Key Points
- COO Javier Olivan sold 517 shares on Feb. 2 at an average price of $714.60 (~$369,448), trimming his stake to 9,615 shares (a 5.1% reduction); the sale is one of many identical 517‑share disposals he made repeatedly since November.
- Meta beat Q4 estimates (EPS $8.88 vs. $8.16; revenue $59.89B) and issued an aggressive ~30% Q1 revenue guide that has driven analyst price‑target upgrades, but the stock slipped ~3.3% amid concerns about rising AI capex and regulatory risks (notably in India).
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) COO Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $714.60, for a total transaction of $369,448.20. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 9,615 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,870,879. This represents a 5.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.
Javier Olivan also recently made the following trade(s):
- On Monday, January 26th, Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $665.00, for a total value of $343,805.00.
- On Tuesday, January 20th, Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $608.35, for a total value of $314,516.95.
- On Monday, January 12th, Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $653.00, for a total value of $337,601.00.
- On Monday, January 5th, Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $650.41, for a total value of $336,261.97.
- On Monday, December 29th, Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $658.14, for a total value of $340,258.38.
- On Monday, December 22nd, Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $661.11, for a total transaction of $341,793.87.
- On Monday, December 15th, Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $646.00, for a total transaction of $333,982.00.
- On Monday, December 8th, Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $669.63, for a total value of $346,198.71.
- On Monday, December 1st, Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $639.03, for a total value of $330,378.51.
- On Monday, November 24th, Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $598.54, for a total value of $309,445.18.
Meta Platforms Stock Down 3.3%
META stock opened at $668.99 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $655.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $695.72. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a twelve month low of $479.80 and a twelve month high of $796.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.69 trillion, a PE ratio of 28.47, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a quick ratio of 2.60, a current ratio of 2.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The social networking company reported $8.88 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $8.16 by $0.72. The company had revenue of $59.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $58.33 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 30.08% and a return on equity of 38.61%. Meta Platforms's revenue was up 23.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $8.02 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 26.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th were given a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 15th. Meta Platforms's payout ratio is 8.94%.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of brokerages have weighed in on META. Wall Street Zen lowered Meta Platforms from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded shares of Meta Platforms from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $740.00 to $900.00 in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Guggenheim lifted their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $850.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Citizens Jmp reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $900.00 price target (up previously from $750.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Monday, November 24th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $800.00 price objective on the stock. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-one have assigned a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $848.50.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Meta Platforms
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Westchester Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the third quarter worth approximately $26,000. Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Bare Financial Services Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth about $30,000. Briaud Financial Planning Inc bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms in the second quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, Knuff & Co LLC purchased a new position in Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter valued at about $44,000. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms
Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Meta reported strong Q4 results and gave a very aggressive ~30% Q1 revenue guide, which has led analysts to lift price targets and underpins the bullish case. Meta Platforms Posted Its Fastest Growth Guide in Years—Now What?
- Positive Sentiment: Several broker actions reinforce buy-side sentiment: Cantor Fitzgerald raised its price target (to $860) and Barclays reiterated an Overweight rating; Argus reiterated a Buy — supportive for medium-term upside. Cantor Fitzgerald Hikes Price Target on Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) to $860, Maintains Overweight Rating Barclays Keeps an Overweight rating on Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) Argus Reiterates "Buy" Rating for Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)
- Positive Sentiment: Institutional demand: Davis Selected Advisers has boosted its Meta stake, a sign of conviction from a value-oriented manager. Davis Selected Advisers boosts Meta Platforms stake
- Positive Sentiment: Coverage arguing Meta is monetizing AI better than peers adds to the bull narrative that ad/AI revenue upside can continue. Meta Beats Microsoft At AI Monetization - Here's Why
- Neutral Sentiment: Meta expanded a clean‑energy PPA with Zelestra for the 176 MWdc Skull Creek solar plant in Texas — supports 100% renewable matching but is a long-dated, non-revenue ESG move. Zelestra Expands Relationship with Meta in the US, with a New Power Purchase Agreement for the 176 MWdc Skull Creek Solar Plant in Texas
- Neutral Sentiment: Long-term infrastructure context: commentary on AI’s power needs and Meta’s agreements (e.g., with Oklo/SMR developers) highlight heavy, multi-year capital intensity for AI infrastructure — strategic but costly. The Atomic Pivot: AI’s $50 Billion Power Move
- Negative Sentiment: Regulatory risk: India’s top court questioned WhatsApp’s data‑sharing with Meta entities and warned of reimposing restrictions — a potential headwind for user trust and growth in a key market. India's top court questions WhatsApp policy of sharing user data with Meta entities
- Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: COO Javier Olivan disclosed a sale of 517 shares (~$369k), a small reduction in holdings; typically viewed as minor but can feed short‑term profit‑taking narratives. SEC Filing - Javier Olivan sale
- Negative Sentiment: Cost/capex worries: commentary that AI capex and Meta’s rising 2026 spending could dent margins has investors taking profits after the big rally. AI Capex Clouds Tech Horizon, Even as Meta and Tesla Shine Meta: Still A 'Buy,' But Nearing The End Of Its Run As Expenses Mount
About Meta Platforms
(
Get Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc (NASDAQ: META), formerly Facebook, Inc, is a global technology company best known for building social networking services and immersive computing platforms. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the company operates a family of consumer-facing products and services that connect users, creators and businesses. In October 2021 the company rebranded as Meta to reflect an expanded strategic focus on augmented and virtual reality technologies alongside its social media businesses.
Meta's core consumer products include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and community building across mobile and desktop devices.
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