Key Points
- Meta insider Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares at an average price of $675.23, totaling approximately $13.5 million. The sale was conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, and Cox retained 224,516 shares.
- Meta’s stock opened at $682.31, with a $1.74 trillion market capitalization and a 52-week range of $520.26 to $790.80. The company’s latest quarterly revenue rose 28% year over year to $60.8 billion, although earnings per share missed analyst expectations.
- Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $788.88. Meta also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share, representing a 0.3% annualized yield.
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) insider Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $675.23, for a total transaction of $13,504,600.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 224,516 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $151,599,938.68. The trade was a 8.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
Meta Platforms Stock Performance
META opened at $682.31 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.74 trillion, a P/E ratio of 25.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $606.40 and its 200 day simple moving average is $609.40. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1-year low of $520.26 and a 1-year high of $790.80.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The business's revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $7.14 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a $0.525 dividend. The ex-dividend date is 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 currently 7.91%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Meta Platforms from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a research report on Friday, June 26th. DA Davidson cut their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $700.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $780.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $766.00 to $715.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn raised their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $788.88.
Get Our Latest Report on Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms News Summary
Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Bank of America maintained a Buy view, estimating Meta could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by shifting AI workloads to its in-house MTIA chips. Meta reportedly plans to deploy newer chips in 2027, potentially reducing dependence on Nvidia and improving AI margins. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips
- Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse AI agent and the new Meta One subscription are strengthening the investment case that the company can diversify beyond advertising. Meta One combines higher AI usage limits and features across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, creating a potential recurring-revenue stream. Meta Platforms: Get In Before September 23
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst optimism remains a near-term catalyst. Citi identified Meta Connect on September 23 as a possible trigger for additional product announcements and investor enthusiasm, while Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating with an $886 price target. Meta Event Next Week Could Spark Stock Gains, Says Citi
- Neutral Sentiment: Meta is expanding Muse’s capabilities, including phone calls, as it competes with emerging AI-agent providers. The move could improve user engagement and monetization, but competition and the execution required to turn usage into paid revenue remain significant. Rival AI Agents and Meta’s Muse Add Calling
- Negative Sentiment: A German court ruled Meta liable for fraudulent third-party advertisements on Facebook and Instagram, ordering the company to remove such content and pay damages. The decision could increase legal costs and raise concerns about platform-monitoring obligations. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads
- Negative Sentiment: Consumer advocate Clark Howard said Meta declined to remove a deepfake advertisement using his likeness. The episode adds reputational and regulatory risk as Meta attempts to control AI-generated scams and fraudulent advertising. Facebook Told Clark Howard a Deepfake Ad Meets Its Standards
- Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 Meta shares worth about $13.5 million. The transaction was made under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, which reduces its signaling value, but insider selling can still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Meta Platforms
Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of META. RHL Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Advantage Trust Co purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Niles Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Axiom Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Meta Platforms in the first quarter worth $36,000. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Meta Platforms Company Profile
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Get Free Report)
Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company's principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.
Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.
The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.
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