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Meta Platforms (META, Financials), which operates Facebook and Instagram alongside its other technology and advertising businesses, saw its shares move higher d

Meta Platforms (META - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this social media company have returned +21.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.3% change. The Zacks Internet - Software industry, to which Meta Platforms belongs, has gained 8.4% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Meta Platforms is expected to post earnings of $6.39 per share, indicating a change of -11.9% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -3.4% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $31.38 points to a change of +33.6% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -2%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $34.36 indicates a change of +9.5% from what Meta Platforms is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.3%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Meta Platforms.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For Meta Platforms, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $63.18 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +23.3%. For the current and next fiscal years, $254.02 billion and $306.71 billion estimates indicate +26.4% and +20.7% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryMeta Platforms reported revenues of $60.8 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +28%. EPS of $6.18 for the same period compares with $7.14 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $60.21 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.98%. The EPS surprise was -12.96%.

Over the last four quarters, Meta Platforms surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Meta Platforms is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Meta Platforms. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Dearborn Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 1,263 shares of the social networking company’s stock, valued at approximately $711,000.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd increased its holdings in Meta Platforms by 18.6% in the 2nd quarter. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd now owns 18,777 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $10,577,000 after buying an additional 2,939 shares in the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc lifted its stake in Meta Platforms by 33.6% during the 2nd quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc now owns 3,031 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,707,000 after acquiring an additional 763 shares during the period. Sone Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Meta Platforms by 38.2% during the 2nd quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC now owns 16,059 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $9,046,000 after acquiring an additional 4,440 shares during the period. Lakewood Capital Management LP boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 63.7% during the 2nd quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP now owns 115,985 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $65,333,000 after acquiring an additional 45,130 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Abbot Financial Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 53.5% during the 2nd quarter. Abbot Financial Management Inc. now owns 2,845 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,603,000 after acquiring an additional 991 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling In related news, COO Javier Olivan sold 3,348 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $600.97, for a total transaction of $2,012,047.56. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 9,498 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,708,013.06. The trade was a 26.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed 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 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $650.28, for a total value of $13,005,600.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 244,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $159,003,864.48. This represents a 7.56% 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 sold 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have commented on META shares. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Meta Platforms from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Friday, June 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Meta Platforms from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price target for the company from $640.00 to $820.00 in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Wolfe Research restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $700.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Bank of America cut their price objective on Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $810.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Phillip Securities upgraded Meta Platforms to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $788.88. Read Our Latest Research Report on Meta Platforms

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Meta Platforms Price Performance Shares of META stock opened at $665.75 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 2.23, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12 month low of $520.26 and a 12 month high of $790.80. The stock has a market cap of $1.70 trillion, a P/E ratio of 25.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $606.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $609.48.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share 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 business had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.14 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a $0.525 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 (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.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms NVIDIA Just Named AI’s Next Bottleneck—And These 3 Stocks Sit Right In It Gold Has Gone Sideways, But These 3 Stocks Haven’t The AI Bottleneck Is Not Chips Anymore and 3 Pipeline Stocks Are Cashing In These 3 Stocks Under $20 Have Wall Street Looking Past the Share Price

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Corient Private Wealth LP raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 723.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,801,764 shares of the social networking company’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,732,446 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms accounts for approximately 3.7% of Corient Private Wealth LP’s holdings, making the stock its 3rd biggest position. Corient Private Wealth LP owned about 0.35% of Meta Platforms worth $4,957,946,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 18.6% during the 2nd quarter. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd now owns 18,777 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $10,577,000 after purchasing an additional 2,939 shares during the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc lifted its stake in Meta Platforms by 33.6% in the second quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc now owns 3,031 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $1,707,000 after purchasing an additional 763 shares during the last quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Meta Platforms by 38.2% in the second quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC now owns 16,059 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $9,046,000 after purchasing an additional 4,440 shares during the last quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 63.7% during the second quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP now owns 115,985 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $65,333,000 after buying an additional 45,130 shares during the period. Finally, Abbot Financial Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 53.5% during the second quarter. Abbot Financial Management Inc. now owns 2,845 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,603,000 after buying an additional 991 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $675.23, for a total transaction of $13,504,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 224,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $151,599,938.68. This trade represents a 8.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Curtis J. Mahoney sold 1,559 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total transaction of $869,922.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 1,957 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,092,006. The trade was a 44.34% 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 90 days, insiders have sold 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020. 13.53% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Key Meta Platforms News Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week: Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Citizens Jmp reduced their price target on Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $770.00 and set a “market outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Erste Group Bank upgraded Meta Platforms from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on Meta Platforms from $815.00 to $725.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. KeyCorp reduced their target price on Meta Platforms from $790.00 to $780.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Bank of America decreased their target price on Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $810.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $788.88.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on META

Meta Platforms Price Performance META opened at $665.75 on Monday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12-month low of $520.26 and a 12-month high of $790.80. 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 business’s fifty day simple moving average is $606.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $609.48. The company has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.08, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion during 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 business’s revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $7.14 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The firm 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 $0.525 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 dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 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.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms NVIDIA Just Named AI’s Next Bottleneck—And These 3 Stocks Sit Right In It Gold Has Gone Sideways, But These 3 Stocks Haven’t The AI Bottleneck Is Not Chips Anymore and 3 Pipeline Stocks Are Cashing In These 3 Stocks Under $20 Have Wall Street Looking Past the Share Price

Receive News & Ratings for Meta Platforms Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meta Platforms and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Navellier & Associates Inc. trimmed its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 15.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,105 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 1,664 shares during the period. Navellier & Associates Inc.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $5,129,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. BNP Paribas boosted its stake in Meta Platforms by 18.1% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas now owns 93,517 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $52,707,000 after buying an additional 14,307 shares in the last quarter. Field & Main Bank purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth approximately $4,146,000. SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth approximately $13,965,000. Archer Investment Corp bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,924,000. Finally, Kimelman & Baird LLC boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 8.0% in the 2nd quarter. Kimelman & Baird LLC now owns 1,109 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $625,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CFO Susan Li sold 9,196 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the chief accounting officer 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. 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 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Meta Platforms Price Performance Shares of Meta Platforms stock opened at $665.75 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. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $790.80. The company has a market cap of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25. The business has a 50 day moving average of $606.33 and a 200 day moving average of $609.48. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results 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 in the prior year, the business posted $7.14 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a $0.525 dividend. 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 is currently 7.91%.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently commented on META shares. Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $886.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Scotiabank reissued a “sector perform” rating and issued a $600.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $640.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $780.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their target price on Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $810.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have issued a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $788.88.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on META

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.

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Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 13.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 8,436 shares of the social networking company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,022 shares during the period. Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $4,752,000 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 increased its holdings 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 buying an additional 105,154,977 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 1.7% during the fourth 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 during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter worth $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in 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 acquiring an additional 1,046,715 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $800.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Wednesday. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on Meta Platforms from $815.00 to $725.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. TD Cowen cut their target price on Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $750.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Scotiabank reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $600.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating and set a $800.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $788.88. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms Stock Performance Shares of META stock opened at $665.75 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 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 business has a fifty day moving average of $606.33 and a 200 day moving average of $609.48. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1 year low of $520.26 and a 1 year high of $790.80.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $7.14 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.525 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 dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is 7.91%.

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms In related news, CFO Susan Li sold 9,196 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the chief financial officer owned 13,186 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. This represents a 41.09% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing 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, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the firm’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 transaction of $2,002,514.40. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,271 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,875,854.26. This represents a 34.07% 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 81,758 shares of company stock valued at $51,214,020 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

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.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms NVIDIA Just Named AI’s Next Bottleneck—And These 3 Stocks Sit Right In It Gold Has Gone Sideways, But These 3 Stocks Haven’t The AI Bottleneck Is Not Chips Anymore and 3 Pipeline Stocks Are Cashing In These 3 Stocks Under $20 Have Wall Street Looking Past the Share Price 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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Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 859,079 shares of the social networking company’s stock, valued at approximately $483,911,000. Meta Platforms accounts for about 1.4% of Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio’s holdings, making the stock its 10th largest holding.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in META. Stonebridge Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth about $508,000. Corient Private Wealth LP increased its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 723.1% during the second quarter. Corient Private Wealth LP now owns 8,801,764 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $4,957,946,000 after purchasing an additional 7,732,446 shares in the last quarter. Partners Value Investments L.P. purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at approximately $6,544,867. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,888 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $3,316,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms In related news, insider Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $675.23, for a total value of $13,504,600.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 224,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $151,599,938.68. The trade was a 8.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $657.73, for a total value of $622,212.58. Following the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 10,716 shares in the company, valued at $7,048,234.68. This trade represents a 8.11% 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 ninety days, insiders sold 81,758 shares of company stock valued at $51,214,020. 13.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Key Meta Platforms News Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week: Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have commented on META. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $640.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $800.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Scotiabank reiterated a “sector perform” rating and set a $600.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $650.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $886.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $788.88.

Get Our Latest Analysis on META

Meta Platforms Price Performance META stock opened at $665.75 on Monday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $606.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $609.48. The stock has a market cap of $1.70 trillion, a P/E ratio of 25.08, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a twelve month low of $520.26 and a twelve month high of $790.80.

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 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 firm had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $7.14 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a $0.525 dividend. 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 payout ratio is 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.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms NVIDIA Just Named AI’s Next Bottleneck—And These 3 Stocks Sit Right In It Gold Has Gone Sideways, But These 3 Stocks Haven’t The AI Bottleneck Is Not Chips Anymore and 3 Pipeline Stocks Are Cashing In These 3 Stocks Under $20 Have Wall Street Looking Past the Share Price

Receive News & Ratings for Meta Platforms Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meta Platforms and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

North Star Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 17,559 shares of the social networking company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,891,000.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Camarda Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Meta Platforms in the second quarter worth $215,000. Dearborn Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at about $711,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at about $483,911,000. Stonebridge Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth about $508,000. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LP lifted its stake in Meta Platforms by 723.1% during the second quarter. Corient Private Wealth LP now owns 8,801,764 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $4,957,946,000 after purchasing an additional 7,732,446 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms In other Meta Platforms news, insider Curtis Mahoney sold 1,559 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total value of $869,922.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 1,957 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,092,006. This trade represents a 44.34% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing 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, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $657.73, for a total transaction of $622,212.58. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 10,716 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,048,234.68. This trade represents a 8.11% 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 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020 over the last ninety days. 13.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Meta Platforms Price Performance Shares of Meta Platforms stock opened at $665.75 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. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a one year low of $520.26 and a one year high of $790.80. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $606.33 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $609.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a P/E ratio of 25.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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). 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $7.14 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement 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 issued a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently issued reports on META. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $750.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Mizuho set a $750.00 price objective on Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Citizens Jmp dropped their target price on Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $770.00 and set a “market outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, Arete Research set a $735.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 2nd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $788.88.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Meta Platforms

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.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms NVIDIA Just Named AI’s Next Bottleneck—And These 3 Stocks Sit Right In It Gold Has Gone Sideways, But These 3 Stocks Haven’t The AI Bottleneck Is Not Chips Anymore and 3 Pipeline Stocks Are Cashing In These 3 Stocks Under $20 Have Wall Street Looking Past the Share Price 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).

Receive News & Ratings for Meta Platforms Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meta Platforms and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 24,792 shares of the social networking company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,965,000.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of META. Archer Investment Corp bought a new position in Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth $3,924,000. Kimelman & Baird LLC boosted its position in Meta Platforms by 8.0% during the second quarter. Kimelman & Baird LLC now owns 1,109 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $625,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. North Star Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter worth about $9,891,000. Camarda Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter valued at about $215,000. Finally, Dearborn Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter valued at about $711,000. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms In other news, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,196 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total value of $5,063,409.56. Following 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 through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 3,348 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $600.97, for a total value of $2,012,047.56. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 9,498 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,708,013.06. The trade was a 26.06% 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. In the last three months, insiders have sold 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance Shares of META stock opened at $665.75 on Monday. 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 fifty day simple moving average of $606.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $609.48. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12 month low of $520.26 and a 12 month high of $790.80. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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). The business had revenue of $60.80 billion for 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 firm’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.14 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS 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. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.525 per share. The ex-dividend date 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 7.91%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. BNP Paribas Exane initiated coverage on Meta Platforms in a research note on Tuesday, June 2nd. They set an “outperform” rating for the company. Susquehanna cut their price target on Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $650.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Wolfe Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $700.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Benchmark reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $810.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $788.88.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Meta Platforms

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing 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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Meta Platform’s NASDAQ: META recently made what is arguably its most significant AI product release to date: the Muse personal AI agent.

Meta Platforms Today

$665.75 0.00 (0.00%)

As of 09/18/2026 04:00 PM Eastern

$520.26▼

$790.800.32%

25.08

$788.88

This release, which allows individuals to deploy an AI agent that executes personal tasks, generated a fanfare among investors. Meta's stock rose over 6% on the day of this announcement, contributing to the substantial recovery seen in shares recently.

The announcement is certainly leading to real consumer interest, with Muse recently rising to number two on Apple’s NASDAQ: AAPL App Store’s Top Charts. However, Wall Street analysts have opposing views on how successful Muse will be. These are the key facts that investors should understand about Muse and what various analysts are saying about the product’s potential.

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Meta Targets Agentic E-Commerce Opportunity With MuseOne of the key features of Muse is its ability to make purchases on behalf of the user. With this, Meta is targeting a market that some expect to become massive over the coming years. By 2030, consulting firm Bain & Company projects that the size of the U.S. agentic e-commerce market will hit between $300 billion and $500 billion. It estimates that this would account for 15% to 25% of the entire U.S. e-commerce market.

Meta is looking to participate in this space by giving people a way to execute agentic purchasing easily. It aims to monetize the growth in agentic commerce through subscriptions to Muse. It could conceivably offer token-based pricing in the future as well and pursue other monetization avenues, such as commissions.

Still, near-term revenue impacts for Meta may be limited because it offers a free tier of Muse. The free tier provides 100 million tokens of usage per week. Users can upgrade to 500 million weekly tokens for $20 a month or three billion weekly tokens for $100 a month.

However, 100 million tokens is a very significant amount, and would likely be difficult for many users to consume, decreasing the likelihood of paid adoption near term. The free offering is likely Meta’s strategy to generate interest in the product before adjusting the pricing model later. Nonetheless, every token Muse consumes without payment is simply a cost to Meta, which could damage near-term profitability.

What Wall Street Is SayingAs J.P. Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth notes, “Meta is not focused on the monetization of Muse in the near term," demonstrated by its free tier offering. However, Anmuth is bullish long-term, saying that Muse addresses a total addressable market (TAM) worth tens of trillions of dollars. However, this forecast likely extends over a very long timeframe. For reference, the economic output of the entire U.S. economy, measured by gross domestic product, is approximately $32.5 trillion. Additionally, it is important to recognize that TAM is a measure of the entire market that products like Muse would target, of which Meta could capture a portion.

Mizuho analyst Lloyd Walmsley also views the release positively, expecting Muse to be the beginning of a significant product cycle that is not yet priced into shares. This somewhat aligns with views recently expressed by analysts at Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley expects that after the conclusion of Meta’s $18 billion legal settlement, the company will increase its product release cadence. Muse provides initial evidence of this playing out.

However, analysts at Oppenheimer are pushing back on investor enthusiasm. The firm believes that Muse may see limited consumer adoption due to consumer distrust in the company.

To unlock Muse’s full capabilities, users must share their passwords from other platforms. In its consumer survey, only 8% of respondents said they would trust Meta with passwords. However, it is notable that Meta has implemented many security features into Muse that could mitigate these concerns.

Oppenheimer also notes that to achieve a 20% earnings per share uplift, Meta would need 115 million Muse users paying $20 per month. This is significantly higher than its estimates of ChatGPT’s paying subscribers, at 33 million to 88 million. Oppenheimer is skeptical that Muse would be able to achieve this many users when a more established platform like ChatGPT is still far from this level.

Muse AI Agent: Not an Overnight Game Changer, But a Step in the Right DirectionOverall, Muse is unlikely to provide meaningful financial benefits to Meta near term. In fact, there is a significant possibility that it hurts profitability near term as Meta allows users to consume tokens for free. Still, gaining AI product traction is an important first step to significant monetization.

The most important metrics to watch in the near term will be Muse’s user base growth and token consumption growth. This would indicate strong adoption of the tool, after which Meta could modify its monetization strategy to drive more revenue and improve profitability. Meta’s next earnings call provides an opportunity for the company to share such metrics so investors can gauge the product’s trajectory.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of META either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

The article is for informational purposes only (not a solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell stocks). David is not a registered investment adviser. Investors should do their own research or consult a financial adviser to determine what investments are appropriate for their individual situation. This article expresses my opinions, and I cannot guarantee that the information/results will be accurate. Investing in stocks involves risk and could result in losses.

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In this episode of Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing, Motley Fool contributors Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Rachel Warren discuss:

Meta Muse.Meta's data problem.Consumer AI.Adoption timelines.AlphaGenome.AI in health.To catch full episodes of all The Motley Fool's free podcasts, check out our podcast center. When you're ready to invest, check out this top 10 list of stocks to buy.

A full transcript is below.

This podcast was recorded on Sept. 10, 2026.

Travis Hoium: Meta Muse is here, and Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing starts now. Welcome to Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing. I'm Travis Hoium, joined today by Lou Whiteman and Rachel Warren. Guys, the big news of the day is that Meta Platforms introduced the Muse app. This is their new Muse Spark model, which is apparently pretty good because this app looks pretty good. Meta's been behind in the consumer space in artificial intelligence, lost a lot of that mind share to companies like Anthropic and obviously ChatGPT, but this seemed like a pretty big announcement from them that they're really starting to take this seriously from a consumer side. Lou, I'm going to start with you. Does this make them a real player in AI consumer products again?

Lou Whiteman: I'm just so excited that my dream of an imaginary friend is not over. That someone is taking this seriously. Look, give credit where due. Meta was never going to win the enterprise. There is no way that people are going to dump Claude for the Facebook, guys. I'm sorry. Maybe that's too harsh, but I think it's true. Where is Meta's strength? It's into consumer, so I appreciate them focusing on the consumer. I don't know, though, if that's a good idea. For one, I feel like we've been hearing about this forever, and the results have always been underwhelming. Maybe this time is different. Maybe the technology will improve, but it's going to have to be insanely good for people to pay for it. At the end of the day, Meta is a for-profit business, and they need to be able to pay for it. I get why they're going for the consumer here. I don't think this is going to pay for all those data centers they're building.

Travis Hoium: Rachel, what's your take on this? I think the framing that I want from an investment angle is, is this the kind of thing that is going to fundamentally change the way that we particularly shop? Because it seems like that's what a lot of these outcomes potentially were. The things that they demoed was, you can just talk to it and say, "Hey, change my flight to tomorrow" or "Buy me some groceries based on this Instagram reel that I saw." Is that possibly something that's going to be mass adopted, and we're just going to be shopping on Facebook products through Muse in five or 10 years?

Rachel Warren: I do think the way that consumers are shopping is changing, and I think we are seeing that at the very least, consumers are more comfortable letting some of these models and agents at least complete part of the process for them, even if they want the ability as the human to have the final say, whether it's a flight being booked or a reservation being made, whatever the case may be. I think we're probably going to see more of that.

But going back to Lou's point, Meta has been behind in consumer AI for years. I think Muse might be one of many necessary steps to shift that paradigm. This model is essentially designed to handle a range of tasks. It doesn't just answer text prompts, and essentially it runs each agent inside an isolated environment called the Muse Secure VM, and this is this dedicated virtual machine, if you will, with its own browser. Essentially, that means that agents can navigate web tools and use app connectors for services like Google Workspace, Spotify, OpenTable. Now, the monetization angle of this is interesting. I do tend to think that this is not going to be something that moves the needle, at least not yet, but maybe it will be a precursor to something that does. They're testing a direct subscription model for Muse. There's going to be a free tier, they're going to have a $20 plan, there's going to be a $100 plan for really heavy users there.

The final note I would make and the core obstacle that I see for Meta is the data privacy trade-off. There's this idea, if you're operating an effective background agent, there needs to be deep access to personal communications, calendars, financial tools. Meta has said that there's this separate agent called Sentinel that approves sensitive actions. It never views that really sensitive consumer data. But we saw internal tests that actually flagged data handling issues right up to launch week. So I think there's going to still be consumer hesitancy there. I think Meta has a lot to prove for users to grant really this level of control to any single entity or model.

Travis Hoium: We're going to talk a little bit more about this consumer AI in a moment. But Lou, has Meta done enough to be able to be that trusted place for consumers? Because what they're asking is not just to give you a whole bunch of data based on what you're looking at on Instagram or what you're posting on Facebook, but also, hey, let us connect to your email. Let us connect to your calendar, and like Rachel said, your financial information. That seems like another big leap.

Lou Whiteman: It's a leap too far. Did you even notice in the demo, the AI seemingly knows the name of a person's kid, even though the kid's name wasn't in the prompt? It was like, "We found this great stroller for Jonah" or something like that. Meta needs to look in the mirror if they do not realize that they may not be the first choice when it comes to trusting. Let's be honest, even if they were, you don't have to opt in on a lot of these other companies. If there's going to be the imaginary friend, personal butler, shopping assistant, it's going to be Gemini and Siri. I keep coming back to this, but we underappreciate just what a good device the phone is and what a companion the phone is. The thing that is already on our phone is going to win here if there is a win. Again, how good is it going to have to be for me to pay for this?

Travis Hoium: Lots of questions for Meta, but we're going to talk about what the future of consumers using AI because these tools are getting better and better every day, but how is adoption actually going to play out? More on that in a moment.

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Travis Hoium: Welcome back to Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing. All of these artificial intelligence companies are going deeper and deeper into our data, building agentic models that are going to do things for us. But some companies are going to be disintermediated potentially. We aren't going to need their services anymore. A company like Shopify was down almost 8% yesterday. There is going to be business applications, not to mention the ROI on all of the trillions of dollars worth of investment that we've seen over the past few years. But Lou, as we think about this, on the consumer side, I think the enterprise is a little bit different. Coding, we went from 0-100 in what? Three months. Consumer seems like a very different space. How quickly are we going to actually adopt some of these products? Because the agents are getting to be pretty interesting, pretty cool from all of these companies, but I don't know how much I'm going to be willing to connect my email, my wife, my parents. The adoption curve on the consumer side is very different than it is with enterprises, it seems.

Lou Whiteman: It is. Look here, the investment advice up front, the way we're supposed to. Bet on the status quo, and bet on the status quo to remain in place longer than you'd think. A little perspective here. Well, let's fire up the Wayback Machine. The first credit card, Travis, do you know what year it came out?

Travis Hoium: I actually know this answer because we talked about it on one of the Friday shows a couple of months or so ago.

Lou Whiteman: 1950, a guy forgot his wallet and came up with the idea of just the Diners Club, that you could do it. First Visa, the Bank of America card, came along in 1958. I am not going to sit here and argue that that's not better than paying cash. I hate cash, so this should be innovation that takes off. Sixty years later, as of 2018, credit cards accounted for 18% of U.S. payments. Now yes, e-commerce has kickstarted that into overdrive. Seventy years later, we're up to 30% of payments today. Which is to say mass adoption takes time. That is just a convenience thing, credit cards. Credit cards are easier than carrying cash. I guess there's downsides, but you don't have to opt into things. You don't have to change your lifestyle. You don't have to trust companies that don't have a lot of trust, and that has taken that long. I believe all of this stuff is coming. I believe I will use some of them, and I think that they will become part of life over time. But again, I am taking the under on how quickly, and I am not going to sell off Shopify because somebody's got a new trick that they think everyone's going to adopt overnight.

Travis Hoium: I always like the examples, the demos that they give in these product releases, because it tells you what they think people want to see. The stroller example was fascinating to me because if you had kids, shopping for a stroller is one of the things that you go do with your partner. It is part of the process. You have tons of decisions to make. Do we like this size? Do we like how this feels? Is this going to fit in our car?

Lou Whiteman: For us, it was the cup holder. Is the cup holder big enough?

Travis Hoium: Yes. All those little things. That is not something I'm going to have an agent do for me, but it is always fascinating to see what Silicon Valley thinks we want to see. Rachel, when we think about this kind of technology, one of the things we've been talking about here on the show for quite a while is the difference between disruptive innovations and sustaining innovations, and it seems with this release in particular, it stuck in my mind that we now have these big tech companies that are leading in AI, and they're the same companies that were leading in the last generation. Maybe this is just the hammer that says this is a sustaining innovation, and the disruption is not going to come from small start-ups. Yes, Anthropic and OpenAI are out there, but they're well backed by these big tech companies, and they grew them themselves. Does that make sense as an investor that, you know what, like Lou said, the old companies are going to be the winners in the future too?

Rachel Warren: I think so, and I think that's also because that's where we're seeing a lot of the technology coming from, and that's also where a lot of the consumer trust lies as well. I think we're talking about trying to get consumers to let autonomous buying agents handle a lot of mundane transactions, and I think we're seeing that. Some of the things like tracking orders, checking inventory, processing returns on the backend, that's something where it's very useful for Shopify. For a human individual user, things like going through your emails, summarizing some of your admin tasks as a worker. There are a lot of ways in which this technology is very useful, but there's a real trust bottleneck there, and I think that there's also a regulatory bottleneck too. I think there's still a lot of uncertainty about how this is actually going to be applied in everyday life in the long term. I do think as we see a lot of the dominant tech companies like Meta, like Alphabet, like Microsoft, they're using their capital, their massive distribution networks to deploy the latest AI innovations as well as agents, they're making good products more efficient. That is essentially the definition of a sustaining innovation. Going back to the example of Shopify, I think this is one of those companies that is solving a lot of the problems that merchants around the world continue to encounter. They are continuing to leverage AI in their everyday processes behind the scenes, on the backend, solving a lot of the problems that merchants are facing, and I think that makes them a company that can sustain even in an age of innovation. There was a projection that came out from HubSpot that 95% of buyer journeys will be beginning inside an LLM chat within two years. I do think that we are seeing an adoption curve among consumers, but I just don't think it's necessarily going to be quite as fast an adoption as some of the big tech companies are saying.

Travis Hoium: It's interesting that the company that we have not mentioned here is Amazon. Amazon is the biggest e-commerce company, but they have not played nice with a lot of these agents and shopping tools in an AI age. Be interesting to see how they play this in the future. I know their Alexa keeps popping up when I open up the Amazon app, and it's not necessarily something I'm willing to use quite yet.

Lou Whiteman: That makes sense, doesn't it? Show me the incentive, I'll show you the results. They are the advantage company with the current status quo, so they are not going to look to disrupt. Again, all of your business plans or all of them that I've seen count on Amazon to just lean over and say, "Come on in." I think that should also factor into thoughts on the timetable for adoption.

Travis Hoium: Yes, lots to play out, and lots of investing implications. When we come back, we are going to talk about some huge advances in the world of medicine. You're listening to Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing.

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Travis Hoium: Welcome back. One of the other big advancements in the world of AI came from Google's DeepMind. They released the Google AlphaGenome Atlas. This is apparently the next generation of AlphaFold. Rachel, all these words are too complicated, and the release and the videos are too complicated for me to understand. So give us the CliffsNotes version here.

Rachel Warren: The AlphaGenome Atlas, it takes the complexity of human DNA, and it computes the exact molecular impact of every possible change. The scientific community has understood for a long time that 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining 98%, that is like a control panel for switching genes on and off, and that 98% has actually largely been a mystery. To solve this, Google DeepMind has utilized its AlphaGenome AI model to analyze sequences up to one million base pairs in a single pass. It's calculating essentially how individual mutations disrupt critical processes in the body, like gene expression. Then it assigns each mutation a score to rank how harmful or influential a specific genetic change is likely to be. Essentially, to break this down, human DNA is an incredibly long line.

We're going to make it analogous to software code that runs in our bodies. This means that for a long time, scientists only understood a small portion of that code that physically builds our organs and our tissues, and the other was a mystery. This tool essentially ran every single possible typo that could ever happen in that mysterious 98% of the code, and what acts like a broken power switch that causes a disease, which typos are harmless, just to give you a bit of an analogy there. Then essentially compiled all of these answers into a giant searchable library that's free for software developers, researchers. Now, there's a commercialization wave coming here. Pharmaceutical companies are soon going to have to license Atlas through Google Cloud to plug the database right into their drug discovery pipelines. But we're already seeing early validation here. You have Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Stanford University. They are actively using the Atlas to solve complex medical cases. One example, researchers actually used this AVI score to uncover an overlooked mutation responsible for a rare form of epilepsy. We're already seeing the ways in which this is so valuable for researchers, for pharmaceutical companies. I think this could be a really, really valuable tool.

Travis Hoium: Lou, that sounds very cool. How investable is it? Or is this just one of these areas where the surplus ends up with consumers? We live healthier, better lives long term. This is a complicated space to be investing in.

Lou Whiteman: Right. I think it's impossible. I don't think it is investable, and I'm not a bio-researcher, and so on.

Travis Hoium: Although maybe more tailwinds for Google Cloud.

Lou Whiteman: Maybe. But I've been leaning heavily on Eli Lilly's CEO, David Ricks, last year, who wasn't dismissive of AI but was definitely trying to hit the brakes on the hype. The body's complicated. It's great to map and understand the genome, but there are very few diseases caused by a single gene. Cystic fibrosis, famously, is Chromosome 7, only Chromosome 7, and yet we still struggle with that. Most things, it's interactions between different things. This is a great starting point, but all this does is basically give researchers a head start at that first step, so maybe we do fewer dead ends. There's still a huge amount of progress.

One thing Ricks pointed out is that AI models speak English. They don't speak biology. Part of that is because humans don't speak biology. We still don't understand the language of biology, so we can't teach AI a language we don't understand. I think we'll get there in time, but these are incredibly complex problems. Root for it, because we all want to live healthy, and I do think that this is progress, and I celebrate that. But as an investor, you're talking a decade or so, I think, before there is anything coming out of here, just the nature of the science. Cheers to incremental progress, but do understand and don't just load up on the account of some biotech because they say they're licensing this. That is not a good investment, even if we're making real progress.

Travis Hoium: I think the takeaway from this was that hopefully this continues to accelerate progress from a human health standpoint, because if there is something positive that's coming out from AI as we talk about doom and gloom and consumer adoption and safety and all these kinds of things, it seems like there are some really positive things coming out of the world of AI in some of these labs today.

As always, people on the program may have interest in the stocks they talk about, and The Motley Fool may have formal recommendations for or against, so don't buy or sell stocks based solely on what you hear. All personal finance content follows The Motley Fool's editorial standards and is not approved by advertisers. Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. To see our full advertising disclosure, please check out our show notes. For Lou Whiteman, Rachel Warren, and Kristi Waterworth behind the glass, I'm Travis Hoium. Thanks for listening. We'll see you here tomorrow.

Wedbush Fund Advisers LLC grew its position in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 31.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 89,374 shares of the social networking company’s stock after buying an additional 21,133 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms accounts for approximately 4.5% of Wedbush Fund Advisers LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 10th largest position. Wedbush Fund Advisers LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $50,343,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. RHL Group LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Advantage Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Niles Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Bayban lifted 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 worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Meta Platforms Price Performance NASDAQ META opened at $665.75 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.23, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12 month low of $520.26 and a 12 month high of $790.80. The stock has a market cap of $1.70 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.08, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25. The company’s 50 day moving average is $606.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $609.79. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly 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 firm had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.525 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is 7.91%.

Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,196 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total value of $5,063,409.56. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,186 shares in the company, valued at $7,260,343.46. The trade was a 41.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the business’s 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 owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at $3,875,854.26. The trade was a 34.07% 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 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on META shares. Monness Crespi & Hardt dropped their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $890.00 to $730.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Meta Platforms from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Friday, June 26th. Wedbush lifted their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, September 11th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $780.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $800.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $788.88.

View Our Latest 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.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Lennar’s Earnings Miss May Be Sending a Bigger Warning About U.S. Housing Priced for a Pullback or More Gains? These 3 Stocks Are Testing the Limits These 3 Agentic AI Stocks Have More Than Hype Behind Their Growth Stories Not Just Banks: 3 Trading Stocks to Watch After the Fed Rate Hike 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).

Receive News & Ratings for Meta Platforms Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meta Platforms and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Strategic Global Advisors LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 61.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,105 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 14,285 shares during the quarter. Strategic Global Advisors LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $5,129,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. RHL Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Advantage Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms in the second quarter worth $28,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Meta Platforms during the first quarter valued at about $36,000. Bayban raised its stake in Meta Platforms by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Bayban now owns 70 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Meta Platforms Trading Down 2.4% Meta Platforms stock opened at $665.75 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $790.80. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $606.33 and a 200 day moving average price of $609.79. The company has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last issued its 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). 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 quarter in the previous year, the company earned $7.14 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current year. Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.525 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 payout ratio is 7.91%.

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms In other Meta Platforms news, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,196 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. The trade was a 41.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 3,348 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $600.97, for a total transaction of $2,012,047.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 9,498 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,708,013.06. The trade was a 26.06% decrease in their position. 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. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades META has been the topic of a number of research reports. DA Davidson reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $766.00 to $715.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Erste Group Bank upgraded Meta Platforms from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $650.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Phillip Securities upgraded Meta Platforms to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $788.88.

View Our Latest Report on META

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.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Lennar’s Earnings Miss May Be Sending a Bigger Warning About U.S. Housing Priced for a Pullback or More Gains? These 3 Stocks Are Testing the Limits These 3 Agentic AI Stocks Have More Than Hype Behind Their Growth Stories Not Just Banks: 3 Trading Stocks to Watch After the Fed Rate Hike 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).

Receive News & Ratings for Meta Platforms Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meta Platforms and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Miller Value Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 6,412 shares of the social networking company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,612,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in META. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 18.6% in the second quarter. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd now owns 18,777 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $10,577,000 after acquiring an additional 2,939 shares in the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc raised its stake in Meta Platforms by 33.6% in the 2nd quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc now owns 3,031 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,707,000 after purchasing an additional 763 shares during the last quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Meta Platforms by 38.2% in the 2nd quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC now owns 16,059 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $9,046,000 after purchasing an additional 4,440 shares during the last quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 63.7% in the 2nd quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP now owns 115,985 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $65,333,000 after purchasing an additional 45,130 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Abbot Financial Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 53.5% during the 2nd quarter. Abbot Financial Management Inc. now owns 2,845 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $1,603,000 after purchasing an additional 991 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Meta Platforms Price Performance META stock opened at $665.75 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $606.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $609.79. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12-month low of $520.26 and a 12-month high of $790.80. 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 company has a market cap of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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). The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The business’s revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current year. Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a dividend of $0.525 per share. 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 7.91%.

Insider Activity In other Meta Platforms news, COO Javier Olivan sold 3,348 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $600.97, for a total transaction of $2,012,047.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 9,498 shares in the company, valued at $5,708,013.06. The trade was a 26.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Susan Li sold 9,196 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,186 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. This represents a 41.09% decrease in their position. 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 81,758 shares of company stock valued at $51,214,020 over the last quarter. 13.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $785.00 price target (down from $800.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report 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 for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Evercore reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Arete Research set a $735.00 price objective on Meta Platforms and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 2nd. Finally, Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $700.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $788.88.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Meta Platforms

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing 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 Lennar’s Earnings Miss May Be Sending a Bigger Warning About U.S. Housing Priced for a Pullback or More Gains? These 3 Stocks Are Testing the Limits These 3 Agentic AI Stocks Have More Than Hype Behind Their Growth Stories Not Just Banks: 3 Trading Stocks to Watch After the Fed Rate Hike

Receive News & Ratings for Meta Platforms Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meta Platforms and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) insider Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $675.23, for a total transaction of $13,504,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 224,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $151,599,938.68. This trade represents a 8.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Meta Platforms Trading Down 2.4% Shares of Meta Platforms stock opened at $665.75 on Friday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52-week low of $520.26 and a 52-week high of $790.80. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $606.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $609.79. The firm has a market cap of $1.70 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

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 (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 business had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $7.14 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current 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 $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is presently 7.91%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently commented on META shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $640.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $810.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Monness Crespi & Hardt lowered their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $890.00 to $730.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. KeyCorp lowered their price target on Meta Platforms from $790.00 to $780.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered Meta Platforms from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Friday, June 26th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $788.88.

Read Our Latest Research Report on META

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Institutional Investors Weigh In On Meta Platforms Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. RHL Group LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Advantage Trust Co acquired a new position in Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter worth about $32,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Schuylkill Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the second quarter worth $36,000. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Meta Platforms Company Profile (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.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Lennar’s Earnings Miss May Be Sending a Bigger Warning About U.S. Housing Priced for a Pullback or More Gains? These 3 Stocks Are Testing the Limits These 3 Agentic AI Stocks Have More Than Hype Behind Their Growth Stories Not Just Banks: 3 Trading Stocks to Watch After the Fed Rate Hike

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Oppenheimer's top internet analyst ran the numbers on Meta's AI subscription push and walked away skeptical, raising a pointed question about whether Muse can ever justify the valuation premium Wall Street is quietly pricing in.

Jason Helfstein, Oppenheimer’s Managing Director and Senior Analyst covering the Internet sector, laid out a striking scenario in a September 2026 note: Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META | META Price Prediction) would need roughly 115 million paying Muse subscribers at a $20/month price point to generate about $27.5 to $28 billion in annual AI agent revenue. His conclusion, however, was skeptical. For long-term investors, the math frames just how high the bar is for Meta stock to earn a consumer-AI premium on top of its advertising engine.

Ticker Company Firm Action Old Rating New Rating Old Target New Target META Meta Platforms Oppenheimer Scenario Note N/A N/A N/A N/A Oppenheimer’s Skeptical Math on Muse Helfstein’s framework benchmarks Muse conversion against ChatGPT’s reported ~6% free-to-paid rate, arguing that Meta would need to hit that scale to produce meaningful earnings upside, assuming high incremental margins. His pushback: Muse is unlikely to be a near-term game-changer, citing doubts about paid conversion, competition from ChatGPT and Gemini, and low consumer trust in sharing passwords with Meta.

The skepticism lands against a backdrop of already-elevated expectations. Meta has said it saw a 60% increase in the number of people interacting with the assistant each day after integrating Muse Spark, and Barron’s recently called Muse potentially the biggest AI launch since ChatGPT.

Inside Meta’s Q2 Numbers Meta’s second quarter showed the tension between AI ambition and AI cost. Revenue reached $60.80 billion, up 27.96% year over year, but diluted EPS of 6.18 came in 14.42% below the $7.22 consensus, snapping a six-quarter beat streak. Operating margin compressed to 31% from 43%, and free cash flow collapsed to $784 million as capex jumped 82.1% year over year. Full-year 2026 capex guidance sits at $130 to $145 billion.

The Family of Apps still reaches 3.60 billion daily active people, and AI-powered Advantage Plus solutions crossed $75 billion in annual revenue run rate.

Why This Analyst Downgrade Signal Matters Now Meta stock trades around $665.75, up 21.93% over the past month yet down 14.4% over the past year. Shares carry a P/E of 24 and a forward multiple of 20. Consensus 2026 EPS has been drifting lower, with 45 downward revisions against 4 upward revisions over the trailing 30 days. Wall Street still leans bullish overall, with 47 Buy and 8 Strong Buy ratings against 7 Holds.

Retirement Portfolio Read on Meta Stock Helfstein’s note is best read as a reality check rather than an outright price target cut. The advertising engine is compounding, but the Muse subscription thesis carries execution risk that will not resolve quickly. Retirement-focused investors weighing Meta stock should watch conversion metrics, capex discipline, and whether AI-driven ad lift can offset rising depreciation before assigning credit for a consumer-AI windfall that may take years to materialize.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 174.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 120,563 shares of the social networking company’s stock after buying an additional 76,570 shares during the period. Meta Platforms accounts for 4.3% of Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $67,912,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in META. Auto Owners Insurance Co grew its holdings in shares of 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 period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter worth about $22,152,075,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 4,537,076 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 2,673,494 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amundi boosted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 18.1% in the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 11,858,972 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $6,784,873,000 after purchasing an additional 1,815,017 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets META has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. KeyCorp cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $790.00 to $780.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. DA Davidson decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $800.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Wednesday. Erste Group Bank raised Meta Platforms from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price target on Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $750.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have issued a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $788.88.

Get Our Latest Research Report on META Meta Platforms Trading Down 2.4% Shares of NASDAQ META opened at $665.75 on Friday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a twelve month low of $520.26 and a twelve month high of $790.80. 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 stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $606.33 and a 200-day simple moving average of $609.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.08, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25.

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 return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $7.14 EPS. Meta Platforms’s revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.525 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is 7.91%.

Insider Activity at Meta Platforms In other news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $657.73, for a total transaction of $622,212.58. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 10,716 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,048,234.68. This represents a 8.11% 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, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,271 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. The trade was a 34.07% decrease in their position. 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. Over the last three months, insiders sold 81,758 shares of company stock valued at $51,214,020. 13.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing 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.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Lennar’s Earnings Miss May Be Sending a Bigger Warning About U.S. Housing Priced for a Pullback or More Gains? These 3 Stocks Are Testing the Limits These 3 Agentic AI Stocks Have More Than Hype Behind Their Growth Stories Not Just Banks: 3 Trading Stocks to Watch After the Fed Rate Hike 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).

Receive News & Ratings for Meta Platforms Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meta Platforms and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

ABS Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 1,127 shares of the social networking company’s stock, valued at approximately $635,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd raised its holdings in Meta Platforms by 18.6% in the second quarter. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd now owns 18,777 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $10,577,000 after acquiring an additional 2,939 shares in the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 33.6% in the 2nd quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc now owns 3,031 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,707,000 after purchasing an additional 763 shares during the last quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 38.2% during the second quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC now owns 16,059 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $9,046,000 after acquiring an additional 4,440 shares during the last quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP grew its position in Meta Platforms by 63.7% during the 2nd quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP now owns 115,985 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $65,333,000 after purchasing an additional 45,130 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Abbot Financial Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 53.5% in the 2nd quarter. Abbot Financial Management Inc. now owns 2,845 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,603,000 after purchasing an additional 991 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms In other news, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $650.28, for a total transaction of $13,005,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 244,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $159,003,864.48. The trade was a 7.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible 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 company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,271 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,875,854.26. The trade was a 34.07% decrease in their position. 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. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020. 13.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes META has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, June 2nd. They set an “outperform” rating on the stock. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $650.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Rosenblatt Securities restated a “buy” rating and issued a $886.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Wednesday. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $800.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $785.00 price objective (down from $800.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have given a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $788.88.

View Our Latest Research Report on Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms Price Performance META stock opened at $665.75 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52-week low of $520.26 and a 52-week high of $790.80. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $606.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $609.79.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted 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). Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.14 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement 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 paid a $0.525 dividend. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is presently 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 Lennar’s Earnings Miss May Be Sending a Bigger Warning About U.S. Housing Priced for a Pullback or More Gains? These 3 Stocks Are Testing the Limits These 3 Agentic AI Stocks Have More Than Hype Behind Their Growth Stories Not Just Banks: 3 Trading Stocks to Watch After the Fed Rate Hike 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).

Receive News & Ratings for Meta Platforms Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meta Platforms and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Shares of Meta Platforms (META) have remained in a wide but strong consolidation over the last year as investors remain wary on the Mag 7 giant's growing spending tied to the AI buildout. George Tsilis takes investors through his analysis of the company's earnings and financial standing as Meta launches new AI-related products, from Muse and Meta One to a line of smart glasses.

Whalen Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 20.4% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,809 shares of the social networking company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,323 shares during the period. Meta Platforms accounts for about 2.0% of Whalen Wealth Management Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Whalen Wealth Management Inc.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $4,399,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Auto Owners Insurance Co raised its position 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 valued at $69,502,379,000 after purchasing an additional 105,154,977 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in 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 Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter valued at about $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 14.6% in the first 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 1,046,715 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Meta Platforms Stock Down 2.4% Shares of META opened at $665.75 on Friday. 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 business has a fifty day moving average of $606.33 and a 200 day moving average of $609.79. The company has a market cap of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.25. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52-week low of $520.26 and a 52-week high of $790.80.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 firm 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% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $7.14 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current year. Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement 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 issued a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is presently 7.91%.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Insider Buying and Selling In other news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $657.73, for a total transaction of $622,212.58. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 10,716 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,048,234.68. This represents a 8.11% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,196 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total value of $5,063,409.56. Following the completion of the sale, 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. Insiders sold a total of 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020 over the last three months. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts recently issued reports on META shares. DA Davidson decreased their target price on Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Friday, September 11th. Erste Group Bank raised shares of Meta Platforms from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Phillip Securities raised shares of Meta Platforms to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Benchmark restated a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $788.88.

Read 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.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms J.B. Hunt’s Stock Plunges After Market Misprices Profit Warning 2 Stocks Breaking Out Post-FOMC With One Thing in Common Lennar’s Q3 Miss Hides a Stronger Operating Story Beneath the Housing Slump These 3 Stocks Are Drawing Insider Buyers for Very Different Reasons

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The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company cut its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 4.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,878,365 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 139,263 shares during the period. Meta Platforms makes up approximately 1.3% of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company’s holdings, making the stock its 10th largest holding. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned about 0.11% of Meta Platforms worth $1,621,353,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Auto Owners Insurance Co increased its stake 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 purchasing an additional 105,154,977 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $22,152,075,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC boosted its stake 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 valued at $3,608,445,000 after acquiring an additional 4,537,076 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in Meta Platforms by 14.6% during the first 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 acquiring an additional 2,673,494 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amundi increased its stake in Meta Platforms by 18.1% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 11,858,972 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $6,784,873,000 after purchasing an additional 1,815,017 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance META opened at $665.75 on Friday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $606.33 and its 200-day moving average is $609.79. 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 stock has a market cap of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.25. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a twelve month low of $520.26 and a twelve month high of $790.80.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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). The business had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The company’s revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $7.14 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current year. Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.525 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 payout ratio is presently 7.91%.

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms In other news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $657.73, for a total value of $622,212.58. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 10,716 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,048,234.68. The trade was a 8.11% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Curtis J. Mahoney sold 1,559 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total value of $869,922.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 1,957 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,092,006. This trade represents a 44.34% decrease in their position. 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 81,758 shares of company stock valued at $51,214,020 over the last three months. 13.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have weighed in on META shares. Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $750.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $640.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $810.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Monday, June 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $750.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $788.88.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on META

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing 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.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms J.B. Hunt’s Stock Plunges After Market Misprices Profit Warning 2 Stocks Breaking Out Post-FOMC With One Thing in Common Lennar’s Q3 Miss Hides a Stronger Operating Story Beneath the Housing Slump These 3 Stocks Are Drawing Insider Buyers for Very Different Reasons

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Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 8.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,518,377 shares of the social networking company’s stock after acquiring an additional 123,604 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp owned 0.06% of Meta Platforms worth $836,209,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in META. RHL Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Advantage Trust Co purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Niles Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Meta Platforms in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Bayban raised its position in Meta Platforms by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Bayban now owns 70 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms In other Meta Platforms news, insider Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $675.23, for a total value of $13,504,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 224,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $151,599,938.68. This represents a 8.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 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 that occurred 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $3,875,854.26. The trade was a 34.07% decrease in their position. 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 sold 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock. Meta Platforms Trading Down 2.4% Shares of Meta Platforms stock opened at $665.75 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.08, a PEG ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.25. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $520.26 and a fifty-two week high of $790.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $606.33 and a 200 day moving average of $609.79.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its 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). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The business had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $7.14 EPS. Meta Platforms’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a dividend of $0.525 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 presently 7.91%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have commented on META shares. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $650.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $780.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $810.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Monday, June 1st. Erste Group Bank upgraded shares of Meta Platforms from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Monness Crespi & Hardt lowered their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $890.00 to $730.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $788.88.

Get Our Latest Stock 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.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms J.B. Hunt’s Stock Plunges After Market Misprices Profit Warning 2 Stocks Breaking Out Post-FOMC With One Thing in Common Lennar’s Q3 Miss Hides a Stronger Operating Story Beneath the Housing Slump These 3 Stocks Are Drawing Insider Buyers for Very Different Reasons 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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Trajan Wealth LLC grew its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 133,908 shares of the social networking company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,447 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms makes up 2.8% of Trajan Wealth LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest position. Trajan Wealth LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $75,429,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Auto Owners Insurance Co increased its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 105,154,977 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in 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 valued at $34,734,628,000 after purchasing an additional 878,396 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter valued at $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in 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 worth $12,036,491,000 after purchasing an additional 2,673,494 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 18,200,469 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $12,013,948,000 after buying an additional 1,046,715 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $810.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Monness Crespi & Hardt cut their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $890.00 to $730.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Evercore restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. DA Davidson dropped their price target on Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Raymond James Financial boosted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $825.00 to $850.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $788.88.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on META Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms In related news, CFO Susan Li sold 9,196 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on 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 completion of 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. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible 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 owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. The trade was a 34.07% decrease in their position. 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 quarter, insiders sold 81,758 shares of company stock worth $51,214,020. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing Meta Platforms Stock Down 2.4% Shares of META opened at $665.75 on Friday. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $606.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $609.79. 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 1 year low of $520.26 and a 1 year high of $790.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.25.

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 the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). The business had revenue of $60.80 billion during 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 business’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $7.14 EPS. Analysts forecast 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 paid a $0.525 dividend. The ex-dividend date 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%.

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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Manning & Napier Advisors LLC decreased its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 5.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 348,817 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 18,518 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms makes up about 2.5% of Manning & Napier Advisors LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $196,485,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Auto Owners Insurance Co boosted 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 Meta Platforms by 1.7% in the fourth 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 purchasing an additional 878,396 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter worth about $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in 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 purchasing an additional 2,673,494 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its stake 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 worth $12,013,948,000 after purchasing an additional 1,046,715 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity In other news, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,196 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total transaction of $5,063,409.56. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 13,186 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. This trade represents a 41.09% decrease in their position. 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, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $650.28, for a total value of $13,005,600.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 244,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $159,003,864.48. This represents a 7.56% 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. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 81,758 shares of company stock valued at $51,214,020. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently commented on META. Wolfe Research reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $700.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. BNP Paribas Exane started coverage on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Tuesday, June 2nd. They issued an “outperform” rating for the company. Phillip Securities raised shares of Meta Platforms to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, Citizens Jmp dropped their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $770.00 and set a “market outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Meta Platforms presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $788.88. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms Price Performance Shares of Meta Platforms stock opened at $665.75 on Friday. 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 market cap of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.25. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $606.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $609.79. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $520.26 and a fifty-two week high of $790.80.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $7.14 EPS. Analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current 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 paid a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

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

Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta’s Muse tops Apple’s US free app chart Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth. Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing 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 J.B. Hunt’s Stock Plunges After Market Misprices Profit Warning 2 Stocks Breaking Out Post-FOMC With One Thing in Common Lennar’s Q3 Miss Hides a Stronger Operating Story Beneath the Housing Slump These 3 Stocks Are Drawing Insider Buyers for Very Different Reasons

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