Chinese AI lab Manus’ parent company, Butterfly Effect, said on Thursday in a WeChat post that it has raised more than $500 million, the company’s first funding round since Meta was forced to call off its $2 billion acquisition of the startup.
Boyu Capital and IDG Capital led the funding round, and existing shareholders Tencent, HSG (formerly known as Sequoia China), ZhenFund and others also participated. The AI company said it will continue hiring both at home and abroad.
Manus did not disclose its valuation, but it was last month said to be in talks with investors to raise $500 million at a $4 billion valuation.
Manus, which went viral following a demo of its AI agent last year, relocated its staff to Singapore in mid-2025 before announcing a $2 billion acquisition deal with Meta that December. The startup was said to be pulling in annual recurring revenue of over $100 million at the time.
In April, Chinese authorities ordered the AI startup to unwind the deal amid intensifying worries in China over losing AI talent and researchers to the West.
Manus in August resumed independent operations following the end of the Meta deal, and said it was required to delete some user data as part of the split. The company is also reported to be considering going public in Hong Kong, according to the report.
Manus did not respond to TechCrunch’s questions about its valuation.
Manus makes AI products and agents similar to what companies like Cursor, Lovable, and Replit offer. It offers a chatbot and vibe-coding tools to let users build apps and websites, create designs and presentations, generate video, and more.
The company recently launched Manus 2.0, which it says brings a new architecture with new products and capabilities built around a new harness. It also introduced Cue, a standalone app that gives personal AI agents their own email addresses, phone numbers, digital wallets, and computers. The app lets agents communicate, handle tasks across services, and make payments within limits set by the user.
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Kate Park is a reporter at TechCrunch, with a focus on technology, startups and venture capital in Asia. She previously was a financial journalist at Mergermarket covering M&A, private equity and venture capital.
"AI Artificial Intelligence" words, a keyboard and a robotics hand in this illustration taken, September 23, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
Oct 8 (Reuters) - Butterfly Effect, the parent company of AI startup Manus, said on Thursday it completed a funding round of more than $500 million as the firm resumed independent operations after unwinding Meta's (META.O), opens new tab $2 billion-plus acquisition.
The round was co-led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital, with existing investors Tencent, Sequoia China and ZhenFund also participating.
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Here are some details:
Manus develops general-purpose AI agents that can autonomously carry out tasks such as research and automation with minimal human input.
In April, Beijing ordered Meta to unwind its acquisition of Manus amid tightening scrutiny of US investment in Chinese startups developing advanced AI technologies.
Manus said in August it would resume operating as an independent company and delete some user data as part of its separation from Meta.
The Information reported in June that Manus' annualised revenue run rate had surged to about $500 million, up from $100 million when Meta acquired it, and that the firm was considering a joint-venture structure incorporated in China, paving the way for a Hong Kong listing.
Reporting by Rajveer Singh Pardesi in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich
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In the latest trading session, Meta Platforms (META - Free Report) closed at $721.31, marking a -2.38% move from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.22%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.66%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 0.22%.
The social media company's stock has climbed by 20.44% in the past month, exceeding the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 6.54% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.4%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Meta Platforms in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $6.39, showcasing a 11.86% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $63.18 billion, up 23.3% from the prior-year quarter.
For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $31.39 per share and a revenue of $254.04 billion, signifying shifts of +33.63% and +26.41%, respectively, from the last year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Meta Platforms. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.82% lower. At present, Meta Platforms boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Digging into valuation, Meta Platforms currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 23.54. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 20.09.
It's also important to note that META currently trades at a PEG ratio of 1.15. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The average PEG ratio for the Internet - Software industry stood at 1.18 at the close of the market yesterday.
The Internet - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 104, placing it within the top 43% of over 250 industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.
If there’s any doubt about how seriously Meta is taking AI, here’s a new signal: The company on Wednesday announced that its Muse assistant is now available in a dedicated iPad app. That’s a milestone it took Instagram some 15 years to reach, despite constant user demand.
Muse, meanwhile, hit the iPad just a month after launching on iPhone.
(To be fair, it may not be as difficult to bring something like Muse to iPad, given its text-heavy interface, where image and video resolution and formatting matter less.)
Since launching on iOS and Android on September 8, Muse has topped 6.6 million installs, according to estimates from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. The app, which is now one of dozens of consumer-facing AI agents, lets users connect their accounts to stay on top of email, meetings, bills, and more, and to complete tasks like booking reservations, ordering groceries, setting goals, and making purchases.
To make that work, Meta has been adding partners in the effort, which appear in Muse as “connectors.” Users can add and sign in to them selectively, depending on which parts of their online life they’re comfortable letting an AI agent handle.
With the iPad release, Meta has updated this list with several of its newer additions, including connectors aimed at small businesses, like Asana, Canva, Dropbox, Figma, QuickBooks, GitHub, Klaviyo, and Zoom, as well as connectors for Meta ad accounts. It also added Notion and Granola.
In addition, Meta recently announced more retail partners, like Best Buy, Gap, Sephora, Walmart, and Wayfair. These allow the agent to shop those retailers’ sites and complete transactions on users’ behalf. Because this technology is still new, these experiences can still run into issues as websites mistake agents for bots and block their access.
On Tuesday, Meta announced that it’s working with industry partners on a technological solution to this problem in the form of an open standard that would allow personal AI agents to identify themselves to businesses. That would help businesses sort the good bots from the bad.
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Sarah has worked as a reporter for TechCrunch since August 2011. She joined the company after having previously spent over three years at ReadWriteWeb. Prior to her work as a reporter, Sarah worked in I.T. across a number of industries, including banking, retail and software.
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This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$520.26▼
$779.820.29%
27.33
$791.86
Since releasing its Muse personal AI agent, Meta Platform’s NASDAQ: META stock has moved up steeply and tested its all-time highs reached last year.
Muse is the clearest example of Meta packaging AI into a standalone, accessible product that can drive revenue beyond its massive advertising business. However, the company isn’t stopping there when it comes to providing AI solutions.
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CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls the recently announced Meta Enterprise Platform, “the next major pillar of our business."
Given the market’s positive response to Muse, the Meta Enterprise Platform represents another step in Meta’s push to turn AI into a meaningful revenue stream beyond its core advertising business.
The Meta Enterprise Platform: Extending Business Demand to New AreasMeta notes, “Meta Enterprise Platform will use our strengths that few other companies have: advanced models, leading agents, large-scale infrastructure, and years of working closely with many businesses.” The platform focuses on bringing the Muse agent, the Meta Business Agent, the Muse Application Programming Interface (API), and Muse Code to more businesses and developers.
This initiative lies at what has been the heart of Meta’s entire business model: helping other businesses grow. Using Meta’s apps as an advertising surface has been the primary way it has done this so far. With the firm expected to overtake Alphabet NASDAQ: GOOG in advertising sales this year, the company has been extraordinarily successful in this regard. The goal of the Meta Enterprise Platform is to provide businesses with other tools that help them grow and increase efficiency. In other words, Meta is looking to become a one-stop shop for business AI usage.
It wants firms to advertise on Meta, use Meta AI agents, use the Muse API as a general-purpose AI and chatbot, and use Muse Code to build new applications. This goal is further emphasized by a related announcement: Muse for Small Business. Like the Muse personal agent automates personal tasks, Muse for Small Businesses does the same for business tasks.
Meta notes that Muse can communicate with customers, create growth plans, handle emails and scheduling, monitor financial performance, and create new ad campaigns. Additionally, it can connect to many programs that businesses may already use to manage operations, including QuickBooks, Shopify, Slack, Stripe, Zoom, Canva, and Dropbox. Meta expects to add more connectors and skills over the coming months.
Meta’s Overall AI Strategy Becomes ClearerThe combination of Meta’s advertising business, the Muse personal agent, and the Meta Enterprise Platform helps put into perspective why the company is spending so fervently on AI infrastructure. The firm has 3.6 billion daily active users on its apps. Serving these users with AI-optimized ads clearly requires massive infrastructure. Additionally, Meta is working to extend people’s interactions with AI beyond their social media feeds and into the automation of their daily tasks through Muse—another major driver of infrastructure demand.
All those AI-optimized ads will support what experts expect to be the world's largest digital advertising business by the end of 2026. Now, the company is working to extend that relationship with businesses into other use cases, using AI, through the Meta Enterprise Platform and Muse for Small Businesses. To serve all these interests, building a huge portfolio of AI infrastructure assets is essential.
It's worth noting that Meta is bringing in big guns to lead this program. Chirantan “CJ” Desai will join Meta as Chief Enterprise Platform Officer. Desai has an extensive track record in the tech sector. Just prior to joining Meta, he was the CEO of MongoDB NASDAQ: MDB, an over $25 billion software company. Before that, he led product and engineering at Cloudflare NYSE: NET, which currently has a market capitalization of around $125 billion. Desai was also once the COO of ServiceNow NYSE: NOW, helping scale the company from $1.5 billion to more than $10 billion in annualized revenue.
The point is that Meta has the gravitas to simply poach the CEO of a huge firm like MongoDB to run a subset of its business. Bringing in this highly experienced tech executive reflects favorably on its ability to scale the Meta Enterprise platform successfully.
Meta’s Shares Are Booming Today—But Financial Impact Still Requires PatienceAfter a rather long period of confusion regarding Meta’s overarching AI strategy, the picture is now coming into focus. The company is working to build a highly integrated AI stack that caters to both personal and business use cases. AI advertising, the Muse personal agent, and the Meta Enterprise Platform are key pillars of this.
Today, outside of advertising, the monetization of these pillars has yet to have much impact on Meta’s financials. Given the recent release of these programs, it may take several more quarters before they do. However, updates on Muse personal agent, Meta Enterprise Platform, and Muse for Small Business adoption will be critical to monitor in coming press releases and earnings calls.
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Meta's Muse personal agent has been topping app store charts. Now, the "centerpiece" of the company's artificial intelligence strategy, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg describes it, needs to become something people make a habit of using.
The buzz around Meta's AI agent has excited investors. The stock is up about 20% since the app's launch a month ago and recorded its best month in September since 2022.
While Meta is still currently the top free app on Apple's iOS store, the bigger challenge for the Facebook parent is to get people to keep using Muse after the magic wears off. Meta needs its personal agent to be an anchor app for the company, which has been trailing competitors like OpenAI and Google in the red-hot AI market.
"Muse has an opportunity to be sticky with consumers because it's a task-completer, rather than just a chatbot," Meredith Whalen, chief research officer at IDC, said in an email.
Whalen said consumers are using current AI tools for a range of tasks, but it's unclear if they'll be willing to hand over the kind of personal data required to create an efficient digital assistant. That's a particularly big obstacle for Meta, which just agreed to an almost $17 billion settlement with a group of states that alleged the company misrepresented the extent of child mental health harms caused by apps like Facebook and Instagram.
"The real question is trust," Whalen said.
Meta is pitching Muse to both consumers and small businesses for tasks like organizing personal emails, searching for shopping deals or seeking out prospective customers. Although Meta lets users access Muse for free, it also sells monthly subscription plans for $20 or $100, depending on tokens, a metric the company uses to calculate the power AI agents need to accomplish tasks.
In offering Muse for free out of the gate, the company can get an understanding of how and why people are using it, said Whalen, who noted that, "Price comes later, once the habit is established."
watch now
Coders have found AI agents helpful as software engineering tools, but the general public and even business leaders are still grappling with the potential for supercharged digital assistants, beyond acting as mere question-and-answering services.
"I would say that widely, enterprise-scale AI agent adoption is still page one, chapter one," said Ketan Karkhanis, CEO of ThoughtSpot, which sells AI agent technologies to businesses.
Consumers are just getting started with AI agents.
Karkhanis said he hasn't seen the kinds of "killer use cases" that would make apps like Muse more compelling than merely being a "next-gen Alexa" or Siri voice assistant that people might use to tell them the weather.
Andrew Geller, executive producer of 1stAveMachine, said his media firm develops its own internal agentic tools for certain production tasks. He views Muse and other consumer-focused AI agents as being "quite helpful" in introducing the technology to the masses, but says they're hardly life-changing.
Geller said he was "early on the OpenClaw train," referring to the so-called open-source harness for managing AI agents that took off earlier this year. He said he discovered that personal use of AI agents can be fun, but also "kind of a little banal," particularly when contrasted with the more heavy-duty uses related to coding.
Bring on the Personal AI assistantsA number of other tech firms are trying to commercialize AI agents for the masses by first enticing users to join for free.
Former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is taking a try-before-you-buy approach with her new photo-centric AI agent startup Dazzle, a tactic she said is important "for those occasional users or those users who are just trying to see what the service can do at the very beginning."
Dazzle analyzes users' personal photos to understand aspects of their lives, such as their family members or interests, and then can take actions like reminding someone that a pair of shoes they recently looked up is on sale online.
It's a strategy she learned from her early tenure at Google, before the company built its market-leading online ad platform.
"What we're really trying to do is see what use cases are really popping with users, what do they see as really helpful, and that will guide it," Mayer said about Dazzle's first week post-launch.
Mayer compared the pricing and adoption approach to Uber's evolution. The ride-hailing company began with black town cars before introducing lower-priced options for a wider swath of users.
"It's a luxury to be able to have these wonderful recommendations and to have this level of convenience," Mayer said.
Dazzle is considering transaction fees and subscriptions.
"We want to be running a service where people feel that they're getting value on a relatively continuous basis over time," Mayer said.
At Wajo AI, CEO Shivani Poddar is also contemplating business models for her new AI-powered digital assistant startup, which lets people research and book appointments or order gifts for family members.
Poddar, who has previously built voice-assistant technologies for Amazon Alexa and at Facebook, is letting people access the service for free for now. While Poddar believes businesses may be willing to pay subscription fees, she's not yet convinced that "the everyday person" will want to sign up, and instead may be more willing to pay service fees based on outcomes, like how Airbnb makes money from bookings.
The stakes are highest for Meta, which went on a massive spending spree last year to acquire talent and build a business in AI that could compete with OpenAI and Anthropic. Zuckerberg is desperate to diversify away from online ads, which still account for almost all of the company's revenue, and he's got a long way to go to prove that Muse can be a key piece of that effort.
Zuckerberg, at least to an extent, has time on his side.
"Whoever can subsidize users and wait has the advantage," IDC's Whalen said. "And Meta's ad business can pay for a lot of waiting."
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zelestra, a global, multi-technology, customer-focused renewable energy company, has closed $350 million in green financing credit facilities for the 203 MW Reclamation Solar project in Gibson County, Indiana. The close takes Zelestra past $1 billion ($1.14bn) in project financing raised in the US in 2026, which is putting more than 800 MW of new solar into construction for its customers across the country.
Sybil Milo Cioffi, Zelestra's US CFO, said: “Passing $1 billion in US project financing this year is a milestone we are pleased to share with our lenders and our customers. Reclamation is a major project that will deliver many benefits to our customer."
Share The credit facilities were provided by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), BBVA and Societe Generale. Reclamation is underpinned by a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Meta and is due to come online by the end of 2027.
Reclamation takes its name from the land beneath it, on a site reclaimed from former coal mining operations in southwest Indiana. The project is already under construction and is expected to support approximately 200 jobs at peak construction.
Sybil Milo Cioffi, Zelestra's US CFO, said: “Passing $1 billion in US project financing this year is a milestone we are pleased to share with our lenders and our customers. Reclamation is a major project that will deliver many benefits to our customer, and to the wider community. We are pleased that CIBC, BBVA and Societe Generale are backing our ambition. These partnerships enable us to keep building at the pace this market needs.”
Ines Serrao, Head of U.S. Project Finance & Infrastructure at CIBC, added: “CIBC is pleased to have served as Left-Lead Arranger on the financing of Reclamation Solar and to support Zelestra on this important project. The transaction demonstrates our ability to deliver financing solutions for large-scale renewable energy projects and support growing power demand across the US.”
Zelestra continues to expand its US platform with multi-technology solutions built around the growing energy needs of hyperscalers and corporate customers. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the company is developing a pipeline of approximately 16 GW across key US markets.
About Zelestra
Zelestra is a vertically integrated company specializing in the development, commercialization, construction, and operation of large-scale renewable energy projects. The company was recently ranked by BloombergNEF among the top 10 sellers of clean energy to corporate customers — both globally and in the US. Zelestra is backed by EQT, a leading global investment organization with more than €291 billion in assets under management.
Shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the fifty-seven research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, forty-four have given a buy recommendation and three have assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $791.86.
Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on META shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $800.00 price objective (down from $850.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Meta Platforms from $785.00 to $875.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Susquehanna cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $650.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $710.00 to $875.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on META
Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total value of $2,002,514.40. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. This trade represents a 34.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total value of $21,359,386.56. 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 146,647 shares of company stock worth $99,886,901 over the last three months. 13.53% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Meta Platforms Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Watchman Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 0.3% in the first quarter. Watchman Group Inc. now owns 5,091 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,913,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the period. Penney Financial LLC grew its position in Meta Platforms by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Penney Financial LLC now owns 399 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $228,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Meta Platforms by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,519 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $869,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the period. CWS Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Meta Platforms by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. CWS Financial Advisors LLC now owns 985 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $564,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tenzing Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Tenzing Financial LLC now owns 1,210 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $726,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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: AI optimism and higher valuation target: Wells Fargo raised its META price target to $1,000 from $796 while maintaining an Overweight rating, citing strong investor enthusiasm for the Muse product cycle. Analysts and commentators increasingly view Muse as a potential consumer-AI leader that could expand Meta’s reach beyond social media. Why this analyst expects Meta stock to hit $1,000 Positive Sentiment: Broader commercial adoption of AI agents: Meta is joining Walmart, OpenAI Chairman Bret Taylor’s Sierra and other companies to establish standards for businesses interacting with AI bots. Greater interoperability could support Muse adoption and help create a larger agent-driven commerce ecosystem. Meta joins with group of companies to tame chaos of doing business with AI bots Positive Sentiment: Product and infrastructure traction: Meta is testing a Reels-first Facebook experience in India, potentially increasing video engagement and advertising inventory. Separately, its long-term nuclear power agreement with Vistra helps secure electricity for energy-intensive AI data centers, though it may also increase future infrastructure costs. Facebook tests going Reels-first in India Neutral Sentiment: Spending versus monetization debate: Analysts remain divided over Meta’s substantial AI capital commitments—estimated at $130 billion to $145 billion in 2026. Supporters argue that advertising improvements and Meta’s large user base can fund the investment, while investors remain focused on how quickly Muse generates revenue. Meta Platforms: The AI spending looks crazy; the economics don’t Negative Sentiment: Major litigation overhang: New Mexico is seeking a potential penalty of up to $40 billion, with a judge expected to rule this month. Meta also faces lawsuits that could raise costs and constrain its ability to invest aggressively in AI. New Mexico Wants Meta to Pay Up to $40 Billion Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and interest-rate pressure: Meta is challenging UK demands for online-safety data, while rising Treasury yields have prompted at least one portfolio manager to reduce his META position. Higher yields can also make the stock’s elevated valuation less attractive. Meta, TikTok, X challenge UK watchdog Meta Platforms Stock Down 0.4% Meta Platforms stock opened at $738.88 on Wednesday. Meta Platforms has a fifty-two week low of $520.26 and a fifty-two week high of $779.82. 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 firm has a 50 day moving average price of $631.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $617.69. The company has a market capitalization of $1.88 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.19.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last released 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Meta Platforms will post 27.94 earnings per share for the current year.
Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date was 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%.
About Meta Platforms (Get Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.
Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.
Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.
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Fueled by strength from its AI agent Muse, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) has been one of the best performing large-cap stocks in the last month, with shares up 21%. That momentum is now under scrutiny as a big-screen movie portrays the company and CEO Mark Zuckerberg in anything but a positive light.
Meta, Zuckerberg Get Big Screen TreatmentA sequel that’s not a sequel to the 2010 film "The Social Network" hits theaters this weekend. The film titled "The Social Reckoning" includes some of the same people from the 2010 film, while seeing Jeremy Strong take over the role of Zuckerberg.
While the last film focused on Facebook’s origins and power struggles between Zuckerberg and other co-founders, "The Social Reckoning" highlights leaks from a former employee and whistleblower that were part of a 2021 Wall Street Journal report known as "The Facebook Files."
From Sony Group Corp (NYSE:SONY), "The Social Reckoning" could have a big impact on the public’s perception of Meta and Zuckerberg.
"The Social Reckoning is an even bigger burn on Mark Zuckerberg than you think," The Hollywood Reporter writes. "Aaron Sorkin’s film takes on the sitting mogul in a way Hollywood rarely attempts."
As highlighted by The Hollywood Reporter, even the film’s advertisements have taken Meta head-on with ads like "Mark Zuckerberg will love The Social Reckoning" that aren’t fact-checked, because Instagram doesn’t fact-check its ads.
Character actor Strong may make it even harder for the public to like Zuckerberg, portraying the CEO as arrogant, emotionally limited, and someone who never smiles.
The film could also put "The Facebook Files" back in the spotlight, stories many have forgotten or weren’t old enough to remember. The film uses real lines from testimony, like accusing Facebook of "buying its profits with our safety."
Read Next
"The Social Reckoning" director Aaron Sorkin, who wrote the screenplay for this film and "The Social Network," said the first film likely split viewers.
Sorkin told The Hollywood Reporter that some viewed the first film as a cautionary tale, while others saw it as an inspirational story about a man who dropped out of college and became a billionaire.
Sorkin stops short of calling Zuckerberg a villain.
"He’s making bad decisions that are hurting us," Sorkin said. "But in dramatist terms, he’s not a villain. He’s an antihero."
As an antihero, Sorkin says Zuckerberg’s intentions are good in wanting to connect everybody in the world, but the methods to get there are bad.
Zuckerberg has criticized "The Social Network" in the past, noting that while the film’s details about clothing are precise, other details are wrong.
“The Social Reckoning” lands in the middle of a strong run for Meta, with shares up 21% over the past month.
News of Meta Platforms (META +0.26%) launching a personal artificial intelligence (AI) agent called Muse last month gave the struggling stock some much-needed life. It's now in positive territory for the year, up around 12% since January. It's been a tremendous turnaround story for the company, as it's made investors believers of Meta's AI strategy.
But I don't think it'll last. While the launch of a personal AI assistant may unlock new opportunities and drive more growth, since there are paid plans as well, here's why I don't think it'll be successful.
Image source: Getty Images.
AI agents need to be trusted, and that's not Meta's strengthAI agents could potentially add a lot of efficiency to someone's life. They could respond to emails, book dinners, make travel plans, and even shop online for them. But each one of those examples also requires the user to allow the agent to act on their behalf, and thus, to trust it to make sound decisions. It may also involve allowing them to access sensitive information.
Meta, unfortunately, doesn't have the best track record for protecting user privacy. It's faced numerous privacy-related lawsuits and recently agreed to pay $18 billion to settle lawsuits that alleged its social media apps harmed children.
Given that there is a growing amount of competition in AI and there will be many AI agents available, I'm skeptical about just how much people will be willing to trust a service from Meta, given its track record. As concerns grow about the level of access that an AI can have, I think users will be less inclined to use an AI from a company such as Meta. While its AI agent may provide convenience for users who heavily use the company's social media apps, I don't think it'll be a big growth driver for the business.
Premium Feature
Moneyball Superscore
78/100
Today's Change
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0.26
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1.89
Current Price
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Why I'd avoid Meta's stockMeta's stock has been volatile over the past year, as even with its recent surge in value, it's still only up around 3% in the last 12 months. It's trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 28, which is a fair bit higher than the S&P 500 average of 23. The tech stock is by no means a steal of a deal.
Plus, when factoring in the risks of its AI strategy not paying off plus the money pit that is its metaverse segment, it quickly becomes apparent why the stock should arguably trade at a discount rather than a premium. This is a stock that could be vulnerable to a sizable decline if there's a downturn in the markets.
A month after Meta's launch of Muse, the personal agent that quickly turned into a viral sensation, a group of companies is coming together to try to simplify the process of bringing the technology into the business world.
Meta, Walmart, Stripe and a handful of other companies are publishing what they're calling a "personal agent protocol." It's an open standard meant to dictate how artificial intelligence agents can interact with businesses.
Enterprise AI startup Sierra, co-founded by former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor, is part of the group. Taylor, who's also chairman of OpenAI and is leading the initiative, told CNBC in an interview that companies have a lot of work to do to figure out how and when personal agents are able to access information.
"Companies will know when it's a personal agent versus an actual person. For a lot of companies there's a risk: you don't want just a random bot that isn't acting on behalf of a person to have access to this service," Taylor said. “It is kind of chaos until such a standard exists."
Meta's Muse has become the most popular and buzzy version of personal AI agents since hitting the market in early September. It soared to the top of Apple's App Store and remains there, ahead of ChatGPT. However, Amazon is among the companies that have blocked Meta's agents, citing worries of website scraping.
Amazon also blocked Perplexity's AI agent and sued the startup in November, alleging the company took steps to "conceal" its AI agents so they could continue to scrape Amazon's website without approval. Perplexity called the lawsuit a "bully tactic."
For the new standard, Taylor compared it with the experience of logging into other websites with Google or Facebook credentials, technology he worked on when he was tech chief at Facebook. He said the practice will help with authentication so that businesses know if they're dealing with a bot, and will provide visibility into what personal agents are actually doing through these websites.
David Singleton, vice president of engineering and consumer products at Meta Superintelligence Labs and former technology chief at Stripe, highlighted security. In order for agents to work well, he said, customers need to share credit card and personal information, and the new standard creates some level of visibility and control.
"We're defining rails that we hope personal agents and business agents can run over for the future," Singleton said, comparing it to email. "If you think about email, it works great because it is a standard that everyone can use to talk to each other, and we think this is going to be quite similar."
Singleton said Muse already has millions of users in the U..S and it's "growing rapidly."
"What we're finding is that people love using Muse for all kinds of things, things like signing their kids up for classes, finding and buying the best gifts, scheduling that dentist appointment that you have been putting off for six months," he said. "We need a mechanism to have it go faster and smoother."
While OpenAI and Anthropic aren't on board now, Taylor said he expects the AI giants to participate, and indicated he will be "really disappointed" if it's not being used by competitors.
"The whole point of this is to be an open standard," Taylor said.
The Ratings GameA Wells Fargo analyst warns of a near-term profit hit from AI infrastructure spending and legal costs — but thinks that will set up massive gains by 2028
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Early excitement surrounding Meta’s artificial-intelligence assistant Muse has sent the stock higher — but Wells Fargo sees even bigger gains ahead.
On Tuesday, Wells Fargo analyst Ken Gawrelski raised his price target on Meta shares
to $1,000, from $796 previously. The new target is the highest among analysts tracked by FactSet.Continue reading your article with
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Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options: https://bit.ly/2v9tH6D. Meta Platforms (META) wants to extend its reach in consumer lives through Muse AI.
With the help of the Muse AI agent effort, shares of Meta Platforms (META) are on a torrid pace, surging nearly 22% for the month ending Oct. 5. Whether or not that scintillating run portends a cooling-off period will happen for the stock remains to be seen. But investors who want Meta exposure at a potentially slower pace have options to consider.
Enter the Direxion META Defined Income Boost ETF (MEIB). One of the seven members of Direxion’s recently launched Defined Income Boost ETF suite, MEIB may be ideal for market participants seeking some involvement with Meta while commanding solid income.
The actively managed MEIB, like its counterparts in the Defined Income Boost ETF stable, is an options income strategy that attempts to generate an annual distribution yield of 20% while delivering twice-monthly payouts. Though MEIB is barely more than two months old, it’s already living up to the promise of twice-a-month distributions. Fortunately, income isn’t the only reason to evaluate this new ETF.
MEIB Could Be Marvelous
As an options income ETF, MEIB won’t capture all of the upside of Meta shares when the stock rises. The other side of the coin is that if the stock retreats, MEIB could follow suit. Fortunately, Meta offers investors a solid fundamental proposition. That includes AI bolstering the sturdiness of the company’s core online advertising business.
“Better recommendations and content understanding are increasing engagement, inventory and impressions, while larger retrieval, ranking and creative models are improving conversion and advertiser returns,” noted Deutsche Bank. “This creates a reinforcing cycle of better performance, higher budgets and more data, supporting durable growth even as comparisons become more demanding.”
While there’s plenty of buzz around Muse, it’s worth noting that some of Meta’s established platforms, including Threads and WhatsApp, have advertising inroads as well. That could be supportive of upside for the stock and stability for MEIB.
“Both offer scaled, lightly monetized inventory that can plug directly into Meta’s advertising infrastructure,” added Deutsche Bank. “WhatsApp opens access to 1.5 billion Updates daily average users, while Advantage+ integration should support strong demand and a faster monetization ramp.”
In broad terms, MEIB may be appealing to income investors because Meta is a catalyst-rich story with the potential to extend to its recent winning ways.
“Street models already incorporate much of Meta’s elevated AI infrastructure expense, supporting attractive incremental flow-through,” concluded Deutsche Bank. “Watermelon’s frontier-model launch, greater clarity around the Enterprise division and Business Agent monetization could shift the debate from spending risk toward earnings optionality.”
For more news, information, and strategy, visit the Leveraged & Inverse Content Hub.
Meta Platforms Inc. META received a higher price target from Wells Fargo on Tuesday, with analyst Ken Gawrelski raising his target to $1,000 from $796 while maintaining an Overweight rating.
Gawrelski said investor enthusiasm around Meta’s Muse product cycle was warranted, according to TheFly.
However, he expects the company’s third-quarter earnings call to temper expectations for meaningful financial contributions from Muse in 2027.
The comments come as investors assess the potential of Meta’s consumer AI agent while also watching the company’s rising spending and its impact on future earnings.
Meta stock was down 0.07% on Tuesday.
Wells Fargo said Meta’s 2027 operating expenses could reasonably reach $210 billion to $215 billion, above the Street’s estimate of roughly $202 billion, according to TheFly.
The firm sees Meta generating earnings per share of $31 to $32 in 2027, compared with a consensus estimate of about $34.
The spending outlook follows a significant increase in Meta’s cost base.
Second-quarter revenue rose 28% year over year to $60.8 billion, while costs and expenses increased 55% to $42.03 billion.
Meta currently expects full-year 2026 expenses of $165 billion to $169 billion and capital expenditures of $130 billion to $145 billion.
Despite the higher spending outlook, Wells Fargo views the investment cycle as supporting a potentially larger opportunity for Meta’s AI products.
The firm compared the setup with Meta’s early investment phase for Reels.
Investors are expected to focus on Meta’s third-quarter commentary for updated spending expectations and management’s timeline for converting Muse adoption into revenue.
Muse has attracted more than 3 million weekly users who send at least one prompt and over 1 million daily users who do so, according to internal data reviewed by The Information.
Meta launched Muse in September as its consumer AI agent.
Citigroup also sees significant potential for the product.
The brokerage estimates Muse could generate more than $27 billion in annual revenue by 2030 as user adoption and engagement increase.
Citi estimates the revenue could include around $23 billion from transaction-related revenue and roughly $4.5 billion from subscriptions.
The brokerage said Muse downloads have exceeded 6.6 million since launch, while daily active users have reached 1.8 million as Meta expands awareness and new use cases emerge.
Citi views Muse as potentially becoming a key entry point for users searching, comparing, and transacting online.
The brokerage also sees the product benefiting from a first-mover advantage as Meta expands its broader AI strategy.
Advertising business remains supportiveMeta’s core advertising business continues to provide support for the company.
Deutsche Bank said its latest channel checks were strongest for Meta and Alphabet, according to TheFly.
The bank cited improved campaign performance, a more valuable mix of Reels and Stories inventory, and growing adoption of Meta’s AI advertising tools.
Meta faces competition in the personal AI agent market from products including OpenAI’s ChatGPT Dots, Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude.
For investors, the company’s upcoming third-quarter results and commentary could provide more clarity on the balance between rising AI-related investment, Muse adoption, and its potential contribution to revenue.
Wells Fargo’s higher price target reflects its more bullish long-term view, while its 2027 earnings expectations point to potential pressure from higher operating expenses.
Central Pacific Bank Trust Division grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 64.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,169 shares of the social networking company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,817 shares during the quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $5,199,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Watchman Group Inc. raised its stake in Meta Platforms by 0.3% during the first quarter. Watchman Group Inc. now owns 5,091 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $2,913,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the period. Penney Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Penney Financial LLC now owns 399 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $228,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,519 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $869,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. CWS Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. CWS Financial Advisors LLC now owns 985 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $564,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the period. Finally, Tenzing Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Tenzing Financial LLC now owns 1,210 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $726,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on META shares. 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. New Street Research reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $730.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Wedbush increased their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, September 11th. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $750.00 to $865.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, September 25th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $780.00 to $900.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $787.86.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Meta Platforms Meta Platforms Stock Performance Shares of META stock opened at $741.90 on Tuesday. 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’s fifty day moving average price is $628.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $616.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.89 trillion, a P/E ratio of 27.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12 month low of $520.26 and a 12 month high of $779.82.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The business had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.14 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were paid a dividend of $0.5250 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.91%.
Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $750.42, for a total transaction of $709,897.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 8,824 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,621,706.08. This trade represents a 9.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total transaction of $21,359,386.56. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 146,647 shares of company stock worth $99,886,901 in the last three months. 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 Muse is emerging as the primary bullish catalyst. Analysts and commentators believe the AI shopping agent could capture meaningful commerce market share, redirect purchases from Amazon, and create a new monetization channel for Meta. Jim Cramer said Muse could ultimately have more market share than OpenAI, while a separate analysis suggested the product could support a move toward $1,000. Jim Cramer Believes META Muse Will Have Much More Market Share Than OpenAI Positive Sentiment: AI investments are increasingly being framed as economically productive rather than purely speculative. Meta’s advertising revenue is growing faster than its user base, suggesting improved ad pricing, engagement, and AI-driven targeting. Supporters argue that Meta’s large user and advertising ecosystem can fund substantial capital expenditures, despite projected infrastructure spending of up to $145 billion in 2026. Meta Platforms: The AI Spending Looks Crazy; The Economics Don’t Positive Sentiment: Meta has secured long-term nuclear power through its agreement with Vistra. Vistra’s anticipated $4.2 billion federal loan will help expand nuclear capacity that is already supported by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Meta, improving the company’s ability to power AI data centers. Vistra Gets $4.2B Federal Loan to Add Nuclear Power Meta Already Bought Neutral Sentiment: Meta’s Reality Labs strategy appears to be shifting away from the metaverse’s prior spending-heavy approach, but the financial benefits and timing remain uncertain. A comparison of Meta and CyberAgent offers limited direct implications for META’s valuation. Pay Attention to Meta’s Quiet Dismantling of Its Biggest Mistake Negative Sentiment: Legal and regulatory risks are weighing on the investment case. New Mexico reportedly seeks $40 billion from Meta, while Meta and other platforms are challenging Ofcom’s data demands under the U.K. Online Safety regime. Separate lawsuits could increase costs and limit Meta’s ability to invest in AI. Why New Mexico Wants $40 Billion from Meta Platforms and What It Means for META Stock Negative Sentiment: Higher Treasury yields are prompting some investors to reduce exposure to expensive growth stocks. Investor Steve Weiss said he trimmed META as the 10-year Treasury yield approached 5.26%, a headwind for valuation multiples. Meta’s substantial AI spending also raises execution and free-cash-flow concerns. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta Amid Rising Yields Meta Platforms Company Profile (Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.
Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.
Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms NVIDIA’s Record High Raises a Bigger Question About How Far the Rally Can Run A Manufacturing Surprise Could Be a Big Win for These 2 Companies What a $1 Billion Chip Deal Says About Amazon’s AI Ambitions 3 Stocks Benefiting From AI Demand Just Announced Major Buybacks 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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Meta has started testing a new Facebook UX in India that sends some users directly into full-screen video when they open the app, putting Reels front and center.
First outlined in July by Facebook head Tom Alison, the test is designed to offer a more immersive, video-forward user experience. Alison said at the time that Meta planned to begin testing it later in the year in “video-heavy countries” outside the U.S., though he didn’t specify where. The company will explore bringing the user experience to the U.S. next year, he said.
Users included in the test can opt out and return to a Feed-first experience, Meta said. The classic feed will remain available as a second tab on the Facebook app.
The test comes as Meta moves to make video more central to Facebook. Last year, the company said all new videos posted to Facebook would be shared as Reels, regardless of their length or format, and it even renamed the app’s Video tab to “Reels.” Meta has previously said young adults spend about 60% of their time on Facebook watching videos.
India has long been a testing ground for Meta’s video efforts, particularly its push into short-form video. In 2020, Instagram began testing a dedicated Reels tab in the country, months after India banned TikTok. The company also tested a Reels-first experience for some Instagram users in India and South Korea last year that similarly sent them directly into the video UX when they opened the app.
The new test comes as video consumption rises across Meta’s apps in India. At least 97% of users surveyed in Meta-commissioned studies said they watch video on its platforms daily, and 89% of Gen Z respondents said they use Reels every day, per the figures the company released in June. Meta has described Reels as increasingly becoming India’s “personal and primary screen.”
India is Facebook’s largest market by users, with Meta’s advertising tools indicating an audience of more than 400 million people in the country.
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Jagmeet covers startups, tech policy-related updates, and all other major tech-centric developments from India for TechCrunch. He previously worked as a principal correspondent at NDTV.
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A Santa Fe judge holds the power to hand New Mexico a penalty that would dwarf anything Meta has ever paid, and the ruling lands this month. The gap between what the state demands and what Meta will accept is…
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META | META Price Prediction) closed at $741.90 on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, up 1.9% for the session. Meanwhile, a Santa Fe state judge is deciding how much the company owes New Mexico.
The court was asked to order Meta to pay. The New Mexico Department of Justice seeks at least $35 billion and up to $40 billion in penalties. Meta says the penalty should be capped at $3.45 billion.
Liability is already decided. A jury found against Meta in a data privacy case rooted in the Cambridge Analytica era. What remains is the amount, and the judge is expected to rule in October 2026.
Nothing has been ordered yet. Meta can appeal whatever the court decides. Even a very large ruling would be a starting point for further litigation.
How the Penalty Math Gets So Large Jurors in their Sept. 25, 2026 verdict found 26 of 29 Meta statements misleading and counted more than 43 million violations, each carrying a penalty of up to $5,000.
Multiplied out, those figures produce a ceiling no company could pay. The state’s request is about 20% of the statutory maximum.
Statutory penalties count individual acts and ignore measured damage, so judges tend to award less than states request. In a separate child safety case, a New Mexico jury set Meta’s penalties at up to $375 million.
Randi McGinn is outside counsel for the New Mexico Department of Justice. She pressed the court to impose the $40 billion penalty. She also pressed the court to punish Meta “in the only language it understands, which is money.”
What a Top-End Ruling Would Cost Meta Meta has a market value of roughly $1.89 trillion. Its second quarter 2026 revenue was $60.80 billion, and $59.36 billion of that came from advertising.
Free cash flow fell to $784 million in the second quarter while capital spending hit $30.12 billion. Meta recorded $2.4 billion in legal charges.
A ruling near the top of the range would far exceed the legal charges Meta booked in the second quarter. It would also reset expectations for the youth-related trials that Meta itself says may result in material losses.
Advertising revenue grew 27% in the second quarter, and the average price per ad rose 12%. Shares are up 20.37% over the past month.
Meta’s Muse agent has passed 5.6 million downloads. BNP Paribas has an $885 price target on the stock.
And with all that progress, scrutiny is spreading abroad. Norway’s digitalization minister has said the government will consider a ban on AI glasses.
What Will Decide META Stock’s Next Move At about 27 times trailing earnings, you pay for a business growing revenue 28% a year. The legal cloud is large but has a limit.
The first test is the ruling. A number close to Meta’s $3.45 billion cap would remove most of the cloud. A number near the state’s request would likely weigh on the shares through an appeal.
The third-quarter report is expected after the close on Oct. 28, 2026, with a call at 4:30 PM ET. Watch for a new legal charge or an increase to the $165 billion to $169 billion expense outlook. If the stock trades below $741.90 after both events, the market is likely pricing in further legal damage.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is under investigation for a potential breach of the UK’s digital safety laws after launching a Snapchat-style feature on Instagram.
The UK’s communications watchdog, Ofcom, is investigating whether the $1.9tn (£1.4tn) company infringed the Online Safety Act (OSA) by failing to carry out adequate checks on whether its Instagram Instants product could show illegal content or be accessed by children.
Social media companies are required to carry out risk assessments before making significant changes to their service’s design or operation. Breaching the OSA carries a range of potential actions, from a formal warning to a fine of up to 10% of global revenue.
George Lusty, the director of enforcement at Ofcom, said risk assessments were a vital step in keeping tech platforms safe for users. “You wouldn’t launch a new car without testing it properly, and it’s the same for online services,” he said. “Safety by design must be built in, not bolted on, and today’s investigation shows we’ll take action where we have concerns that providers are failing to comply.”
Screenshots of Instagram Instants. Photograph: Meta NewsroomInstagram’s Instants feature allows users to send images that disappear after viewing. The company said it had conducted a risk analysis of Instants and talked to Ofcom on a number of occasions before launching it. It said the feature carried protections such as blocking forwarding and included all the safeguards under its teen account settings, the default mode for under-18s on Instagram, Facebook and Messenger.
“We will of course cooperate with Ofcom during this investigation,” a Meta spokesperson said.
The Molly Rose Foundation, a charity established by the family of Molly Russell, a teenager who took her own life after viewing harmful content on Instagram, said it was crucial that Meta was “held to account for their failures under the Online Safety Act”.
Ofcom is already investigating whether Meta breached the law by failing to comply with a request for information related to its WhatsApp platform.
Zuckerberg’s company is challenging Ofcom in court over the OSA. It is suing the regulator in the high court over how it charges tech firms fees to cover its operating costs, and in a further case it is challenging Ofcom placing it in a new category under the act that subjects it to additional duties.
Meta has also joined TikTok and Elon Musk’s X in a court challenge over the amount information Ofcom is demanding they provide under the UK’s new online safety regime.
Instagram app icon is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken October 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
LONDON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Britain's communications regulator said on Tuesday it has opened an investigation into whether Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab breached UK online safety laws by failing to properly assess risks posed by its Instagram Instants feature before launching it in May.
Instants allows content shared by users in social media platform Instagram to disappear after being viewed.
Sign up here.
Ofcom said its formal investigation would establish if Meta carried out a "suitable and sufficient" assessments into the risk of illegal content in the feature or any possible risks posed to children before launch.
George Lusty, director of enforcement at Ofcom, said: "Our online safety laws are clear – significant changes to platforms must be risk assessed before they're launched."
He said safety by design had to be built in and not bolted on. "Today’s investigation shows we'll take action where we have concerns that providers are failing to comply," he added.
Meta said it took its regulatory obligations under the Online Safety Act seriously.
"We conducted a risk analysis and briefed Ofcom about this feature on a number of occasions before launching it," a spokesperson said.
"Instants has in-built protections, including blocking screenshots, reshares and forwarding, no public feed, and Teen Account protections on automatically."
"We will of course co-operate with Ofcom during this investigation," it added.
Meta has launched legal challenges against Ofcom over its implementation of the Online Safety Act, including the scale and the scope of the information it has to provide to the regulator, and the level of fees it charges.
Adds Meta response in paragraphs 6-9
Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru and Paul Sandle in London; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Sarah Young
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Eastern Bank increased its position in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 151,949 shares of the social networking company’s stock after buying an additional 8,029 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms comprises approximately 1.7% of Eastern Bank’s portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest position. Eastern Bank’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $110,190,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in META. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd raised its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $10,577,000 after buying an additional 2,939 shares during the period. Madison Wealth Partners Inc grew its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 763 shares in the last quarter. William John Sempolinski acquired a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the second quarter worth $3,107,000. Sone Capital Management LLC increased 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 period. Finally, Lakewood Capital Management LP raised its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 63.7% in 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 acquiring an additional 45,130 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms recently commented on META. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $650.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Citigroup reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $920.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. HSBC lowered their price objective on Meta Platforms from $905.00 to $830.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $680.00 to $860.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $787.86.
View Our Latest Stock Report on Meta Platforms Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms In other Meta Platforms news, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total transaction of $21,359,386.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 7,848 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total value of $4,379,184.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer owned 828 shares in the company, valued at $462,024. This trade represents a 90.46% 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 146,647 shares of company stock worth $99,886,901. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.
Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
Positive Sentiment: Meta’s advertising business delivered its strongest monthly stock performance in three years. Analysts see additional upside if ad growth, pricing and AI-driven monetization continue to support a higher 2027 valuation. Meta Stock Could Have Another Big Run Ahead Positive Sentiment: A bullish analysis awarded Meta a Buy rating, arguing that its large user base and advertising cash flow can fund AI investments. Revenue growth of 28% year over year has outpaced user growth, indicating better monetization through higher ad prices and engagement. Meta Platforms: The AI Spending Looks Crazy; The Economics Don’t Positive Sentiment: Commentary on Meta’s Muse AI launch suggests the technology could become a major catalyst for commerce and advertising, with one forecast envisioning a path toward $1,000 per share. The outlook is speculative but adds to the positive AI narrative. Meta Muse: Sparking the AI Revolution Neutral Sentiment: Meta executives are scheduled to testify before New York City officials about AI risks and possible legislation. The hearing could increase regulatory scrutiny, though no immediate financial impact was announced. AI Executives Set to Testify at NYC Council Hearing Negative Sentiment: Meta, TikTok and X are challenging Ofcom’s demands for information under the United Kingdom’s online-safety regime. The dispute highlights potential compliance costs and regulatory exposure. Meta, TikTok and X Challenge UK Watchdog Negative Sentiment: Meta’s planned AI infrastructure spending—estimated at $130 billion to $145 billion by 2026—raises execution and return-on-investment risks. Investors need evidence that AI monetization will justify the unusually large capital commitments. Meta AI Spending Analysis Negative Sentiment: Several lawsuits could create substantial liabilities and reduce Meta’s ability to spend on chips and data centers, presenting a direct risk to its AI strategy. Meta AI Plans Could Be Crippled by Lawsuits Negative Sentiment: Investor Steve Weiss said he reduced his Meta position as the 10-year Treasury yield approached 5.26%. Higher yields can pressure valuations for high-growth technology stocks and make Meta’s future cash flows less attractive. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta META stock traded up $15.66 during trading on Monday, hitting $743.74. 7,546,027 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,491,527. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $625.52 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $615.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.89 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.03, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52-week low of $520.26 and a 52-week high of $779.82. 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 (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). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The company had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current year.
Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st were given a $0.5250 dividend. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.91%.
About Meta Platforms (Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.
Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.
Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms What a $1 Billion Chip Deal Says About Amazon’s AI Ambitions 3 Stocks Benefiting From AI Demand Just Announced Major Buybacks Insiders Are Selling These 3 Stocks, Should You? Datadog’s Rally Has Insiders Selling—Can It Keep Climbing? 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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Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 69.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 99,735 shares of the social networking company’s stock after acquiring an additional 40,878 shares during the period. Meta Platforms accounts for approximately 0.9% of Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $72,326,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of META. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of 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 acquiring 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. William John Sempolinski purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at about $3,107,000. Sone Capital Management LLC grew its stake 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 valued at $9,046,000 after buying an additional 4,440 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lakewood Capital Management LP increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 63.7% in the second quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP now owns 115,985 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $65,333,000 after buying an additional 45,130 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms In other Meta Platforms news, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total value of $21,359,386.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of 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 transaction of $2,002,514.40. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,875,854.26. The trade was a 34.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders have sold 146,647 shares of company stock valued at $99,886,901. Company 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 advertising business delivered its strongest monthly stock performance in three years. Analysts see additional upside if ad growth, pricing and AI-driven monetization continue to support a higher 2027 valuation. Meta Stock Could Have Another Big Run Ahead Positive Sentiment: A bullish analysis awarded Meta a Buy rating, arguing that its large user base and advertising cash flow can fund AI investments. Revenue growth of 28% year over year has outpaced user growth, indicating better monetization through higher ad prices and engagement. Meta Platforms: The AI Spending Looks Crazy; The Economics Don’t Positive Sentiment: Commentary on Meta’s Muse AI launch suggests the technology could become a major catalyst for commerce and advertising, with one forecast envisioning a path toward $1,000 per share. The outlook is speculative but adds to the positive AI narrative. Meta Muse: Sparking the AI Revolution Neutral Sentiment: Meta executives are scheduled to testify before New York City officials about AI risks and possible legislation. The hearing could increase regulatory scrutiny, though no immediate financial impact was announced. AI Executives Set to Testify at NYC Council Hearing Negative Sentiment: Meta, TikTok and X are challenging Ofcom’s demands for information under the United Kingdom’s online-safety regime. The dispute highlights potential compliance costs and regulatory exposure. Meta, TikTok and X Challenge UK Watchdog Negative Sentiment: Meta’s planned AI infrastructure spending—estimated at $130 billion to $145 billion by 2026—raises execution and return-on-investment risks. Investors need evidence that AI monetization will justify the unusually large capital commitments. Meta AI Spending Analysis Negative Sentiment: Several lawsuits could create substantial liabilities and reduce Meta’s ability to spend on chips and data centers, presenting a direct risk to its AI strategy. Meta AI Plans Could Be Crippled by Lawsuits Negative Sentiment: Investor Steve Weiss said he reduced his Meta position as the 10-year Treasury yield approached 5.26%. Higher yields can pressure valuations for high-growth technology stocks and make Meta’s future cash flows less attractive. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta Meta Platforms Trading Up 2.1% META stock traded up $15.57 during trading on Monday, reaching $743.65. The company had a trading volume of 7,719,451 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,491,527. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82. The company has a market cap of $1.89 trillion, a P/E ratio of 28.01, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. The business has a 50 day moving average of $625.52 and a 200 day moving average of $615.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its 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). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $7.14 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date was 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%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages recently weighed in on META. China Renaissance dropped their target price on Meta Platforms from $825.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 31st. DA Davidson dropped their price objective on Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $920.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $750.00 to $820.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, September 25th. Finally, Raymond James Financial increased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $860.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $787.86.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Meta Platforms
About Meta Platforms (Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.
Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.
Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms A Manufacturing Surprise Could Be a Big Win for These 2 Companies What a $1 Billion Chip Deal Says About Amazon’s AI Ambitions 3 Stocks Benefiting From AI Demand Just Announced Major Buybacks Insiders Are Selling These 3 Stocks, Should You? 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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Rockland Trust Co. decreased its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 6.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 28,720 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 1,844 shares during the period. Rockland Trust Co.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $20,827,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Auto Owners Insurance Co lifted its holdings in 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 last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 4.0% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 92,033,963 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $51,841,811,000 after purchasing an additional 3,510,123 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the fourth quarter valued at about $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE raised 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 purchasing an additional 2,673,494 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted 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 buying an additional 1,046,715 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Meta Platforms Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ META traded up $15.74 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $743.82. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 7,719,451 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,491,527. 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 company has a market cap of $1.89 trillion, a P/E ratio of 28.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $625.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $615.98. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $520.26 and a fifty-two week high of $779.82.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The company had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $7.14 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current fiscal year. Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st were given a $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.91%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently commented on META shares. Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $763.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 27th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on Meta Platforms from $720.00 to $580.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $725.00 target price (down from $815.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Citigroup reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Finally, UBS Group restated an “overweight” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have assigned a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $787.86.
View Our Latest Research Report on META
Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the 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 sale, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. This trade represents a 34.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 7,848 shares of the business’s 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 $4,379,184.00. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer owned 828 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $462,024. This represents a 90.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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 146,647 shares of company stock valued at $99,886,901 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.
Meta Platforms News Roundup Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
Positive Sentiment: Meta’s advertising business delivered its strongest monthly stock performance in three years. Analysts see additional upside if ad growth, pricing and AI-driven monetization continue to support a higher 2027 valuation. Meta Stock Could Have Another Big Run Ahead Positive Sentiment: A bullish analysis awarded Meta a Buy rating, arguing that its large user base and advertising cash flow can fund AI investments. Revenue growth of 28% year over year has outpaced user growth, indicating better monetization through higher ad prices and engagement. Meta Platforms: The AI Spending Looks Crazy; The Economics Don’t Positive Sentiment: Commentary on Meta’s Muse AI launch suggests the technology could become a major catalyst for commerce and advertising, with one forecast envisioning a path toward $1,000 per share. The outlook is speculative but adds to the positive AI narrative. Meta Muse: Sparking the AI Revolution Neutral Sentiment: Meta executives are scheduled to testify before New York City officials about AI risks and possible legislation. The hearing could increase regulatory scrutiny, though no immediate financial impact was announced. AI Executives Set to Testify at NYC Council Hearing Negative Sentiment: Meta, TikTok and X are challenging Ofcom’s demands for information under the United Kingdom’s online-safety regime. The dispute highlights potential compliance costs and regulatory exposure. Meta, TikTok and X Challenge UK Watchdog Negative Sentiment: Meta’s planned AI infrastructure spending—estimated at $130 billion to $145 billion by 2026—raises execution and return-on-investment risks. Investors need evidence that AI monetization will justify the unusually large capital commitments. Meta AI Spending Analysis Negative Sentiment: Several lawsuits could create substantial liabilities and reduce Meta’s ability to spend on chips and data centers, presenting a direct risk to its AI strategy. Meta AI Plans Could Be Crippled by Lawsuits Negative Sentiment: Investor Steve Weiss said he reduced his Meta position as the 10-year Treasury yield approached 5.26%. Higher yields can pressure valuations for high-growth technology stocks and make Meta’s future cash flows less attractive. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta About Meta Platforms (Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.
Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.
Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms A Manufacturing Surprise Could Be a Big Win for These 2 Companies What a $1 Billion Chip Deal Says About Amazon’s AI Ambitions 3 Stocks Benefiting From AI Demand Just Announced Major Buybacks Insiders Are Selling These 3 Stocks, Should You?
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.
Neville Rodie & Shaw Inc. cut its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 28.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 17,632 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 6,892 shares during the quarter. Neville Rodie & Shaw Inc.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $12,786,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd lifted its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 2,939 shares during the period. Madison Wealth Partners Inc grew its holdings 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 period. William John Sempolinski bought a new stake in Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at $3,107,000. Sone Capital Management LLC increased 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 valued at $9,046,000 after purchasing an additional 4,440 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lakewood Capital Management LP raised its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 45,130 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company’s stock.
Meta Platforms Stock Up 2.1% Shares of META stock traded up $15.65 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $743.73. The company had a trading volume of 7,811,805 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,492,621. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12 month low of $520.26 and a 12 month high of $779.82. 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 simple moving average of $625.52 and a 200-day simple moving average of $615.98. The company has a market cap of $1.89 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19.
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 the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The company had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $7.14 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were paid a $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.91%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have recently commented on the company. President Capital upgraded Meta Platforms from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the company from $660.00 to $897.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Meta Platforms from $710.00 to $875.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Daiwa Securities Group reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $790.00 to $687.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating and set a $800.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Wedbush upped their target price on Meta Platforms from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, September 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $787.86.
Get Our Latest Analysis on META
Insider Transactions 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 shares were sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total transaction of $5,063,409.56. Following the completion of the sale, 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% 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. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 146,647 shares of company stock worth $99,886,901. 13.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Key Headlines Impacting Meta Platforms Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
Positive Sentiment: Meta’s advertising business delivered its strongest monthly stock performance in three years. Analysts see additional upside if ad growth, pricing and AI-driven monetization continue to support a higher 2027 valuation. Meta Stock Could Have Another Big Run Ahead Positive Sentiment: A bullish analysis awarded Meta a Buy rating, arguing that its large user base and advertising cash flow can fund AI investments. Revenue growth of 28% year over year has outpaced user growth, indicating better monetization through higher ad prices and engagement. Meta Platforms: The AI Spending Looks Crazy; The Economics Don’t Positive Sentiment: Commentary on Meta’s Muse AI launch suggests the technology could become a major catalyst for commerce and advertising, with one forecast envisioning a path toward $1,000 per share. The outlook is speculative but adds to the positive AI narrative. Meta Muse: Sparking the AI Revolution Neutral Sentiment: Meta executives are scheduled to testify before New York City officials about AI risks and possible legislation. The hearing could increase regulatory scrutiny, though no immediate financial impact was announced. AI Executives Set to Testify at NYC Council Hearing Negative Sentiment: Meta, TikTok and X are challenging Ofcom’s demands for information under the United Kingdom’s online-safety regime. The dispute highlights potential compliance costs and regulatory exposure. Meta, TikTok and X Challenge UK Watchdog Negative Sentiment: Meta’s planned AI infrastructure spending—estimated at $130 billion to $145 billion by 2026—raises execution and return-on-investment risks. Investors need evidence that AI monetization will justify the unusually large capital commitments. Meta AI Spending Analysis Negative Sentiment: Several lawsuits could create substantial liabilities and reduce Meta’s ability to spend on chips and data centers, presenting a direct risk to its AI strategy. Meta AI Plans Could Be Crippled by Lawsuits Negative Sentiment: Investor Steve Weiss said he reduced his Meta position as the 10-year Treasury yield approached 5.26%. Higher yields can pressure valuations for high-growth technology stocks and make Meta’s future cash flows less attractive. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta Meta Platforms Company Profile (Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.
Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.
Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.
Read More Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms A Manufacturing Surprise Could Be a Big Win for These 2 Companies What a $1 Billion Chip Deal Says About Amazon’s AI Ambitions 3 Stocks Benefiting From AI Demand Just Announced Major Buybacks Insiders Are Selling These 3 Stocks, Should You? 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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Park National Corp OH lessened its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 8.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 84,939 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 8,028 shares during the period. Meta Platforms makes up about 1.7% of Park National Corp OH’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest position. Park National Corp OH’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $61,596,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of META. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd grew its position 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 valued at $10,577,000 after acquiring an additional 2,939 shares during the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 33.6% during the second 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 period. William John Sempolinski bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the second quarter worth about $3,107,000. Sone Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of 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. Finally, Lakewood Capital Management LP increased its stake 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 worth $65,333,000 after buying an additional 45,130 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.
More Meta Platforms News Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
Positive Sentiment: Meta’s advertising business delivered its strongest monthly stock performance in three years. Analysts see additional upside if ad growth, pricing and AI-driven monetization continue to support a higher 2027 valuation. Meta Stock Could Have Another Big Run Ahead Positive Sentiment: A bullish analysis awarded Meta a Buy rating, arguing that its large user base and advertising cash flow can fund AI investments. Revenue growth of 28% year over year has outpaced user growth, indicating better monetization through higher ad prices and engagement. Meta Platforms: The AI Spending Looks Crazy; The Economics Don’t Positive Sentiment: Commentary on Meta’s Muse AI launch suggests the technology could become a major catalyst for commerce and advertising, with one forecast envisioning a path toward $1,000 per share. The outlook is speculative but adds to the positive AI narrative. Meta Muse: Sparking the AI Revolution Neutral Sentiment: Meta executives are scheduled to testify before New York City officials about AI risks and possible legislation. The hearing could increase regulatory scrutiny, though no immediate financial impact was announced. AI Executives Set to Testify at NYC Council Hearing Negative Sentiment: Meta, TikTok and X are challenging Ofcom’s demands for information under the United Kingdom’s online-safety regime. The dispute highlights potential compliance costs and regulatory exposure. Meta, TikTok and X Challenge UK Watchdog Negative Sentiment: Meta’s planned AI infrastructure spending—estimated at $130 billion to $145 billion by 2026—raises execution and return-on-investment risks. Investors need evidence that AI monetization will justify the unusually large capital commitments. Meta AI Spending Analysis Negative Sentiment: Several lawsuits could create substantial liabilities and reduce Meta’s ability to spend on chips and data centers, presenting a direct risk to its AI strategy. Meta AI Plans Could Be Crippled by Lawsuits Negative Sentiment: Investor Steve Weiss said he reduced his Meta position as the 10-year Treasury yield approached 5.26%. Higher yields can pressure valuations for high-growth technology stocks and make Meta’s future cash flows less attractive. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Roth Capital decreased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $750.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Wedbush raised their price target on Meta Platforms from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, September 11th. Citizens Jmp lifted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $885.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $750.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $930.00 to $950.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, September 25th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Meta Platforms currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $787.86. Check Out Our Latest Report on Meta Platforms
META traded up $16.09 on Monday, hitting $744.17. The company had a trading volume of 7,876,221 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,492,621. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.90 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. 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 fifty day moving average price of $625.52 and a 200-day moving average price of $615.98. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12-month low of $520.26 and a 12-month high of $779.82.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last released 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). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $7.14 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st were given a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is presently 7.91%.
Insider Activity In other news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $750.42, for a total value of $709,897.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 8,824 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,621,706.08. This trade represents a 9.68% decrease in their position. 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, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total value of $28,510,400.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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 146,647 shares of company stock worth $99,886,901. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.
Meta Platforms Company Profile (Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.
Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.
Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms A Manufacturing Surprise Could Be a Big Win for These 2 Companies What a $1 Billion Chip Deal Says About Amazon’s AI Ambitions 3 Stocks Benefiting From AI Demand Just Announced Major Buybacks Insiders Are Selling These 3 Stocks, Should You? 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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General Partner Inc. cut its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 34.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,108 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 1,668 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms accounts for 1.3% of General Partner Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. General Partner Inc.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $2,254,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Auto Owners Insurance Co boosted its stake 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. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 4.0% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 92,033,963 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $51,841,811,000 after acquiring an additional 3,510,123 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 14.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 21,038,035 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $12,036,491,000 after acquiring an additional 2,673,494 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised 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 valued at $12,013,948,000 after acquiring an additional 1,046,715 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $750.42, for a total value of $709,897.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 8,824 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,621,706.08. This trade represents a 9.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale 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, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total value of $21,359,386.56. 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 146,647 shares of company stock valued at $99,886,901. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth META has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Raymond James Financial boosted their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $860.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. Mizuho set a $750.00 target price on Meta Platforms and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Daiwa Securities Group reduced their price target on Meta Platforms from $790.00 to $687.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $750.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $800.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $787.86. Read Our Latest Stock Report on META
Meta Platforms Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ:META traded up $16.01 during trading on Monday, hitting $744.09. 7,876,221 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,492,621. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $625.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $615.98. The company has a market capitalization of $1.90 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1-year low of $520.26 and a 1-year high of $779.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings 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 business had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $7.14 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were given a $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date was 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%.
Meta Platforms News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
Positive Sentiment: Meta’s advertising business delivered its strongest monthly stock performance in three years. Analysts see additional upside if ad growth, pricing and AI-driven monetization continue to support a higher 2027 valuation. Meta Stock Could Have Another Big Run Ahead Positive Sentiment: A bullish analysis awarded Meta a Buy rating, arguing that its large user base and advertising cash flow can fund AI investments. Revenue growth of 28% year over year has outpaced user growth, indicating better monetization through higher ad prices and engagement. Meta Platforms: The AI Spending Looks Crazy; The Economics Don’t Positive Sentiment: Commentary on Meta’s Muse AI launch suggests the technology could become a major catalyst for commerce and advertising, with one forecast envisioning a path toward $1,000 per share. The outlook is speculative but adds to the positive AI narrative. Meta Muse: Sparking the AI Revolution Neutral Sentiment: Meta executives are scheduled to testify before New York City officials about AI risks and possible legislation. The hearing could increase regulatory scrutiny, though no immediate financial impact was announced. AI Executives Set to Testify at NYC Council Hearing Negative Sentiment: Meta, TikTok and X are challenging Ofcom’s demands for information under the United Kingdom’s online-safety regime. The dispute highlights potential compliance costs and regulatory exposure. Meta, TikTok and X Challenge UK Watchdog Negative Sentiment: Meta’s planned AI infrastructure spending—estimated at $130 billion to $145 billion by 2026—raises execution and return-on-investment risks. Investors need evidence that AI monetization will justify the unusually large capital commitments. Meta AI Spending Analysis Negative Sentiment: Several lawsuits could create substantial liabilities and reduce Meta’s ability to spend on chips and data centers, presenting a direct risk to its AI strategy. Meta AI Plans Could Be Crippled by Lawsuits Negative Sentiment: Investor Steve Weiss said he reduced his Meta position as the 10-year Treasury yield approached 5.26%. Higher yields can pressure valuations for high-growth technology stocks and make Meta’s future cash flows less attractive. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta About Meta Platforms (Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.
Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.
Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms A Manufacturing Surprise Could Be a Big Win for These 2 Companies What a $1 Billion Chip Deal Says About Amazon’s AI Ambitions 3 Stocks Benefiting From AI Demand Just Announced Major Buybacks Insiders Are Selling These 3 Stocks, Should You?
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"Extremely negative" market breadth is a key concern trading veteran Ted Weisberg points to in the current stock market environment. However, the incoming earnings season is something he sees as an opportunity to bolster breadth.
Alexandr Wang — the 29-year-old MIT dropout who has spearheaded the launch of Meta’s wildly successful Muse AI app — is a foul-mouthed, mullet-wearing tech bro with a penchant for posting off-color memes on social media.
Last month, two weeks after the Sept. 8 launch of the new Muse AI agent, Wang posted an image of Muse’s cuddly, stuffed-animal-like mascot Jolly, smiling serenely while displaying its large, fuzzy butt.
“[D]oes this do anything for any of you,” Wang wrote, adding, “be honest no judgment zone.”
The post sparked a torrent of copycat memes – some of which Wang reposted – depicting the mascot in sexually charged poses. The techie shared one post that showed Zuckerberg and his own head atop Jolly’s body in the butt-flaunting pose – adding to the mounting online content sexualizing the mascot.
Alexandr Wang, Meta Chief AI Officer, speaks during the Meta Connect conference in Menlo Park, Calif., on Sept. 23. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu Wang – who was hired by Zuckerberg last year in a $14 billion deal – has brought a heavy dose of free-wheeling Gen Z energy to Meta as the company has grappled with assorted scandals and litigation including a $12.7 billion settlement in California over teen social media addiction.
Wang’s arrival initially sparked tumult and skepticism, with numerous high-profile executives including AI guru Yann LeCun leaving the company in the months that followed. But over the past month, the release of the Muse app has sent Meta’s stock soaring 20% – boosting its market capitalization by more than $400 billion.
“this is f–king great,” Wang wrote on Saturday in response to a post on X that showed how one user employed Muse to build a video game app.
Wang’s online profile is drastically different from Zuckerberg – who has long been known for his straight-arrow Facebook posts that tend to mark family occasions and product launches along with his Brazilian jiu-jitsu matches.
A post on X that was circulated by Alexandr Wang, a 20-something MIT dropout spearheading Meta’s AI efforts. At Meta’s recent annual developer conference, Wang appeared on stage wearing a camouflage “Whitetail Deer” T-shirt and a pair of Crocs.
One X user mocked Wang for the garb, saying the tech executive likely spent thousands of dollars on the outfit.
“excuse me I must correct the record on this slander,” Wang shot back, writing on a photo of himself the prices he paid for each item – $30 for the thrifted T-shirt, $60 for the Crocs and $5 Calvin Klein underwear.
Wang highlighted the latter by drawing a red arrow pointing to his crotch.
Wang’s edgy style could be entirely strategic as Meta has struggled to reel in younger users to Facebook and Instagram platforms.
Meanwhile, the 42-year-old Zuckerberg, a father of three, has lately played more official roles, including dining with President Trump at the White House last week – a far cry from when Zuckerberg had “I’m CEO, Bitch” printed on his business cards not long after launching the company in 2004.
Wang co-founded and served as CEO of the data-labeling startup Scale AI, which exploded in value as it became a key vendor for leading AI labs – turning Wang into one of the world’s youngest self-made billionaires.
Wang joined Meta in a June 2025 deal in which Meta invested $14 billion into Scale, took a 49% stake and hired the CEO to revamp its AI efforts following a disappointing showing of its latest model Llama 4.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg attends a press briefing held by U.S. President Donald Trump with AI executives following a meeting on artificial intelligence, outside of the White House. Getty Images Upon joining Meta, Wang was reportedly frustrated by Zuckerberg’s micromanagement of the company’s AI push, calling it “suffocating,” according to a Financial Times report.
Mike Volpi, one of Scale’s board of directors and a partner at Hanabi Capital, told the Wall Street Journal that when “you spend billions of dollars to bring onboard a non-Meta person in a very senior role in this company, it’s going to ruffle some feathers.”
But, he added, “I would give both Mark and Alex an enormous amount of credit for actually being able to make it work.”
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Meta is betting that its AI agent can help consumers find better product listings. A CEO said that's already changed how he shops with Amazon. Bloomberg/Getty Images Meta's AI agent, Muse, has been going shopping for Leif Abraham. With Amazon blocking the AI agent from placing orders, Abraham says that means fewer purchases from Amazon.
Abraham, the cofounder and co-CEO of investing platform Public, told Business Insider he's turned to Muse to purchase mostly niche, hard-to-find products — skincare, vintage wines, a German creatine product, discontinued Levi's jeans.
"Since the thing came out, I've been buying so much stuff," he said. "I literally just have to approve the payment, and that's it."
Muse is Meta's bet that customers will entrust AI agents to handle internet errands, like booking a restaurant reservation for friends or finding their next outfit. It's an early hit, rocketing to the top of the App Store charts shortly after its launch last month.
On Sunday, Abraham posted about his Muse experience on X, calling Meta and Shopify's recent integration a "win for Shopify."
What are the real-life consequences of AI?
"The amount of purchases I've made with Muse that I used to have gone to Amazon for," he wrote. "Now buying from the brands directly…" he added, along with a screenshot of him directing the agent to buy products "from a reputable store."
The amount of purchases I’ve made with Muse that I used to have gone to Amazon for … now buying from the brands directly … win for Shopify https://t.co/w2axEYQMiT
— Leif Abraham (@leifthunder) October 4, 2026 Public, Abraham's company, offers a Muse connector that lets customers link their brokerage accounts to the agent. Abraham said he has connected his own account and also uses Muse for daily brokerage updates and calorie tracking.
Abraham's story is one person's experience and doesn't mean that Amazon has an impending sales problem. AI agent shopping has yet to catch on with the general public. But Amazon's decision to block Muse from making purchases on behalf of users — Amazon raised concerns about how Muse accessed or stored customer credentials and sensitive data, along with account data scraping — risks leaving money on the table, especially if Muse shopping takes off.
Shopify, meanwhile, has taken the opposite approach. The payment processing platform announced a partnership with Meta that lets Muse users check out at Shopify merchants through Shop Pay.
Abraham still labels himself an "Amazon mega user," but says some recent purchases weren't up to snuff. Now, instead of turning to Amazon for all his purchases, he uses the marketplace only for items that don't require as much research, like toilet paper.
After Abraham wrote on X about the shift in his shopping habits, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke reshared the post and added that he's "hearing so many of these stories."
Not everyone's experience with Muse has gone according to plan.
Abraham said several of his techie friends are also using Muse to find niche products, but results have varied. One friend, he said, is still searching for tickets to Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" in IMAX 70mm — a task he said that Muse hasn't accomplished. (Granted, whether that's a Muse problem or a supply problem is a whole other conversation.)
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Ben Shimkus is a reporter for the Business News desk. He writes about cars, transportation, retail, and jobs. Ben's reporting has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Verge, Automotive News, USA Today, AutoBody News, LGBTQ Nation, TopSpeed, and Out Magazine. He's also held staff writing positions at The U.S. Sun and the Daily Mail. He graduated from NYU with a Master's in journalism in 2024. Email Ben at [email protected] or message him privately on Signal at bshimkus.41.
Argent Capital Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 77,675 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 4,510 shares during the period. Meta Platforms accounts for about 0.4% of Argent Capital Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest position. Argent Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $56,328,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in META. Auto Owners Insurance Co boosted 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 worth $69,502,379,000 after buying an additional 105,154,977 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in Meta Platforms by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 92,033,963 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $51,841,811,000 after acquiring an additional 3,510,123 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Meta Platforms during the 4th quarter worth approximately $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings 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 valued at $12,036,491,000 after purchasing an additional 2,673,494 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 18,200,469 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $12,013,948,000 after purchasing an additional 1,046,715 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on META. Tigress Financial reissued a “strong-buy” rating and set a $945.00 price target (down from $995.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Evercore raised their price objective on Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $860.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 25th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Meta Platforms from $640.00 to $796.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, September 21st. Erste Group Bank upgraded Meta Platforms from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Benchmark reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have assigned a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $787.86.
Read Our Latest Research Report on META Shares of META traded up $16.14 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $744.22. The stock had a trading volume of 7,452,712 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,489,725. The firm has a market cap of $1.90 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $625.52 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $615.98. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a twelve month low of $520.26 and a twelve month high of $779.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its 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). 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 the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $7.14 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current year.
Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.91%.
Insider Activity In other Meta Platforms news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $750.42, for a total transaction of $709,897.32. Following the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 8,824 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,621,706.08. The trade was a 9.68% decrease in their position. The sale 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, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total transaction of $21,359,386.56. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 146,647 shares of company stock worth $99,886,901 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.
Meta Platforms News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
Positive Sentiment: Meta’s advertising business delivered its strongest monthly stock performance in three years. Analysts see additional upside if ad growth, pricing and AI-driven monetization continue to support a higher 2027 valuation. Meta Stock Could Have Another Big Run Ahead Positive Sentiment: A bullish analysis awarded Meta a Buy rating, arguing that its large user base and advertising cash flow can fund AI investments. Revenue growth of 28% year over year has outpaced user growth, indicating better monetization through higher ad prices and engagement. Meta Platforms: The AI Spending Looks Crazy; The Economics Don’t Positive Sentiment: Commentary on Meta’s Muse AI launch suggests the technology could become a major catalyst for commerce and advertising, with one forecast envisioning a path toward $1,000 per share. The outlook is speculative but adds to the positive AI narrative. Meta Muse: Sparking the AI Revolution Neutral Sentiment: Meta executives are scheduled to testify before New York City officials about AI risks and possible legislation. The hearing could increase regulatory scrutiny, though no immediate financial impact was announced. AI Executives Set to Testify at NYC Council Hearing Negative Sentiment: Meta, TikTok and X are challenging Ofcom’s demands for information under the United Kingdom’s online-safety regime. The dispute highlights potential compliance costs and regulatory exposure. Meta, TikTok and X Challenge UK Watchdog Negative Sentiment: Meta’s planned AI infrastructure spending—estimated at $130 billion to $145 billion by 2026—raises execution and return-on-investment risks. Investors need evidence that AI monetization will justify the unusually large capital commitments. Meta AI Spending Analysis Negative Sentiment: Several lawsuits could create substantial liabilities and reduce Meta’s ability to spend on chips and data centers, presenting a direct risk to its AI strategy. Meta AI Plans Could Be Crippled by Lawsuits Negative Sentiment: Investor Steve Weiss said he reduced his Meta position as the 10-year Treasury yield approached 5.26%. Higher yields can pressure valuations for high-growth technology stocks and make Meta’s future cash flows less attractive. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta About Meta Platforms (Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.
Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.
Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.
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Senior Correspondent covering technology and culture
The latest styles of Meta Ray-Bans won't be so popular in Norway after a temporary ban in certain public spaces. Bloomberg/Getty Images Bad news if you planned on capturing photos of the majestic fjords in your Meta Ray-Bans. Norway is issuing a temporary ban on camera glasses in public spaces like parks, schools, and beaches.
This ban doesn't prohibit the sale of Meta glasses, and it only applies to their use in certain areas, like changing rooms or beaches. It also points to the need for extra privacy around places for children, like schools and daycares.
Norway's Minister of Digitalization, Torgeir Micaelsen, expressed concern that new, powerful technology is being introduced where people risk being photographed, filmed or audio recorded without their knowledge, according to a translated press release.
Micaelsen just started as Minister of Digitalization in September, but his predecessor had started floating the idea of looking into regulation on Meta glasses in August.
Representatives for Minister Micaelsen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Meta's CTO, Andrew Bosworth, has said that only a few "bad actors" are responsible for disabling the glasses' LED indicator lights, which has given the glasses a bad reputation as "pervert glasses". Meta recently rolled out a software update in which the camera won't work if the light is covered or tampered with.
The government also said it will form an expert group to investigate the challenges posed by wearable technology and provide advice on permanent regulation.
Norway's temporary ban follows unease about camera glasses in other European countries. In the last few weeks, a debate about smart glasses has been brewing in the Netherlands, following media reports and advocacy group concerns. An official from the country's data privacy group told Parliament they want to wait for findings from a broader European Union report on the matter before taking any action. Meanwhile, Hans Anders, a large eyewear retailer in the Netherlands and Belgium, has paused selling Meta glasses in its stores.
"We're excited that our glasses continue to be very popular for listening to music, making calls, or getting live translations, so we're continuing to expand styles and features around the world," a Meta spokesperson told Business Insider in response to the Norway ban.
"Every pair with a camera has a bright light on the front that blinks when you take a photo or video," they said. "It can't be turned off, and the camera is disabled if someone covers or tampers with it -- something smartphones and other cameras don't have."
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Katie Notopoulos You're currently following this author! Click to unsubscribe from email alerts.
Katie Notopoulos is a senior correspondent at Business Insider who writes about technology, business, and culture. Previously, Katie was a tech reporter at BuzzFeed News and has written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, Fast Company, and MIT Technology Review.
Meta is betting over $130 billion on AI infrastructure while facing a wave of lawsuits that legal experts are comparing to the landmark Big Tobacco cases. Whether those legal battles drain the resources fueling its AI ambitions is a question…
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As Meta (NASDAQ: META | META Price Prediction) claims an important foothold in the AI sector, it faces several legal actions that could badly damage its balance sheet, and perhaps even its ability to invest in chips and AI data centers. The most recent is a $40 billion action brought by the State of New Mexico over misleading customers on how their data was used. A jury has already ruled against the company.
Twenty-nine states are suing Meta over how it made money on children and teenagers using Instagram and Facebook by taking advantage of their psychological vulnerability. The lead attorney for the plaintiffs said, “There can be no dispute that Meta has both recognized that people can struggle with their use of social media and tried to come up with tools to help them.” If Meta loses this case, the likely penalty request will be in the billions of dollars. School districts are suing Meta for similar reasons.
Another suit brought against Meta and YouTube ended in a $4.2 billion penalty.
These suits have gone so far that The New York Times wrote, “The cases have been compared to those against Big Tobacco last century, when Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds were accused of hiding information about the harms of cigarettes.” The penalty was $206 billion, and that was in 1998. The tobacco companies had to completely change how they marketed cigarettes. Judgments against Meta may change how it markets and designs Facebook and Instagram, which could hurt its revenue.
Meta said its capital expenditures, most of which will go to AI infrastructure, will reach between $130 and $145 billion. If industry forecasts are correct, that figure could actually rise over the next several years. Granted, some of this money may come from Nvidia. Some may come from Wall St. firms that want to cash in on the AI data center expansion. No matter which path it takes, Meta will have to put money on the table while also facing user lawsuits. And there is only so much money to go around, particularly when its rivals are investing as much as it is.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Douglas A. McIntyre
Douglas A. McIntyre is the co-founder, chief executive officer and editor in chief of 24/7 Wall St. and 24/7 Tempo. He has held these jobs since 2006.
McIntyre has written thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St. He is an expert on corporate finance, the automotive industry, media companies and international finance. He has edited articles on national demographics, sports, personal income and travel.
His work has been quoted or mentioned in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Time, The New Yorker, HuffPost USA Today, Business Insider, Yahoo, AOL, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian and many other major publications. McIntyre has been a guest on CNBC, the BBC and television and radio stations across the country.
A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, McIntyre also was president of The Harvard Advocate. Founded in 1866, the Advocate is the oldest college publication in the United States.
TheStreet.com, Comps.com and Edgar Online are some of the public companies for which McIntyre served on the board of directors. He was a Vicinity Corporation board member when the company was sold to Microsoft in 2002. He served on the audit committees of some of these companies.
McIntyre has been the CEO of FutureSource, a provider of trading terminals and news to commodities and futures traders. He was president of Switchboard, the online phone directory company. He served as chairman and CEO of On2 Technologies, the video compression company that provided video compression software for Adobe’s Flash. Google bought On2 in 2009.
Meta (META.O), TikTok and X are challenging British regulator Ofcom over the amount of information it is demanding they provide under Britain's nascent online safety regime.
The challenge is one of the first in relation to the 2023 Online Safety Act, which sets tougher standards for platforms such as TikTok, X and Meta's Facebook and Instagram with the aim to protect children from harmful and illegal content.
Ofcom has been gradually implementing the regime, with its requirements backed up by the threat of fines of up to 10% of a company's global turnover for the most serious breaches.
In February, it issued information notices requesting detailed content moderation metrics from the tech companies, including data on how many posts were removed or had visibility restricted, and how many users were exposed to harmful content.
But Meta, TikTok and X say the notices create unprecedented regulatory burdens, with one witness statement submitted by X describing it as "the most burdensome information request X has received from any regulator in any jurisdiction".
Meta said in court filings that Ofcom wanted it to provide "wide-ranging and granular information" about seven of its services for no clearly defined regulatory purpose.
TikTok also said that Ofcom had circumvented an alternative monitoring regime with specific safeguards in place.
Ofcom said the information was genuinely needed to evaluate whether the new regime was working and it had narrowed the scope of information it required before implementation.
"Parliament has charged us with the job of regulating an industry that has been unregulated and unaccountable for more than 20 years," an Ofcom spokesperson said in a statement.
This week's hearing concludes on Wednesday, with a separate legal challenge brought by Meta over how fees and penalties are calculated expected next week.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. 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.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Meta's ad business just delivered its best monthly stock performance in three years, and the numbers suggest that run may not be finished. One valuation scenario points to a price Wall Street has not yet penciled in for 2027.
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Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META | META Price Prediction) just reminded investors what AI-powered advertising can do. Shares rose 26.79% in September, which was the stock’s best month since 2022. That run lifted year-to-date gains to 10.13%. The engine behind the rebound is Meta’s ad business.
Second-quarter ad revenue rose 27% to $59.36 billion, with impressions up 14% and price per ad up 12%. Management said that was faster growth than any other company’s reported ad business. With momentum back, let’s look at what it will take for Meta to reach $1,000 per share in 2027.
Wall Street Targets $794, Leaving Room for a Bigger Run Analysts have an average price target of $793.91. That implies 8.8% upside from today’s $729.98. Ratings lean bullish: 8 Strong Buys, 47 Buys, 7 Holds and zero Sells.
For 2027, analysts expect revenue of $306.4 billion, up 21% from the 2026 estimate. They project EPS of $34.0317, up from $31.2129. Estimates have been falling. Ninety days ago, the 2027 EPS forecast stood at $34.9236, and analysts made 39 downward revisions against 7 upward during the trailing 30 days.
Second-quarter EPS of $6.18 missed the $7.22 consensus. That shortfall came from $2.40 billion in legal charges and $1.18 billion in severance.
Here’s What It Takes for Meta to Reach $1,000 At today’s price, Meta trades at 21x 2027 earnings estimates. That puts it level with the S&P 500’s forward multiple of roughly 21x to 23x. At $1,000, shares would trade at about 29x forward earnings. That premium has support: an 82% gross margin, 3.60 billion daily active people, and revenue growth above 20%.
What Could Push Meta to $1,000? A return to beating estimates: Meta exceeded EPS estimates for 6 straight quarters before the second-quarter miss. Without the one-time charges, Q2 operating income would have grown 9%. Capacity built for 2027: CFO Susan Li said Meta’s infrastructure plans aim at “maximizing 2026 and 2027 capacity,” and that Meta has “numerous ROI positive places” to put more compute to work. New revenue streams: More than 1 million businesses use Business Agents every week. Advantage Plus has passed a $75 billion annual run rate. Other Family of Apps revenue reached $1 billion, up 73%. Personal AI and glasses: Daily Meta AI users rose 60% after Muse Spark was integrated. Reality Labs revenue grew 16% on demand for AI glasses. Mark Zuckerberg called personal agents a potentially “extremely important and massive market.” Hurdles remain: free cash flow fell to $784 million last quarter. Muse also faces competitive pressure from OpenAI, and youth-related legal trials are still pending.
Meta’s History Says a 37% Gain Is Within Reach Reaching $1,000 requires a 37% gain. Meta has beaten that mark in six years since 2013.
Shares rose 194% in 2023, 105% in 2013, 66% in 2024, 57% in 2019, 53% in 2017 and 43% in 2014. The stock also fell 64% in 2022, so the swings run both ways.
$1,000 Is a Stretch, but Here’s Why It’s Possible Meta needs a 37% gain to reach $1,000, which is well above Wall Street’s target. Still, the stock trades near the market’s multiple while revenue grows above 20%.
The 2026 capex plan of $130 billion to $145 billion is aimed directly at 2027 capacity, and that spending flows straight to the power, cooling, and networking suppliers behind the data centers (we covered seven of them in a free report on the AI infrastructure buildout).
If the beat run resumes and AI products start producing revenue, a rerating to 29x is possible. Such gains are rare in any single year, but this is the pattern for how Meta could deliver outsized returns in 2027.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is entering a new phase of its artificial intelligence strategy as strong early interest in Muse raises hopes for another growth engine. However, Wall Street remains divided over monetization, infrastructure spending and competition.
The U.S. government plans to lend Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) about $4.2 billion to increase output from its nuclear fleet. Much of that new output already has a buyer.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright is expected to appear at Vistra’s nuclear plant on Lake Erie in Ohio on Monday afternoon. The money would pay for upgrades at three or more of Vistra’s four nuclear stations.
"By getting more power out of the nuclear plants we already have, we can deliver more affordable, reliable, around the-clock energy for American families and businesses,” Wright said in a prepared statement.
Vistra shares were up 4.1% at $145.81 late Monday morning, per Benzinga Pro data.
Meta Came FirstIn January, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) signed 20-year agreements to buy power from Vistra’s Perry and Davis-Besse plants in Ohio and its Beaver Valley plant in Pennsylvania.
The deal sends more than 2.6 GW to Meta’s AI data centers in the PJM region. Of that, Reuters reported 433 MW will come from uprates. Those megawatts don’t exist yet.
On its fourth-quarter call, Vistra said the Meta agreements cover 2,176 MW of operating capacity. The uprates make up the rest.
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The TradeThe loan puts federal money behind megawatts with a signed buyer. A 20-year hyperscaler contract largely removes demand risk, and cheaper government debt cuts the cost of building the extra capacity.
Execution risk is lower, too. Vistra can do the uprates without new licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Reuters noted. Operators usually use slightly more enriched fuel or install bigger equipment, such as new main turbines.
The Energy Department’s lending office can cover up to 80% of a project’s cost, CNBC reported. Its UPRISE program aims to add 2.5 GW from existing reactors by 2027 and 5 GW by 2029.
Joining Constellation and SouthernVistra joins a growing list of borrowers. Constellation Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:CEG) got a $1 billion loan last November to restart Three Mile Island. In February, Southern Co. (NYSE:SO) was offered $26.54 billion, the largest loan in the office’s history.
Still Far Below the HighVST Stock Price Activity: Vistra shares were up 4.09% at $145.74 at the time of publication on Monday, according to data from Benzinga Pro. Even with Monday’s gain, Vistra stock is about 33% below its 52-week high of $217.10. The 52-week low is $132.66.
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Meta spent years burning billions on a metaverse nobody wanted, but something quiet is happening inside Reality Labs that could force the market to rethink the entire company's valuation.
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Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META | META Price Prediction) trades at $728.08. Reality Labs lost about $19.2 billion in 2025. Meta is quietly rebuilding that unit around AI glasses, and the shift could change how the market values the whole company.
Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, which reach 3.60 billion daily active people. The stock was trading at $597.37 when Meta reported a second-quarter earnings miss. It then gained 22.9% over the past month before falling 3.14% last week on AI spending concerns.
AI Glasses and a Growing Ad Engine Make the Math Work Ad revenue rose 27% to $59.36 billion. Ad impressions grew 14%, and the average price per ad climbed 12%. Advantage+ hit an annual run rate above $75 billion. Even so, Meta trades at a forward P/E of 22 and a PEG ratio of 0.985.
Reality Labs is changing direction. Its revenue rose 16% to $431 million as AI glasses sales more than made up for lower Quest sales. The unit’s loss narrowed to $4.03 billion in Q1, and Meta cut about 8,000 jobs in May. Excluding legal and severance charges, operating income would have grown 9%.
Capex Could Become Meta’s Next Metaverse Diluted EPS of $6.18 missed the $7.22 estimate by 14.42%. That ended a six-quarter run of beats. Operating margin fell to 31% from 43%. Free cash flow dropped to $784 million from $8.55 billion as capex rose 82%.
Management raised 2026 expense guidance to $165 billion to $169 billion and expects $130 billion to $145 billion in capex. Legal charges reached $2.40 billion in the quarter. Youth-safety cases and EU ad rules add risk. Debt now stands at $83.7 billion.
Reality Labs Is Shrinking, but the AI Bill Keeps Growing Management expects 2026 operating income to top 2025’s, which supports the outlook. The bull case requires proof that the AI build-out will lift free cash flow. Q3 revenue guidance of $61 billion to $64 billion is the first test. Over the next two quarters, investors should track Reality Labs losses and whether cash flow rebuilds.
Meta Lags the S&P 500 but Has Room to Rerate Meta trades at $728.08. The average analyst target is $794.96, which means 9.2% upside. Price targets are estimates and can change. Here is how the 63 covering analysts rate the stock:
Strong Buy: 8 Buy: 47 Hold: 7 Sell: 1 The stock trades at 27 times trailing earnings. It is up 10.57% this year, while the S&P 500 is up 12.86%. Over one year, Meta returned 0.47% and the index returned 14.6%.
Meta’s Outlook Brightens as the Metaverse Drag Fades At $728.08, Meta’s setup rests on a shifting cost base.
Reality Labs was a drag with no clear return. Meta is turning it into an AI glasses business that management calls “one of the fastest growing consumer electronics of all time.” Lower Quest spending could support margins.
The bigger expense, AI infrastructure, already drives revenue. Meta says it is demand constrained and has been offered a significant premium for its compute capacity. WhatsApp-driven other revenue grew 73%.
Watch Q3 margins and the Reality Labs loss figure. Another quarter of shrinking free cash flow without faster growth would break this argument.
Meta is shrinking its largest loss-making unit while the core business grows 28%, and a forward P/E of 22 leaves room for the market to reward the turnaround.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB cut its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 98,111 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 2,987 shares during the period. Meta Platforms makes up about 1.8% of MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB’s portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $71,148,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of META. Advantage Trust Co acquired a new position in Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Niles Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth about $32,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Schuylkill Financial LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms recently issued reports on META. Loop Capital increased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $740.00 to $955.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Bank of America restated a “buy” rating and set a $810.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $725.00 target price (down from $815.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, August 27th. CICC Research reduced their target price on Meta Platforms from $773.00 to $700.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Tigress Financial reiterated a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $945.00 price target (down from $995.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have assigned a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $787.86.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on META Meta Platforms Stock Performance NASDAQ META opened at $728.08 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $1.85 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a twelve month low of $520.26 and a twelve month high of $779.82. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The business’s fifty day moving average is $625.52 and its 200 day moving average is $615.98.
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). The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion during 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%.Meta Platforms’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $7.14 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Meta Platforms Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st were given a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 7.91%.
Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total transaction of $21,359,386.56. 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, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 146,647 shares of company stock worth $99,886,901 in the last ninety days. Company 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 AI agent is gaining significant attention and reportedly surpassed 5 million downloads. Investors see the free product as a potential way to expand engagement, strengthen Meta’s AI ecosystem and eventually support new advertising or commerce revenue. Zuckerberg’s Free AI Agent Hit 5 Million Downloads Positive Sentiment: Meta is expanding Muse for small businesses, linking the AI assistant with advertising, sales and operations. That strategy could accelerate ad growth and create a broader commercial use case for Meta’s AI investments. Meta Expands Muse for Small Businesses Positive Sentiment: Recent analyst optimism and Meta’s reported claims for billions of dollars in tax credits tied to AI data-center costs are supporting the bullish narrative around advertising growth, AI infrastructure and potential cost relief. Meta Stock Jumps Following Analyst Upgrade Neutral Sentiment: Long-time Meta executive Justin Osofsky is leaving to become COO of AI infrastructure company Nscale ahead of its planned IPO. The move highlights demand for Meta’s AI and technology talent but could raise limited concerns about executive departures. Nscale Hires Meta’s Justin Osofsky Negative Sentiment: New Mexico prosecutors are seeking between $35 billion and $40 billion in penalties after a jury found Meta misled Facebook users about data privacy. Although the final amount and legal outcome remain unresolved, the potential liability is a major overhang. New Mexico Wants Meta to Pay Up to $40 Billion Negative Sentiment: Analysts warn that Meta’s recent rally now depends on Muse generating returns and avoiding privacy-related execution problems. Heavy AI spending could also pressure results if monetization fails to keep pace with investment. Meta Platforms: Things May Get Ugly Meta Platforms Company Profile (Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.
Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.
Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms Could Nike’s Brutal Sell-Off Finally Be Running Out of Steam? The AI Buildout Needs Power It Cannot Get: 4 Energy Stocks Already Have It McDonald’s Is Undergoing a Massive New Growth Strategy. Can It Win Back Consumers? MGM Resorts Stock Sinks After Diller Deal Collapse: Overreaction or Warning? 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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September is officially in the rearview mirror, and Meta Platforms (META +0.30%) posted a wonderful gain for its shareholders. The Magnificent Seven stock jumped 27% last month.
October is ahead of us. Here's what history says this month will bring.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Meta didn't sit on its hands. On Sept. 8, it released Muse AI, a personal artificial intelligence (AI) agent that got to 5 million downloads faster than OpenAI's ChatGPT did when it first launched in late 2022. Towards the end of September, the business introduced new hardware devices, like updated Ray-Ban smart glasses, audio-only smart glasses, and a keychain-like Muse Charm device.
Finally, the company brought Muse for Small Business and the Meta Enterprise Platform to market. These provide AI capabilities to a professional customer group. It's yet another indication that the business is going all-in on AI.
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But October has been a difficult month this decade. The stock was flat in October of 2020, 2023, and 2024, and it fell in October of 2021 (down 5%), 2022 (down 31%), and 2025 (down 12%).
Nonetheless, the social media stock looks like a good buy. It trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 22.1. Investors who decide to buy shares right now can't be surprised if October turns out to be another weak month, as past trends indicate. Play the long game with Meta.
Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
What happened Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) agreed in August to an approximately $18 billion youth-safety settlement with 52 attorneys general. The payment is scheduled in annual installments over 10 years, pending judicial approval.
About $12.7 billion is allocated to participating states. The remaining approximately $5.3 billion is released only if YouTube and TikTok adopt specified protections and each makes a matching payment. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) expects to accrue an approximately $10 billion legal expense in the third quarter.
Read more: Meta Platforms (META) stock analysis and investment case Why it matters The quick answer is no: the approximately $18 billion headline is neither a fixed near-term cash bill nor the expected third-quarter accounting charge. State attorneys general describe the settlement as up to $17.1 billion, reinforcing that the public figures are estimates of a structured agreement, not one certain check.
The decisive number is 29.4%. Divide the approximately $5.3 billion conditional portion by the $18 billion headline. Nearly three-tenths of the announced amount depends on rival platforms adopting protections and funding their shares.
The approximately $10 billion expected charge is still material. In the second quarter, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) produced $31.9 billion of operating cash flow, but only $784 million of free cash flow after $31.1 billion of capital spending and finance-lease payments. An accrual is not the same as immediate cash outflow, but the comparison shows why investors cannot wave the settlement away.
The strongest countercase is not just the payment. Default time limits, night restrictions, age assurance and independent audits could raise compliance costs or change teen engagement. Other youth-related cases can also create losses outside this agreement. None of those effects is quantified yet.
Related: Can Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) Win Enterprise AI?
What's next The next earnings report should confirm the final third-quarter charge, balance-sheet treatment and cash-flow effect for Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META). Investors should also watch whether YouTube and TikTok trigger the conditional funds and whether Meta changes guidance.
That evidence can change the answer. A smaller charge and slow cash schedule would limit the near-term financial hit. Higher implementation costs, weaker engagement or additional legal losses would make the settlement a broader earnings problem.
More from OptimistFi META stock: the Meta Platforms thesis, its status and the next test to watch Meta VR Glasses Put Reality Labs' Losses Back in Focus Is AI Spending Paying Off for Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META)? Century Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPSC) Adds Two CNTY-813 Batches Stock research on every company OptimistFi covers Latest stock research and investment-case updates OptimistFi: evidence-first equity research Sources Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) youth-safety settlement terms — Published August 26, 2026. Approximate $18 billion headline, $12.7 billion state allocation, $5.3 billion conditional portion, 10-year installments and expected $10 billion third-quarter expense. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) second-quarter 2026 results — Published July 29, 2026. Operating cash flow, free cash flow, capital spending, liquidity, debt and outstanding youth-related legal risk. New York Attorney General settlement announcement — Government description of the participating states, monetary structure and mandatory teen-account reforms. Photo: Meta Platforms headquarters entrance by LPS.1 — Authentic file photograph taken March 27, 2022, at Meta's Menlo Park headquarters. Original photograph unchanged; responsive display may crop. Photo license: CC0 1.0 Universal — LPS.1 dedicated the photograph to the public domain under CC0 1.0. Read the full OptimistFi thesis on Meta Platforms, Inc.: https://optimistfi.com/stocks/META
See what would break the Meta Platforms, Inc. thesis and track it live on the OptimistFi Thesis-Break Engine.
Browse every company OptimistFi covers at optimistfi.com/stocks, or read the latest evidence-first research.
The full Meta Platforms, Inc. investment case, its status and the next test to watch live on the Meta Platforms, Inc. thesis page.
Originally published on OptimistFi, evidence-first equity research. More at optimistfi.com.
Meta's new artificial intelligence agent Muse promises to make everything from booking appointments to building playlists easier, but its rollout of agentic shopping, in particular, has the tech and retail realms buzzing.
Shopping has quickly become one of Muse's biggest usage drivers, a Meta spokesperson said.
After an initial setup, shopping is as easy as asking your Muse agent to find an item you are interested in. You can be as specific as you want about brands, price and availability.
The agent will browse retail sites to scan for items that fit your request, then offer suggested listings within the Muse app and website. Clicking a listing will either open straight to the retail website or open within the Muse app, which will feature a button to check out with your agent.
If you choose to check out with Muse, it will prep the checkout for you and show you an "approval card" with order details for you to confirm. If you haven't given Muse access to your email, full name and address, it will need that as well. For payment, Muse can check out with Meta's tech payment partners like Link by Stripe or Shopify Shop Pay, which you have to connect to.
Link "generates a one-time-use card so your real card details stay hidden," according to Meta.
PayPal has also been announced as a Muse payment provider, but isn't available yet.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at Meta Connect that the company will take a small fee on transactions.
watch now
Muse 'Connectors'Meta announced a slate of partnerships on Sept. 23 that will offer what the app called an "official fast lane" for the Muse agent platform, though not all of the so-called "connectors" are active yet.
Walmart, Gap, Sephora, Expedia, Wayfair, Best Buy and more were included in the announcement, and the company said more are in the works.
Ticketmaster, which was included in the partnerships already announced, directs users to its own marketplace for payment.
"Fans remain in complete control of their purchase decisions, as final purchases are all made within Ticketmaster's secure marketplace," a spokesperson for the company told CNBC.
E-commerce shopping giant Amazon has blocked Muse from purchasing products on its site, saying it violates the retailer's terms of service. Amazon alleged that Muse stores customer credentials and scrapes account data, among other issues.
Luca Cian, a professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business specializing in psychological responses to AI, said the funneling of shopping into a singular agentic shopping experience stands to intensify competition between shopping giants that are already competing for the same marketplace.
"The real fight over Muse is between companies, and the consumer is the prize," Cian told CNBC. "Whoever owns the agent owns the relationship with the shopper, and every retailer knows it."
Data and privacy concernsThe use of AI in several types of pricing practices has broadly fueled some distrust among shoppers.
Morning Consult found that 59% of U.S. adults said price-gouging was a "major concern" with AI-driven dynamic pricing in a January survey.
Retail and e-commerce companies are increasingly using AI to gather customer data and introduce dynamic or personalized pricing, according to the Bank of England.
McDonald's is upping its use of AI in item pricing, and on the other side of the trend, Instacart ended tests of AI-driven pricing late last year amid pushback. Instacart is a Muse partner.
Walmart CEO John Furner penned an open letter last week seeking to reassure customers that the company does not use shoppers' personal information to implement dynamic pricing on its website or with its shopping tools. Furner acknowledged he's "heard concerns about companies using that information and technology to charge you more."
Outside of pricing questions, Meta has its own history of data and safety issues. The company has faced a wave of lawsuits about child safety and data security, most recently settling a major federal case involving a group of state attorneys general for nearly $17 billion.
Customer experienceMuse has soared to the top spot on the Apple App Store for iPhone free apps, and the Tamagotchi-like Charm device showcased by Zuckerberg has furthered the buzz around the agent platform.
Cian said that despite distrust of Meta, many will still use the app due to the step-by-step trust-building nature of the agent and because "people compartmentalize."
"Research shows that perceived control changes behavior. Muse is built around that lesson," Cian told CNBC. "Those are the right levers. Whether they hold up in practice is what people will be watching."
Cian said that despite potential safety concerns, consumers will likely be happy to offload various "chore" tasks to agents, though they still may want to shop for more personalized items themselves.
"Replenishment, price comparison, returns, waiting for a price drop: nobody feels diminished because a machine did that," Cian said.
Read more CNBC tech newsGoogle unveils latest AI model, but Wall Street wants a breakout personal agentFormer LinkedIn chief Roslansky to leave Microsoft, following other exec departuresSpaceX launches Google AI chips into orbit in push toward space-based data centersTrump's AI lunch included every major tech company. Except Apple
Meta Platforms (META +0.30%). was one of Wall Street's best-performing stocks in September. It rose 25% during the month, turning around what had up to that point been a down year for the stock.
The major catalyst in the quarter was the launch of Meta Muse, an AI agent built for everyday use for the masses. This completely shifted the AI narrative around Meta's stock, causing the market to shift from bearish to bullish.
But with the calendar flipping to October, will the market still love the stock?
Image source: Getty Images.
Meta finally released a monetizable AI product Previously, the biggest complaint investors had about Meta Platforms as an AI investment was that it seemed to be giving everything away for free, despite investing hundreds of billions of dollars into building AI data centers. With no obvious payoff for those investments in sight, investors were left scratching their heads about when and where the profits would come from.
This caused investors who were familiar with Meta's failed metaverse vision to experience déjà vu. As a result, the stock wasn't highly valued. But all of that flipped shortly after the launch of Muse.
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Muse is one of the first AI agents built for everyday use. The AI agent can be tasked with multistep activities such as building a schedule, checking calendars, or booking travel on your behalf.
While it is technically free to use, the free tier has a relatively low monthly usage cap. Meta is betting that many people will find Muse useful enough that they will start burning through their tokens and eventually decide to pay for a subscription tier with a much higher ceiling. If that happens, the subscription services could lead to strong revenue and profit growth, which investors love.
The market sees the vision and is buying into it, which is why the stock had such a fantastic September. But what's ahead for October?
Late this month, Meta Platforms will report its third-quarter results, and Muse will likely be one of the primary topics of discussion. Investors will likely hear more about early adoption numbers and the long-term vision for this product. If the market likes what it hears, the stock could end the month strong. However, Meta no longer has the "cheap" factor going for it. While it was trading at bargain levels for some time, its September rally drove it back to a normal valuation range.
Meta's stock is no longer trading at a discount Before its rally, Meta's stock traded at less than 18 times expected forward earnings -- near its lowest valuation of the past three years.
META PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts.
Today, it is trading toward the upper end of its usual valuation range. Still, there's room for more. While some of Meta's peers' price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios are currently being skewed by one-time gains on investments, the average big tech firm tends to trade in the high 20s to the low 30s times forward earnings valuation range.
That leaves plenty of room for upside if the market gets really bullish on Meta's prospects. Still, I don't see that happening until after its Q3 results are released, when the initial reception of Muse is accounted for.
As a result, I don't think we'll see a repeat of September for Meta's stock in October, but its future looks brighter than it has been in awhile. If Muse is widely accepted and becomes a popular subscription product, the stock will have a lot more potential for upside, because there isn't a ton of growth priced into it now at just 23 times forward earnings.
That could make Meta an AI stock worth buying for the long term, as it has one of the best consumer-facing platforms for AI deployment.
Apple (AAPL.O) said on Friday that it plans to change its Mac operating system to make it more obvious when AI agents ask to access all of the data on Macs.
Some users have criticized Meta's (META.O) Muse, an AI agent capable of carrying out complex tasks like canceling unused subscriptions or haggling for better prices. These people claimed the agent accessed what users believed to be private messages.
On Apple's iPhones and iPads, no single app can access data inside another app by default, a technique called sandboxing. But Apple's Macs are more flexible, with a "Full Disk Access" option that allows apps such as cloud backup services to access all the data on a machine, with a user's permission.
Apple on Friday said some developers were using the Full Disk Access feature in ways that could put users at risk.
"Going forward, we will introduce additional controls to ensure that users who genuinely wish to grant an app this extraordinary level of access can only do so with very explicit user action," Apple wrote in a post.
"As AI agents become increasingly capable and autonomous, the risks associated with this level of access will grow substantially. We are committed to ensuring users clearly understand these risks before granting such access, so they can make informed decisions about their own data and privacy."
Apple's move comes after Inc magazine technology columnist Jason Aten accused Meta's Muse of reading private messages on his Mac. He said he had not enabled Full Disk Access.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone pushed back against those claims last week, saying Muse's access to Apple's Messages app is strictly opt-in.
"You have to enable both Full Disk Access and the Messages connector for Muse to be able to read your Messages content," Stone wrote on social media platform X. "It can't read your Messages unless you do this. And it can be revoked at any time."
Apple declined to comment beyond its post. Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Meta’s Muse, a personal AI agent that books travel, fills out forms, and shops on a user’s behalf, has already proven popular with the masses, but a new side project could be particularly alluring to tinkerers and hackers.
On Friday, the company introduced Muse Gadgets, an open-source project that lets developers build their own hardware that connects to Muse.
Meta is providing open-source firmware (the low-level software that runs a device), and a Linux software development kit (SDK), along with a few project ideas to get users started. These include giving Muse a color e-ink display or loading it onto a stick that plugs into a TV’s HDMI port.
There don’t appear to be many limits, either. Users can set up a low-cost hobbyist computer like a Raspberry Pi or an off-the-shelf ESP32 board, and then connect Muse “to your displays, buttons, sensors, actuators, and whatever else you’ve got lying on your workbench,” Meta notes.
The company has also set up a Discord channel to support users.
Meta has already tried the code itself, naturally. Nat Friedman, head of product at Meta’s Superintelligence Labs, said in a post on X that the company built a gadget called Muse Home Link. The USB-C-powered device lets Muse connect to a home network and talk to the smart devices on it, including speakers and smart TVs.
Meta made 5,000 of these Home Links, in fact, and is giving them away for free to Muse subscribers while supplies last, according to Friedman. Considering Friedman’s post about Home Link received nearly 30,000 views in a few hours, we’re guessing those freebies have been claimed. Friedman said Home Link would be ready to ship a few weeks.
Muse Gadgets may not have wide appeal, but it fits nicely into Meta’s all-in strategy to make Muse more than a standalone chatbot. Meta isn’t content to push Muse on everyday consumers; it’s also trying to woo small businesses and enterprises.
The company earlier this week introduced Muse for Small Business, which is free with usage limits and connects Muse to tools such as Shopify, Dropbox, and Slack. It has also launched a new business unit, Meta Enterprise Platform, to help it push its AI offerings to businesses and corporate customers.
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Kirsten Korosec is a reporter and editor who has covered the future of transportation from EVs and autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility and in-car tech for more than a decade. She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. She is also co-founder and co-host of the podcast, “The Autonocast.” She previously wrote for Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review and CBS Interactive.
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Meta Platforms META , the social-media and consumer-AI company, expanded its Muse agent into small-business workflows, with shares up approximately 0.54% to $729.87 at 10.50am ET on Friday, Oct. 2. The pitch is practical: help business owners handle campaigns, customer information and routine paperwork. Meta wants AI to earn its place in the working day.
According to Meta's announcement, Muse connects with advertising accounts and tools including QuickBooks, Shopify, Slack, Stripe and Zoom. Users must approve actions before the agent publishes content, sends messages or spends money. Meta also offers subscription plans alongside free access. That gives the product a potential revenue route, although the announcement provides no paid-customer count or conversion target.
The valuation picture shows shares 15.12% below the $859.84 GF Value estimate, suggesting potential upside if that estimate holds. But a valuation gap does not prove Muse will deliver. The business test is straightforward: can the agent save enough time to attract paying users? Better campaigns could also support Meta's advertising business. Investors still need evidence that useful automation translates into meaningful revenue.
Mark Zuckerberg shows off the latest Meta glasses at the recent Meta Connect event. Bloomberg/Getty Images Backlash against Meta glasses is heating up in the Netherlands. At least two Dutch retailers are pausing the sale of the glasses following media reports about privacy concerns, and the government is also getting involved.
Hans Anders, a large eyewear chain in the Netherlands, is pausing sales of Meta glasses. Wehkamp, a Dutch online retailer, is also pausing sales.
"This decision follows the ongoing public and political debate surrounding smart glasses and the questions being raised about the conditions under which this technology can be used," a spokesperson for Nexeye, the parent company of Han Anders, told Business Insider. "Hans Anders believes it is important to await the outcome of this debate and any subsequent decisions before determining whether and how these products may be offered again."
The sales halt comes after a Dutch newspaper, AD, published a story about people, especially women, being surreptitiously filmed in public.
"Our glasses continue to be very popular and we're continuing to expand styles and features," a Meta spokesperson told Business Insider. "Every pair with a camera has a bright light on the front that blinks when you take a photo or video — it can't be turned off and the camera is disabled if someone covers or tampers with it."
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) recently issued a warning about camera glasses and how they are not always noticeable in public. (The glasses do have an indicator light when recording.) "The AP is also investigating the possibilities for further measures against camera glasses and other wearables with a camera," their statement said.
A nonprofit called Offlimits issued a statement urging Meta and EssilorLuxxotica to "remove the controversial Meta glasses from the market as long as they can be used to film covertly."
Meta defended its glasses from privacy concerns by pointing to the indicator light and anti-tampering features that are designed to permanently disable recording if the light is physically disabled. The company's executives have also said smartphones have long been capable of surreptitious filming and do not feature a recording indicator light.
In September, Consumentenbond, a Dutch consumer advocacy group, also urged the government to issue a ban on the glasses, citing privacy concerns. In a video from the group, they tested out a new type of sticker that they said successfully circumvents the new software update that prevents filming if the indicator light is covered. The new sticker lets in outside light from the side, but covers the LED from head-on.
However, the Dutch government isn't rushing to enact a ban. In questioning with the Dutch parliament, state secretary for justice Claudia van Bruggen said that only six reports and one complaint about the glasses have been made to the Dutch Data Protection Authority.
Van Bruggen said that the European Data Protection Board is planning to publish a report on the glasses later this year, and that "the Cabinet awaits the findings and any recommendations of the EDPB in the report with interest."
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Katie Notopoulos is a senior correspondent at Business Insider who writes about technology, business, and culture. Previously, Katie was a tech reporter at BuzzFeed News and has written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, Fast Company, and MIT Technology Review.
