that Meta misled state residents in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, potentially increasing legal costs and scrutiny. Meta misled consumers in New Mexico jury case Negative Sentiment: A Muse security vulnerability was identified. Meta is adding clearer safety warnings after a vulnerability reportedly could expose sensitive user information, raising concerns about trust and adoption of its AI agent. Meta bolsters Muse safety warning after vulnerability Negative Sentiment: Competition and monetization obstacles remain. Amazon blocked Muse from accessing its platform, while privacy concerns around camera-equipped glasses and skepticism toward new AI hardware could limit Meta’s growth plans. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds a cautionary signal. Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares and COO Javier Olivan sold shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The transactions do not necessarily indicate reduced confidence, but they add to concerns after the stock’s rapid advance. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages recently commented on META. Phillip Securities raised shares of Meta Platforms from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $795.00 to $750.00 in a report on Monday, August 3rd. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $720.00 to $580.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. BNP Paribas Exane decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $955.00 to $855.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Wedbush raised their price objective on Meta Platforms from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, September 11th. Finally, DZ Bank reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $785.90.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms Stock Performance Meta Platforms stock opened at $751.66 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.91 trillion, a P/E ratio of 28.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.25. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1-year low of $520.26 and a 1-year high of $779.82. The company’s 50-day moving average is $615.16 and its 200 day moving average is $612.83.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). The business had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $7.14 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.5250 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 7.91%.

Meta Platforms Company Profile (Free Report)

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company’s principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Data Centers Got the AI Hype—But Office REITs May Get the Rent Hikes 2 Cybersecurity Stocks Breaking Out as AI Continues to Be a Tailwind 3 More AI Infrastructure Plays Beyond the Big Names CAVA Stock Slips: Sector Fear or Valuation Reality?

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HB Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 17.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 118,576 shares of the social networking company’s stock after acquiring an additional 17,912 shares during the quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $66,793,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in META. Auto Owners Insurance Co increased its stake in Meta Platforms by 76,587.7% in the 4th quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 105,292,277 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $69,502,379,000 after buying an additional 105,154,977 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter valued at about $22,152,075,000. Corient Private Wealth LP grew its stake in Meta Platforms by 723.1% in the 2nd quarter. Corient Private Wealth LP now owns 8,801,764 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $4,957,946,000 after acquiring an additional 7,732,446 shares in the last quarter. Jupiter Topco LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter worth about $2,948,486,000. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 488.1% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 5,466,595 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $3,608,445,000 after acquiring an additional 4,537,076 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Meta Platforms In other Meta Platforms news, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total transaction of $2,002,514.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,271 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. This represents a 34.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. The trade was a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 123,333 shares of company stock valued at $80,795,845 over the last quarter. 13.53% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Meta Platforms News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week: Positive Sentiment: Muse momentum remains the main bullish catalyst. Early reviews, rising user traction and Meta’s new early-access program for upcoming Muse features are reinforcing expectations that the AI assistant could become a major consumer product and future revenue stream. Meta opens early access program for new Muse features Positive Sentiment: Analysts are raising price targets. Deutsche Bank, TD Cowen, Canaccord Genuity and other firms lifted targets and maintained bullish ratings, citing Muse’s potential to expand Meta beyond advertising through subscriptions, commerce and AI services. Meta price targets raised as Muse gains momentum Positive Sentiment: AI hardware could broaden Muse’s distribution. Meta is integrating Muse into Ray-Ban AI glasses and introducing additional wearable and VR products, creating potential new hardware, services and commerce opportunities. Neutral Sentiment: Friday’s decline appears largely technical. After rising roughly 36% during September and approaching a $2 trillion market value, Meta faced profit-taking and a pullback from recent highs. Bullish options activity suggests some traders continue to view the weakness as a buying opportunity. Neutral Sentiment: Large capital spending remains a key debate. Investors are encouraged by Meta’s AI strategy but remain uncertain whether heavy spending on infrastructure and Reality Labs will generate sufficient returns. Negative Sentiment: New Mexico litigation adds regulatory risk. A jury found that Meta misled state residents in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, potentially increasing legal costs and scrutiny. Meta misled consumers in New Mexico jury case Negative Sentiment: A Muse security vulnerability was identified. Meta is adding clearer safety warnings after a vulnerability reportedly could expose sensitive user information, raising concerns about trust and adoption of its AI agent. Meta bolsters Muse safety warning after vulnerability Negative Sentiment: Competition and monetization obstacles remain. Amazon blocked Muse from accessing its platform, while privacy concerns around camera-equipped glasses and skepticism toward new AI hardware could limit Meta’s growth plans. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds a cautionary signal. Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares and COO Javier Olivan sold shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The transactions do not necessarily indicate reduced confidence, but they add to concerns after the stock’s rapid advance. Meta Platforms Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ:META opened at $751.66 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.91 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.25. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $615.16 and a 200 day moving average of $612.83.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). The company had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The firm’s revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $7.14 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.5250 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is 7.91%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth META has been the subject of a number of research reports. TD Cowen boosted their price target on Meta Platforms from $750.00 to $865.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Bank of America restated a “buy” rating and set a $810.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $800.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Finally, Tigress Financial reissued a “strong-buy” rating and set a $945.00 price target (down from $995.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $785.90.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Meta Platforms

About Meta Platforms (Free Report)

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company’s principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Data Centers Got the AI Hype—But Office REITs May Get the Rent Hikes 2 Cybersecurity Stocks Breaking Out as AI Continues to Be a Tailwind 3 More AI Infrastructure Plays Beyond the Big Names CAVA Stock Slips: Sector Fear or Valuation Reality?

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Shares of Meta Platforms (META -3.33%) rose 13% this past week, driven by excitement over the tech titan's new Muse personal artificial intelligence (AI) agent and innovative devices designed to expand its capabilities.

Image source: Getty Images.

Muse could be a huge hit Meta's new AI agent app quickly surged to the top of Apple's rankings for the most-downloaded free iPhone apps in the U.S. Users are intrigued by Muse's ability to perform tasks like managing email, shopping, and making travel reservations.

With its intuitive design, Muse could see rapid uptake by a sizable portion of the social media giant's 3.6 billion daily active users.

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New hardware could accelerate Muse's growth Meta also debuted a slate of new devices that integrate with Muse at its Connect 2026 event on Wednesday.

Meta's new AI glasses will allow people to talk to Muse and have the AI agent take action based on what they're looking at. Partnerships with Shopify, Walmart, and a host of other retailers, travel sites, and digital payment companies add to the devices' usefulness.

Meta VR Glasses go even further to include "a personal cinema, courtside seat, workspace, and gaming console." The lightweight virtual reality glasses are designed to deliver immersive experiences from IMAX, Disney, and other entertainment leaders. They can also serve as a personalized workstation by allowing users to turn any flat surface into a keyboard and touchpad.

These intriguing new product launches are making investors more bullish on Meta's prospects in an increasingly AI agent-driven world.

Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Meta Platforms, Shopify, Walmart, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Meta's new Muse AI agent has Wall Street buzzing and shares surging, but the company has yet to reveal a single usage or revenue figure to back up the hype before a critical October earnings report.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

A recent Barron’s Roundtable segment on Fox Business put Meta (NASDAQ:META | META Price Prediction) put Meta’s new Muse AI agent through several real-world tasks, from finding forgotten subscriptions to helping book a flight. The demos were impressive, and Meta stock has rocketed more than 30% over the past month.

But Meta has yet to disclose usage or revenue from Muse, while its enormous AI spending is already weighing on cash flow. Here’s what investors should know before Meta reports earnings in October.

Meta’s New AI Agent Looks Surprisingly Capable Panelists said Muse reviewed a credit card statement to find forgotten subscriptions, took a user directly to a JetBlue shopping cart to book a flight, and returned doctor phone numbers and links.

A panelist noted this all happened without handing over credit card details or email access, which is a genuine advantage for users. On the recent July 29 earnings call, CEO Mark Zuckerburg said privacy and security will be fundamental to the company’s agent strategy and that “consumer personal agents is going to end up being an extremely important and massive market.” CNBC previously reported that Meta delayed Muse for months over security concerns, so the delay helped Meta deliver a more secure product.

A panelist argued Muse is a potential risk for Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) because task completion could substitute using Google Search. A user who books a flight inside an assistant skips the results page where Google sells ads.

Meta Is Spending a Fortune on AI The host said Meta spends roughly $200 billion a year on AI-related initiatives. Capital expenditure, the line that covers data centers and servers, was $72.22 billion for full-year 2025. Management guides 2026 capex to $130-$145 billion, and second-quarter capex was $30.12 billion. Additionally, Meta has spent a little over $70 billion on research & development in the past 12 months, bringing their total expected 2026 spend to over $200 billion.

Q2 free cash flow fell to $784M from $8.55B, and diluted EPS of $6.18 missed the $7.22 estimate.

Meta Soars 30% in a Month Meta stock has ripped about 12.98% in the past week, and over one month, shares rose 30.56%. Over one year, Meta is up only 0.69%, meaning the Muse rally has sent shareholders roughly back to where they started.

What to Watch Next Muse gives Meta another credible path to monetize its enormous AI investment, but investors still have little hard data showing what the product is worth.

That makes Meta’s next earnings report especially important. The company is expected to report Q3 results on October 28, with consensus calling for EPS of $6.40 and revenue guidance of $61-$64 billion.

Any disclosure on Muse users, engagement, or revenue would give investors their first real evidence that Meta’s newest AI product can justify the excitement already priced into the stock.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

It wasn't that long ago that Meta Platforms (META -3.33%) founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg recognized his company's artificial intelligence strategy was falling well short of where it needed to be. Immense spending and a lackluster Llama 4 model were the catalyst for Meta to reinvent itself and its approach to AI development.

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Zuckerberg then hired wunderkind Alexandr Wang in mid-2025 to run Meta Superintelligence Labs. Since then, the company has not only caught up in the AI race, but may have pulled ahead this week. The 27-year-old Wang is proving to be a smart bet who will keep Meta at the forefront of AI model development. This past spring, Meta launched Muse Spark and has been rapidly releasing updates since.

This month, Meta released a personal agent called Muse, which quickly gained traction online and shot up to No. 1 in Apple's app store. The Muse agent is supposed to be extremely easy to use, even for the most nontechnical among us. The goal is for the personal agent to help with everyday tasks such as sending emails and booking travel.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Meta's expected $145 billion in capital expenditures hasn't yet been fully justified, but the company is getting closer. There will continue to be volatility as the race to develop AI is hotly contested. Still, Meta has once again shown it can regain relevance and dominance even after falling significantly behind.

Meta's AI comeback has been the catalyst behind the stock's rebound. Shares of Meta are now up more than 16% year to date. This is just the latest example of why shareholders shouldn't doubt that Zuckerberg will find a way to win in the long term. As long as Wang is running the Superintelligence Lab, I'm bullish on Meta.

Catie Hogan has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) shares traded down 3.3% on Friday. The stock traded as low as $746.54 and last traded at $751.66. Approximately 25,483,508 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 46% from the average session volume of 17,474,625 shares. The stock had previously closed at $777.59.

Meta Platforms News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:

Positive Sentiment: Muse momentum remains the main bullish catalyst. Early reviews, rising user traction and Meta’s new early-access program for upcoming Muse features are reinforcing expectations that the AI assistant could become a major consumer product and future revenue stream. Meta opens early access program for new Muse features Positive Sentiment: Analysts are raising price targets. Deutsche Bank, TD Cowen, Canaccord Genuity and other firms lifted targets and maintained bullish ratings, citing Muse’s potential to expand Meta beyond advertising through subscriptions, commerce and AI services. Meta price targets raised as Muse gains momentum Positive Sentiment: AI hardware could broaden Muse’s distribution. Meta is integrating Muse into Ray-Ban AI glasses and introducing additional wearable and VR products, creating potential new hardware, services and commerce opportunities. Neutral Sentiment: Friday’s decline appears largely technical. After rising roughly 36% during September and approaching a $2 trillion market value, Meta faced profit-taking and a pullback from recent highs. Bullish options activity suggests some traders continue to view the weakness as a buying opportunity. Neutral Sentiment: Large capital spending remains a key debate. Investors are encouraged by Meta’s AI strategy but remain uncertain whether heavy spending on infrastructure and Reality Labs will generate sufficient returns. Negative Sentiment: New Mexico litigation adds regulatory risk. A jury found that Meta misled state residents in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, potentially increasing legal costs and scrutiny. Meta misled consumers in New Mexico jury case Negative Sentiment: A Muse security vulnerability was identified. Meta is adding clearer safety warnings after a vulnerability reportedly could expose sensitive user information, raising concerns about trust and adoption of its AI agent. Meta bolsters Muse safety warning after vulnerability Negative Sentiment: Competition and monetization obstacles remain. Amazon blocked Muse from accessing its platform, while privacy concerns around camera-equipped glasses and skepticism toward new AI hardware could limit Meta’s growth plans. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds a cautionary signal. Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares and COO Javier Olivan sold shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The transactions do not necessarily indicate reduced confidence, but they add to concerns after the stock’s rapid advance. Analyst Ratings Changes META has been the topic of several research reports. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $930.00 to $950.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Citic Securities lowered their target price on Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $718.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $725.00 target price (down from $815.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Erste Group Bank upgraded Meta Platforms from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Meta Platforms from $710.00 to $875.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $785.90.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Meta Platforms Meta Platforms Price Performance The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $615.16 and its 200-day simple moving average is $613.07. The firm has a market cap of $1.91 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The company had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $7.14 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms In other Meta Platforms news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total transaction of $643,535.42. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 9,770 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,646,237.90. The trade was a 8.83% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total value of $2,002,514.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at $3,875,854.26. This represents a 34.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 123,333 shares of company stock worth $80,795,845. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Meta Platforms A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of META. Auto Owners Insurance Co boosted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 76,587.7% in the fourth quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 105,292,277 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $69,502,379,000 after purchasing an additional 105,154,977 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 92,033,963 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $51,841,811,000 after buying an additional 3,510,123 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 52,806,712 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $34,734,628,000 after buying an additional 878,396 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter valued at about $22,152,075,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 14.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 21,038,035 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $12,036,491,000 after buying an additional 2,673,494 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Meta Platforms (Get Free Report)

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company’s principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.

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William John Sempolinski bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 5,515 shares of the social networking company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,107,000. Meta Platforms makes up approximately 1.3% of William John Sempolinski’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest holding.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Auto Owners Insurance Co boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 76,587.7% during the 4th quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 105,292,277 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $69,502,379,000 after buying an additional 105,154,977 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 52,806,712 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $34,734,628,000 after acquiring an additional 878,396 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the 4th quarter valued at $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 14.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 21,038,035 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $12,036,491,000 after acquiring an additional 2,673,494 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 6.1% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 18,200,469 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $12,013,948,000 after purchasing an additional 1,046,715 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Meta Platforms Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ META opened at $751.66 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.91 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.31, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $520.26 and a fifty-two week high of $779.82. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $615.16 and its 200 day simple moving average is $613.07.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The company had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a $0.5250 dividend. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is presently 7.91%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades META has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $785.00 to $875.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Meta Platforms from $710.00 to $875.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Citic Securities dropped their price target on Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $718.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Tigress Financial reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $945.00 price target (down from $995.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on Meta Platforms from $930.00 to $950.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $785.90.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Meta Platforms

Insider Activity at Meta Platforms In other Meta Platforms news, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total transaction of $2,002,514.40. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. This trade represents a 34.07% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at $131,515,624.16. This represents a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 123,333 shares of company stock valued at $80,795,845. 13.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Meta Platforms News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:

Positive Sentiment: Muse momentum remains the main bullish catalyst. Early reviews, rising user traction and Meta’s new early-access program for upcoming Muse features are reinforcing expectations that the AI assistant could become a major consumer product and future revenue stream. Meta opens early access program for new Muse features Positive Sentiment: Analysts are raising price targets. Deutsche Bank, TD Cowen, Canaccord Genuity and other firms lifted targets and maintained bullish ratings, citing Muse’s potential to expand Meta beyond advertising through subscriptions, commerce and AI services. Meta price targets raised as Muse gains momentum Positive Sentiment: AI hardware could broaden Muse’s distribution. Meta is integrating Muse into Ray-Ban AI glasses and introducing additional wearable and VR products, creating potential new hardware, services and commerce opportunities. Neutral Sentiment: Friday’s decline appears largely technical. After rising roughly 36% during September and approaching a $2 trillion market value, Meta faced profit-taking and a pullback from recent highs. Bullish options activity suggests some traders continue to view the weakness as a buying opportunity. Neutral Sentiment: Large capital spending remains a key debate. Investors are encouraged by Meta’s AI strategy but remain uncertain whether heavy spending on infrastructure and Reality Labs will generate sufficient returns. Negative Sentiment: New Mexico litigation adds regulatory risk. A jury found that Meta misled state residents in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, potentially increasing legal costs and scrutiny. Meta misled consumers in New Mexico jury case Negative Sentiment: A Muse security vulnerability was identified. Meta is adding clearer safety warnings after a vulnerability reportedly could expose sensitive user information, raising concerns about trust and adoption of its AI agent. Meta bolsters Muse safety warning after vulnerability Negative Sentiment: Competition and monetization obstacles remain. Amazon blocked Muse from accessing its platform, while privacy concerns around camera-equipped glasses and skepticism toward new AI hardware could limit Meta’s growth plans. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds a cautionary signal. Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares and COO Javier Olivan sold shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The transactions do not necessarily indicate reduced confidence, but they add to concerns after the stock’s rapid advance. Meta Platforms Company Profile (Free Report)

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company’s principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms 3 Defense Stocks Riding Nuclear, Missile, and Aerospace Demand SoFi Is Bypassing the Banking Bottleneck With Stablecoin Settlement These 3 Overlooked Stocks Have Big Money Behind Them Darden Restaurants Serves Up Fresh Catalysts for a Stock Price Rally Want to see what other hedge funds are holding META? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report).

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The Meta data center in Louisiana is creating a housing boom By You're currently following this author! Click to unsubscribe from email alerts.

Meta is building its Hyperion data center in Holly Ridge, Louisiana. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect For decades, Richland Parish remained a small farming community nestled in Louisiana's northeast corner.

Residents living in the parish — a spattering of rural towns and unincorporated communities — had come to know their home for its slower pace of life. Much of the area is filled with winding back roads, sprawling farmland, and a skyline free of towering skyscrapers. The closest major regional city is Monroe, about 30 minutes west, with a population more than twice that of Richland Parish.

It's the kind of place where everybody claims to know everybody, or at very least, has heard of them.

Now Meta has arrived, and things are changing.

In December 2024, the company announced plans to build its largest data center to date in Richland Parish, specifically near the unincorporated community of Holly Ridge, which local outlets report has fewer than 2,000 residents. Meta said the $50 billion, multi-year project would support around 7,500 jobs at the peak of construction and around 1,000 operational jobs, eclipsing the local community by thousands.

Angel Crawford of Delhi, a town about 10 minutes west of Holly Ridge, first noticed a surge in construction and operational workers arriving in her community last year.

Around that time, she and her husband, Bryan, opened a mobile home park to help address the housing gap.

Angel and Bryan Crawford founded Antley Pines.

Angel and Bryan Crawford purchased land in Delhi, Louisiana, to build a mobile home park. Angel Crawford Bryan and Angel Crawford initially worked in the nursing industry, but pivoted careers in 2024 after becoming empty nesters.

"We started with real estate and rentals because they are very much needed in this area," Angel told Business Insider. "It's very rural here, so when there are fluctuating prices in the market, it doesn't really hit us because there are never enough houses for sale or rent."

They began buying older homes and fixer-uppers that year.

"We had a vision to create a mobile home park, and already purchased some land when we heard about Meta's data center. That's what pushed us to keep going forward, " Angel said. "We understood there wasn't enough housing for residents, and our dream of building more multifamily houses was right in line to do that."

In 2024, the couple founded Parish Line Properties, which operates 18 homes in the area, including a mobile home park called Antley Pines. Of the 18 homes, 14 are considered workforce housing.

Many residents in the park are contractors working for Meta.

Antley Pines in Delhi, Louisiana, has 10 mobile homes. Business Insider In many ways, Richland Parish is a microcosm of the debate about data centers across the US. Some Americans are optimistic about data centers, citing new jobs, revitalized economies, and the securing of the country's lead over China in AI development. Others are more critical, expressing concerns about the environment, the strain on utility grids, and how the acceleration of AI could impact the job market.

"Around here, people feel one way or the other about the data center. Either people are excited about the opportunities, or they hate them. There's no in between," Angel said. "I see it as an opportunity for us to have more experiences in our area and jobs for our children, so they can stay here instead of moving away."

The Crawfords opened Antley Pines in December 2025. Despite some locals' mixed feelings about the data center, the demand for housing is undeniable.

"All the homes were secured by deposits from Meta workers before we even got them into the park," Angel said.

She said many of her tenants are subcontractors, like electricians, working with Meta.

The mobile home park is 15 minutes from Meta's construction site.

Antley Pines is one of many mobile home and RV parks that have popped up in Richland Parish. Business Insider Although Antley Pines isn't directly in Holly Ridge, the mobile park is still reaping the economic benefits.

"Location is very important to Meta's workers because they work six to seven days a week and 12-plus hours a day. They leave around 4:30 in the morning, and they don't come home until 7 at night," Angel said.

That kind of routine can take a toll on workers, many of whom are not from the area.

"One of the big things my tenants tell me is that if they live in Dallas and it's 30 miles to work, it takes about 30 minutes. Well, in rural areas, 30 miles could take 60 minutes because of all the back roads and little towns you have to go through," she said. "The closer they can get to the job site, the better."

The influx of workers has boosted market prices.

The homes at Antley Pines have four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Angel Crawford Antley Pines offers fully furnished four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes, which Angel said gives workers the option of staying with family or rooming with colleagues. She said the homes, which come with amenities, cost an average of $3,000 a month with utilities.

"I don't have any problem with getting tenants in those homes at that price point," Angel said. "Before Meta arrived, an unfurnished house without utilities in the same area would probably go for around $1,200 to $1,500 a month."

In Richland Parish, the median household income was around $53,000 in 2024.

"We've assured our local long-term tenants that we won't increase their rent. That's not what we're about. We're not going to put local tenants in a bind. We're going to find different and new properties to help with workforce housing," she said.

Amenities like WiFi are in high demand.

Wi-fi access is a major selling point for construction and operational workers in Richland Parish. Angel Crawford Angel said there are a few common requests among the construction and operational workers under Meta.

"As soon as they get into their rentals, 'What's the WiFi password?' is their first question," Angel said. "Some don't have their family here, so they want to do FaceTime."

The tenants also value an escape from the bustling construction site.

"They're with a lot of people all day long. They don't want to come home to a lot of noise," Angel said. "All of them say they love the peace and quiet."

Workforce housing is more popular than ever.

Angel Crawford frequently gets calls and texts from tenants about potential lodging. Angel Crawford The demand for lodging in the area has continued to grow, Angel said.

"I get phone calls or text messages almost daily. Most of them are from my current tenants who have met someone who's looking for somewhere to stay," she said. "If you go on any of the websites, like Realtor.com, not all local rental properties are listed on there."

That's what led her to create StayNELA, a third-party website connecting tenants with property owners in 2025.

"I did a lot of research for several months by driving around the area and looking at all the different signs in people's yards or at four-way stops that you couldn't read properly. I kept a log, took pictures, and kept them in a folder on my phone. If anything was on Facebook about a rental, I saved it."

Some locals are also working on the data center.

Angel Crawford said Meta data center is attracting local, young talent. Angel Crawford While some construction workers traveled to work on Meta's data center, others were locals leveraging the opportunity that arrived in their backyard, Angel said.

"A lot of young men in this area work offshore at oil rigs, so it's a lot of time spent away from home," she said. "We know a lot of young people who are working at the construction site right now who would usually be off working away from home."

She added, "Hopefully, it'll bring more jobs to the area for our kids and grandkids."

There's uncertainty around how long construction workers will remain in Richland Parish.

Angel Crawford said tenants have requested month-to-month leases to accommodate their jobs. Angel Crawford Construction on Meta's data center is expected to continue for several years, but there's uncertainty among workers about how long they'll be in Richland Parish.

"Most of them don't know how long they're going to be here. They hope they're going to be here long-term, but in construction, they don't get told until it's done," Angel said.

Month-to-month leasing is among the top requests from tenants.

A future without Meta.

The Crawfords said they may sell or rent the properties once Meta's data center construction ends. Business Insider Although Meta's presence in Richland Parish has become the new normal, it won't last forever.

The data center will eventually become operational, meaning construction will wane, and workers will leave. The Crawfords have thought about a future without Meta, and they're not worried.

"Each home in our mobile park is on one-fourth of an acre. After Meta's gone, we can sell them individually or rent them out," Angel said.

For now, though, they're focused on the economic benefits that have come to Richland Parish from the data center project.

"We've seen a lot of laundromats, RV parks, and mobile home parks come to the area," Angel said. "It's great for the economy in our area because people who we've worked with who install electrical systems, septic systems, plumbing, gravel, and all those things are busy because Meta's here."

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Lauren Edmonds You're currently following this author! Click to unsubscribe from email alerts.

Data Centers Meta Real Estate More Housing Big Tech

Shares of Meta Platforms (META -3.33%) are up around 30% so far in September as I write this, from $572.34 at the end of August to about $750. With the month ending Wednesday, this puts the stock on track for its largest monthly rise since July 2013.

The rally has taken shares to within around 5% of their record close of $790.00, hit in August 2025. And most of it has come since Sept. 8, when Meta released Muse, a personal artificial intelligence (AI) agent that can book travel, fill out forms, and send emails for its users.

Since its 2012 initial public offering, the stock has climbed 20% or more in a single month nine times, and shares were up 12 months later every time. But does this month look like the others?

Image source: Getty Images.

A perfect recordThe nine months aren't spaced evenly. Three came in 2012 and 2013, one each in 2019 and 2020, and four between November 2022 and February 2024.

Twelve months after each, shares were up anywhere from 21% (after January 2019) to 177% (after November 2022). The median one-year gain was around 68%.

It's an impressive record. But I wouldn't rely on it too much. Nine is a small sample, and some of these months overlap. The three that landed between November 2022 and March 2023 were arguably one rebound.

Earlier rallies came with reported numbersMost of those earlier months came with hard evidence (usually a reported quarter or a big cost decision) that the core business was about to earn more.

The 2012 and 2013 surges tracked the company's shift to mobile ads, when it was still called Facebook. Mobile ads made up around 14% of advertising revenue in the third quarter of 2012. By the second quarter of 2013, that share was 41%, and the next quarter it hit 49%. The July 2013 jump followed a report showing revenue up 53% year over year.

January 2019 saw a fourth-quarter report with revenue up 30%. And in April 2020, the company said ad revenue had flattened out around the previous year's level in the first three weeks of the month, after a sharp fall in March.

Next came the cost cuts. In November 2022, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced layoffs of over 11,000 employees, around 13% of the workforce. In March 2023, he said the company expected to cut about 10,000 more.

By the fourth quarter of 2023, Meta's operating margin had climbed to 41% from 20% a year before. The February 2024 report for that quarter also brought the company's first dividend and a $50 billion boost in its share buyback authorization.

In short, the market was mostly reacting to numbers it could already see.

Does Muse match the pattern?This month is different. It came between earnings reports, and the main evidence behind it is app downloads.

Muse became the top free app on Apple's U.S. App Store and had over 2.5 million downloads in its first two weeks, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower. Shares surged over 11% on Monday, Sept. 21, amid the buzz. And at its Connect event this week, Meta said Muse is coming to its AI glasses.

The downloads are a promising start, of course, but they aren't revenue. Muse is free for most of what users need, with subscription plans for those who want to do more. At Connect, Zuckerberg said Meta expects to make money over time by taking a small fee from the transactions Muse completes.

Meta also says Muse doesn't share a user's chats or data with its ad systems. So unlike the mobile shift or the cost cuts, it doesn't feed straight into the advertising business that produced around 98% of Meta's second-quarter revenue.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

78/100

Today's Change

(

-3.33

%) $

-25.93

Current Price

$

751.66

The ads business is still growing quickly. But it's slowing. Sales rose 28% year over year in the April-to-June quarter, below the 33% rate from January through March. And management's forecast for the third quarter implies growth somewhere between 19% and 25%. Second-quarter earnings per share also dropped 13% as costs and expenses jumped 55%, partly from legal and severance charges.

Is this month like the ones before it? Only partly. The core business is strong. And at around 22 times 2027 earnings estimates, the stock looks reasonably priced for a company growing revenue so fast.

But most of the earlier 20% months came with reported results or big cost decisions behind them. This one relies mainly on a product whose revenue hasn't shown up in Meta's results yet.

I'd still consider buying shares here -- mostly for the ads business, with the historical record as a small tailwind. Whether Muse becomes a meaningful revenue line is something investors likely won't know for a while.

TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 2.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 466,932 shares of the social networking company’s stock after purchasing an additional 13,175 shares during the period. Meta Platforms makes up about 0.8% of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $286,398,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. RHL Group LLC acquired a new position in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Advantage Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Niles Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the first quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Bayban increased its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Bayban now owns 70 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes META has been the topic of a number of research reports. Tigress Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $945.00 price objective (down from $995.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday. UBS Group reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Wednesday. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $763.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Daiwa Securities Group lowered their price target on Meta Platforms from $790.00 to $687.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Phillip Securities upgraded Meta Platforms from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $795.00 to $750.00 in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $785.90.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Meta Platforms Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms In other Meta Platforms news, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total value of $2,002,514.40. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. This represents a 34.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total transaction of $643,535.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 9,770 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,646,237.90. This represents a 8.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 123,333 shares of company stock worth $80,795,845. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting Meta Platforms Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:

Positive Sentiment: Muse momentum remains the main bullish catalyst. Early reviews, rising user traction and Meta’s new early-access program for upcoming Muse features are reinforcing expectations that the AI assistant could become a major consumer product and future revenue stream. Meta opens early access program for new Muse features Positive Sentiment: Analysts are raising price targets. Deutsche Bank, TD Cowen, Canaccord Genuity and other firms lifted targets and maintained bullish ratings, citing Muse’s potential to expand Meta beyond advertising through subscriptions, commerce and AI services. Meta price targets raised as Muse gains momentum Positive Sentiment: AI hardware could broaden Muse’s distribution. Meta is integrating Muse into Ray-Ban AI glasses and introducing additional wearable and VR products, creating potential new hardware, services and commerce opportunities. Neutral Sentiment: Friday’s decline appears largely technical. After rising roughly 36% during September and approaching a $2 trillion market value, Meta faced profit-taking and a pullback from recent highs. Bullish options activity suggests some traders continue to view the weakness as a buying opportunity. Neutral Sentiment: Large capital spending remains a key debate. Investors are encouraged by Meta’s AI strategy but remain uncertain whether heavy spending on infrastructure and Reality Labs will generate sufficient returns. Negative Sentiment: New Mexico litigation adds regulatory risk. A jury found that Meta misled state residents in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, potentially increasing legal costs and scrutiny. Meta misled consumers in New Mexico jury case Negative Sentiment: A Muse security vulnerability was identified. Meta is adding clearer safety warnings after a vulnerability reportedly could expose sensitive user information, raising concerns about trust and adoption of its AI agent. Meta bolsters Muse safety warning after vulnerability Negative Sentiment: Competition and monetization obstacles remain. Amazon blocked Muse from accessing its platform, while privacy concerns around camera-equipped glasses and skepticism toward new AI hardware could limit Meta’s growth plans. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds a cautionary signal. Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares and COO Javier Olivan sold shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The transactions do not necessarily indicate reduced confidence, but they add to concerns after the stock’s rapid advance. Meta Platforms Stock Down 3.3% Shares of Meta Platforms stock opened at $751.66 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $615.16 and its two-hundred day moving average is $613.07. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1 year low of $520.26 and a 1 year high of $779.82. The stock has a market cap of $1.91 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.31, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The company had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $7.14 EPS. Meta Platforms’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a dividend of $0.5250 per share. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

About Meta Platforms (Free Report)

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company’s principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Costco Ends Its Fiscal Year on a High Note, Eyes Big Expansion Cracker Barrel Stock Is Rallying Again, But the Turnaround Still Has a Traffic Problem Oracle’s Force Majeure Notice Exposes a Bigger Problem for the AI Build-Out Oil May Be Stronger Than It Looks—And Diamondback Is on Sale

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Syon Capital LLC increased its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 4.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 88,105 shares of the social networking company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,819 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms comprises 2.2% of Syon Capital LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 7th largest holding. Syon Capital LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $49,629,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Auto Owners Insurance Co raised its stake in Meta Platforms by 76,587.7% during the fourth quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 105,292,277 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $69,502,379,000 after buying an additional 105,154,977 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms during the 4th quarter worth about $22,152,075,000. Corient Private Wealth LP raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 723.1% in the 2nd quarter. Corient Private Wealth LP now owns 8,801,764 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $4,957,946,000 after acquiring an additional 7,732,446 shares in the last quarter. Jupiter Topco LLC bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter worth about $2,948,486,000. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 488.1% in the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 5,466,595 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $3,608,445,000 after purchasing an additional 4,537,076 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity In other news, CFO Susan Li sold 9,196 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total value of $5,063,409.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 13,186 shares in the company, valued at $7,260,343.46. This trade represents a 41.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 123,333 shares of company stock valued at $80,795,845. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Meta Platforms News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week: Positive Sentiment: Muse momentum remains the main bullish catalyst. Early reviews, rising user traction and Meta’s new early-access program for upcoming Muse features are reinforcing expectations that the AI assistant could become a major consumer product and future revenue stream. Meta opens early access program for new Muse features Positive Sentiment: Analysts are raising price targets. Deutsche Bank, TD Cowen, Canaccord Genuity and other firms lifted targets and maintained bullish ratings, citing Muse’s potential to expand Meta beyond advertising through subscriptions, commerce and AI services. Meta price targets raised as Muse gains momentum Positive Sentiment: AI hardware could broaden Muse’s distribution. Meta is integrating Muse into Ray-Ban AI glasses and introducing additional wearable and VR products, creating potential new hardware, services and commerce opportunities. Neutral Sentiment: Friday’s decline appears largely technical. After rising roughly 36% during September and approaching a $2 trillion market value, Meta faced profit-taking and a pullback from recent highs. Bullish options activity suggests some traders continue to view the weakness as a buying opportunity. Neutral Sentiment: Large capital spending remains a key debate. Investors are encouraged by Meta’s AI strategy but remain uncertain whether heavy spending on infrastructure and Reality Labs will generate sufficient returns. Negative Sentiment: New Mexico litigation adds regulatory risk. A jury found that Meta misled state residents in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, potentially increasing legal costs and scrutiny. Meta misled consumers in New Mexico jury case Negative Sentiment: A Muse security vulnerability was identified. Meta is adding clearer safety warnings after a vulnerability reportedly could expose sensitive user information, raising concerns about trust and adoption of its AI agent. Meta bolsters Muse safety warning after vulnerability Negative Sentiment: Competition and monetization obstacles remain. Amazon blocked Muse from accessing its platform, while privacy concerns around camera-equipped glasses and skepticism toward new AI hardware could limit Meta’s growth plans. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds a cautionary signal. Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares and COO Javier Olivan sold shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The transactions do not necessarily indicate reduced confidence, but they add to concerns after the stock’s rapid advance. Meta Platforms Stock Performance NASDAQ:META opened at $751.66 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.91 trillion, a P/E ratio of 28.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $615.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $613.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1 year low of $520.26 and a 1 year high of $779.82.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $7.14 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is 7.91%.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts recently commented on META shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $770.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday. BNP Paribas Exane dropped their price target on Meta Platforms from $955.00 to $855.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Monness Crespi & Hardt cut their price target on Meta Platforms from $890.00 to $730.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $800.00 price objective (down from $850.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Wednesday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $785.90.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms Company Profile (Free Report)

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company’s principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.

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Two companies now say they will accept advertising for director Alex Gibney’s upcoming documentary about Elon Musk, following earlier reporting that a number of social media platforms had rejected the ads.

The Hollywood Reporter published a story Friday saying that TikTok, Meta, YouTube, and X had all refused to run paid ads promoting the trailer for “Musk.”

However, when TechCrunch reached out to Meta on Saturday, a spokesperson said, “This was an error and the ads are being restored.” We’ve asked Meta for more details and will update this article if we hear back.

YouTube also posted an update Saturday, noting that “the trailer has always been available on YouTube.” (Indeed, that’s how we were able embed it at the end of this article.) The company added, “When submitted as an ad, it was temporarily restricted by our system. Following review the ad has been cleared to run.”

X’s rejection is unsurprising — Musk, who owns the social media platform, recently posted that “Dogshit is worth more respect than Gibney.” 

But Meta, TikTok, and YouTube reportedly rejected the ad for “political content,” which the platforms have various restrictions on. (Meta said last year that it will stop accepting political ads in the European Union, while TikTok says it doesn’t run them at all.) It’s not clear how a documentary trailer counts as campaign advertising, and the film’s U.S. distributor Bleecker Street told the Hollywood Reporter that it had appealed the rejections.

Gibney has directed acclaimed documentaries including “Going Clear” (about the Church of Scientology) and “The Inventor” (about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos), as well as a movie about Steve Jobs. “Musk,” his latest, premiered at the Venice International Film Festival earlier this month and has received almost universally positive reviews. The film currently has a 100% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is set for theatrical release in the United States on October 9.

Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri described the nearly four-hour documentary as a revealing look at Musk’s tech career, his alliance with President Donald Trump, and his personal life, with interview subjects including ex-wife Justine Musk and former right-wing influencer Ashley St. Clair (who recently had a child with Musk but now describes him as “a nuke”).

Ebiri wrote that while the film is a “fascinating” character study, adding, “As a tale of modern business, it’s revealing. And as a warning about our future, it’s terrifying.”

Despite the initial wave of critical acclaim, The Hollywood Reporter also said that Universal Pictures was wavering in its commitment to distribute the film internationally, reportedly due to the studio’s fear of angering the Trump administration. (Universal subsequently said it will release the documentary in theaters but is still figuring out its release strategy).

TechCrunch has also reached out to TikTok, X, and Bleecker Street for comment.

This post has been updated to include YouTube’s statement that it has cleared the ad.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Anthony Ha is TechCrunch’s weekend editor. Previously, he worked as a tech reporter at Adweek, a senior editor at VentureBeat, a local government reporter at the Hollister Free Lance, and vice president of content at a VC firm. He lives in New York City.

You can contact or verify outreach from Anthony by emailing [email protected].

A jury in New Mexico on Friday found that Facebook's parent company, Meta, deceived users about privacy protections in a case linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, U.S. media reported.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hypes up its Muse AI assistant at the company's Connect event. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu A year ago, Meta was struggling to convince Silicon Valley that it could keep up in the AI race. Now it has one of the industry's hottest products.

Muse, Meta's new personal AI assistant, has rocketed to the top of the App Store and become a victory lap for CEO Mark Zuckerberg's massive AI spending. Meta's Connect conference this week was all about the app, which AI chief Alexandr Wang — who is 29 and has been posting risqué memes of Muse's mascot all week — called a "banger."

Getting there required months of painstaking work, a team led by former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman, and thousands of employees pulled from across Meta to teach the agent how to actually get things done, employees told Business Insider.

Meta also snapped up top AI agent talent through acqui-hires, including the leaders of Dreamer, an AI agent startup.

Whether Meta can sustain Muse's momentum is another question. Competitors like Instinct are thriving, and OpenAI is widely expected to launch a rival. Privacy concerns have also arisen, as Muse requires broad access to users' accounts to function. Meta employees are still reeling from a year of mass layoffs, employee surveillance, and low morale.

For now, at least, Muse's success — and a more than 20% increase in Meta's stock price since its launch — has become a morale boost, employees said. It also proves that Meta remains firmly in the AI race after being seen as a laggard a year ago.

"Muse is busy working for millions of people because of the hard work of a bunch of people at Meta — and we're still cooking," a Meta spokesperson said.

Nat Friedman grinds to turn Muse into a hitMuse's success was far from inevitable.

Since September 2025, Friedman, who heads the superintelligence unit's Products and Applied Research team, has been working hard on Muse, then codenamed "Hatch."

As recently as two weeks before Muse's launch this month, the chatbot struggled with speaking good English, a person directly familiar with the matter said — and it came as a huge relief when it finally started scoring well on coherence tests.

Earlier this year, some of Meta's top AI employees were also worried about Muse, an employee told Business Insider. They had tried it out and found it working poorly — it felt like just another chatbot, but with a worse underlying AI model and extra steps, that person added.

Friedman's team eventually pulled it off. Tens of thousands of Meta employees tested Muse for months, coming up with a range of use cases for the agent, which became key to the effort.

That data helped Friedman's team improve Muse's ability to do things like book meetings and cancel plane tickets: the painful work of getting better at increasingly complex tasks, or "hill-climbing," as Silicon Valley calls it.

The team trained Muse to be considerate so that it didn't overshare, like telling people someone couldn't make a meeting because they were hungover, the person familiar said. Meta also focused on ensuring it could interact with the internet seamlessly by using tools it hadn't used before.

"Our researchers did a ton of work teaching agents how to choose the right tool for a job," Wang said this week at Connect.

Friedman's role was critical. Zuckerberg brought in the executive last year as part of a deal to buy a stake in his venture capital fund, NFDG. Last year, Friedman and Wang cowrote a memo outlining a "superintelligent personal sidekick" that would act as a trusted friend and advisor.

Friedman is unabashedly technical and hands-on. Internally, the executive is opinionated and proud of it, chafing with other teams across Meta's sprawling operations, one of the employees said. Meta's communications chief, Andy Stone, recently called him "Nat the Truthteller" after he derided a report about Muse's security as written by "dummies."

He also moves fast. His bare-bones personal website spells out his philosophy in characteristically blunt terms: "slow is fake" and "it's important to do things fast," it says. Friedman has pushed Meta's AI staff to ditch slow internal tools in favor of faster external ones, such as Vercel.

When the independent AI agent OpenClaw took the tech world by storm this winter, Friedman acted quickly. The free desktop-based tool was popular with developers, but mystifying to everyday users. Friedman aimed to build a far more accessible version from scratch.

He issued a two-page internal memo titled "The Claw Is The Law," praising the product, and also bought hundreds of Mac Minis for Meta's superintelligence team to run the agent.

While Muse is user-friendly now, making it all happen took "months of blood, sweat, and tears," the person familiar said.

Although it took a "long ass time," now it's something that anyone's "grandma can use," Wang later posted.

Meta goes on an AI hiring spreeMeta also went on a hiring binge for researchers and engineers in agentic AI. It hired David Singleton and Hugo Barra, the cofounders of Dreamer, a startup helping people build their own agents, along with the rest of their team.

Singleton has worked on Muse since he began at Meta in March, helping design the core technology that enables the app to store sensitive information securely, he posted on X.

The efforts worked. Although the arrival of the viral AI agent Instinct initially upstaged Meta, Muse took off by tapping into Meta's enormous built-in audience across its apps — including among people who had never used AI agents before.

Meta wasn't the only one on a hiring spree. OpenAI hired OpenClaw's creator, Pete Steinberger, in a coup earlier this year. Meta was especially worried that it would be upstaged by a large competitor, the person familiar with the matter said, and the team was shocked as the months went by without such an entrant.

More to come after MuseWall Street is cheering on Muse, seeing it as a way for Meta to become more than an ad company. Zuckerberg told Alex Heath's Sources earlier this month that he wants people to shop and save money on Muse, which Meta plans to make money from by taking a small cut of each transaction.

"We see the Meta bull case increasingly playing out," Mizuho Americas analyst Lloyd Walmsley wrote in a note.

Users have praised how easy it is to set up Muse. Hadi Javeed, the cofounder of healthcare startup RevelAi, said his dad saw an ad for Muse in his Facebook feed and downloaded it, promptly using it to buy a new pair of shoes.

"They completely deleted all the setup that was required," Javeed said.

At the same time, Javeed, like many others, has raised data privacy concerns about Muse. By design, an app like Muse creates a new order of security and privacy risks, such as the app buying things without a user's permission. Privacy and trust remain key roadblocks to broader adoption of Muse, Bank of America analysts wrote.

Zuckerberg has said that the company held back Muse's launch due to safety and product liability concerns. He and Friedman also personally reached out to Signal creator Moxie Marlinspike to help co-design Muse's security architecture, Zuckerberg told Heath.

For now, Meta is on a high. The company has hinted that much more will come as it works on a new AI model, Watermelon. It says the model has already caught up with OpenAI. Wang says Meta has other ideas that are "just as big" as Muse.

"The kitchen is just getting warmed up," he posted on X.

Have a tip? Contact Meta reporter Charles Rollet securely on Signal at charlesrollet.12 or +1-628-282-2811. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

Additional reporting by Pranav Dixit.

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Charles Rollet is Business Insider's tech correspondent in San Francisco, where he focuses on breaking major news about the AI industry. In 2025, he led an investigation which revealed that Scale AI had inadvertently exposed confidential data about its workers and clients. In 2026, he was the first to break the news that Meta had halted a controversial keystroke tracking program.Prior to joining BI, Charles worked at TechCrunch covering startups and VC in San Francisco. Before that, he was based in Southeast Asia for a decade, where his work won a Gerald Loeb award and was nominated for a Society of Publishers in Asia award. His reporting on the surveillance industry led to US human rights sanctions on five Chinese security camera manufacturers.Charles is especially interested in how frontier AI models are built and trained. He has a master's degree in business reporting from NYU and a bachelor's degree in history from Northwestern.You can contact Charles securely on Signal at charlesrollet.12 or +1-628-282-2811. Charles keeps sources anonymous. Please use a non-work device to reach out.

Exclusive AI Meta More Big Tech

Knollwood Investment Advisory LLC boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 3.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 54,773 shares of the social networking company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,613 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms comprises 2.7% of Knollwood Investment Advisory LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Knollwood Investment Advisory LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $30,853,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in META. Syon Capital LLC boosted its stake in Meta Platforms by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Syon Capital LLC now owns 88,105 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $49,629,000 after purchasing an additional 3,819 shares during the period. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 6.8% during the second quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 136,631 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $76,963,000 after buying an additional 8,707 shares during the last quarter. Prosperitas Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 11.7% during the second quarter. Prosperitas Financial LLC now owns 13,802 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $7,774,000 after buying an additional 1,446 shares during the last quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 11.1% in the second quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC now owns 1,000,247 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $563,429,000 after acquiring an additional 99,835 shares during the period. Finally, Burford Brothers Inc. boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.8% in the second quarter. Burford Brothers Inc. now owns 5,907 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $3,328,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms In related news, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 7,848 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total value of $4,379,184.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer directly owned 828 shares in the company, valued at $462,024. This trade represents a 90.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,196 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total transaction of $5,063,409.56. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 13,186 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. The trade was a 41.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 123,333 shares of company stock worth $80,795,845. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets META has been the topic of a number of research reports. Citizens Jmp boosted their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $885.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday. Wedbush increased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, September 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $680.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Citigroup restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Wednesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $785.90. View Our Latest Research Report on Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms Trading Down 3.3% META opened at $751.66 on Friday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1-year low of $520.26 and a 1-year high of $779.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.91 trillion, a PE ratio of 28.31, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a current ratio of 2.23, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $615.16 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $613.07.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The company had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $7.14 earnings per share. Meta Platforms’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:

Positive Sentiment: Muse momentum remains the main bullish catalyst. Early reviews, rising user traction and Meta’s new early-access program for upcoming Muse features are reinforcing expectations that the AI assistant could become a major consumer product and future revenue stream. Meta opens early access program for new Muse features Positive Sentiment: Analysts are raising price targets. Deutsche Bank, TD Cowen, Canaccord Genuity and other firms lifted targets and maintained bullish ratings, citing Muse’s potential to expand Meta beyond advertising through subscriptions, commerce and AI services. Meta price targets raised as Muse gains momentum Positive Sentiment: AI hardware could broaden Muse’s distribution. Meta is integrating Muse into Ray-Ban AI glasses and introducing additional wearable and VR products, creating potential new hardware, services and commerce opportunities. Neutral Sentiment: Friday’s decline appears largely technical. After rising roughly 36% during September and approaching a $2 trillion market value, Meta faced profit-taking and a pullback from recent highs. Bullish options activity suggests some traders continue to view the weakness as a buying opportunity. Neutral Sentiment: Large capital spending remains a key debate. Investors are encouraged by Meta’s AI strategy but remain uncertain whether heavy spending on infrastructure and Reality Labs will generate sufficient returns. Negative Sentiment: New Mexico litigation adds regulatory risk. A jury found that Meta misled state residents in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, potentially increasing legal costs and scrutiny. Meta misled consumers in New Mexico jury case Negative Sentiment: A Muse security vulnerability was identified. Meta is adding clearer safety warnings after a vulnerability reportedly could expose sensitive user information, raising concerns about trust and adoption of its AI agent. Meta bolsters Muse safety warning after vulnerability Negative Sentiment: Competition and monetization obstacles remain. Amazon blocked Muse from accessing its platform, while privacy concerns around camera-equipped glasses and skepticism toward new AI hardware could limit Meta’s growth plans. Negative Sentiment: Insider selling adds a cautionary signal. Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares and COO Javier Olivan sold shares under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. The transactions do not necessarily indicate reduced confidence, but they add to concerns after the stock’s rapid advance. Meta Platforms Company Profile (Free Report)

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company’s principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Costco Ends Its Fiscal Year on a High Note, Eyes Big Expansion Cracker Barrel Stock Is Rallying Again, But the Turnaround Still Has a Traffic Problem Oracle’s Force Majeure Notice Exposes a Bigger Problem for the AI Build-Out Oil May Be Stronger Than It Looks—And Diamondback Is on Sale Want to see what other hedge funds are holding META? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report).

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After one of its strongest monthly runs in more than a decade, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) may still have room to climb, according to a technical analysis that projects the stock could reach $1,000 by November 2027.

The forecast comes as investors increasingly bet that Meta’s artificial intelligence push, led by its Muse personal AI agent, can unlock a new phase of growth for the social media giant.

The optimism has fueled a sharp September rally, with Meta shares posting their best monthly performance since 2013. At press time, META was trading at $751, up 30% over the past month.

According to an analysis by TradingShot published on TradingView on September 24, Meta has traded within a long-term ascending channel since its IPO and is now approaching its August 2025 all-time high. 

Meta stock price analysis. Source: TradingView The analyst noted that as long as the broader uptrend remains intact and markets continue pushing higher, the stock can keep advancing within its established channel-up structure.

Based on the outlook, TradingShot identified the 1.618 Fibonacci extension as the next major upside target. That level sits near $1,000, with the projected path on the chart indicating the milestone could be reached around November 2027.

While the long-term outlook remains bullish, TradingShot warned that Meta could first correct toward its 200-week moving average (MA) near $550. 

The analyst pointed to a monthly RSI pattern similar to the 2018 correction, when the stock fell to the same support level before rebounding to fresh record highs. A retreat toward the 0.5 Fibonacci level would mirror that move, though the long-term target remains the 1.618 Fibonacci extension at $1,000.

The technical target comes as Meta’s artificial intelligence strategy gains support from both investors and Wall Street.

The company launched its Muse personal AI agent in early September, with the platform quickly gaining traction among consumers. Investor enthusiasm accelerated after Meta Connect 2026 on September 23, where the company unveiled new Muse features, AI glasses integration, expanded shopping partnerships, developer tools, and upgraded AI models.

The positive reception marks a sharp shift from earlier in the year, when concerns over Meta’s heavy AI spending and pressure on free cash flow weighed on sentiment.

Meta’s improving AI narrative is also backed by strong business performance.

For the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, the company reported revenue of $60.8 billion, up 28% year-over-year, while its Family of Apps ecosystem reached approximately 3.6 billion daily active users. Meta also ended the quarter with roughly $90 billion in cash and marketable securities.

Meanwhile, the company continues investing aggressively in AI infrastructure, maintaining full-year capital expenditure guidance of $130 billion to $145 billion.

While the spending has pressured margins and free cash flow, management expects AI investments to support advertising growth and create new monetization opportunities.

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In Brief

Posted:

Image Credits:Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto (opens in a new window) / Getty Images After announcing a host of new features for Meta’s Muse AI app at its Connect 2026 developer conference this week, the company is opening up requests for early access. Meta shared on Friday that you can now ask Muse to put you on the list to try out its latest capabilities before anyone else.

Meta posted a link to a prompt on X that, when shared with Muse, will log that you’re interested in joining Meta’s early access program.

(If you don’t want to click through, you can just copy and paste the prompt: “Can you let the Muse team know I want to be part of the Muse early access program?”)

While typically companies offer pilot tests or betas with select users, they often A/B test with a randomized group to gain feedback and measure results. In this case, however, Meta is looking for AI enthusiasts to try its features first. That tactic could help it stay ahead of the competition, given that this crowd tends to use multiple AI apps and agents and has a good understanding of the market.

As to what the new features will be? Meta teased many of those at Connect, including the launch of a digital avatar for Muse that you’ll be able to video chat with, tons more shopping partnerships and connectors, and an expansion of the Muse Mac app, which will soon be able to use your computer to complete various tasks.

The company also said that Muse would be coming to Meta’s lineup of AI glasses, so users can interact with the agent just by speaking a wake word, then issuing a command.

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