Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report)’s stock price fell 5.4% during mid-day trading on Wednesday after an insider sold shares in the company. The stock traded as low as $566.19 and last traded at $567.58. 19,892,483 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 22% from the average daily volume of 16,246,023 shares. The stock had previously closed at $600.21.
Specifically, COO Javier Olivan sold 1,258 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $600.00, for a total transaction of $754,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 1,973 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,183,800. The trade was a 38.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 140 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $600.00, for a total transaction of $84,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 12,846 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,707,600. This trade represents a 1.08% 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.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Tigress Financial lifted their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $935.00 to $945.00 and gave the company a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. Wolfe Research decreased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $800.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 10th. Wedbush upgraded shares of Meta Platforms from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 2nd. Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $750.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Roth Mkm reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-five have given a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $840.60.
Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms
Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Meta is expanding its AI infrastructure, signing new computing deals with data-center firm Crusoe to secure more AI capacity, which supports its long-term AI rollout and spending plans. Reuters: Meta signs new AI computing deals with data center firm Crusoe
- Positive Sentiment: Meta continues to advance AI-related products and partnerships, including new AI features for Facebook creators and a strategic data-center project in India, reinforcing the company’s growth narrative around AI monetization. Insider Monkey: Meta rolls out new AI features on Facebook
- Positive Sentiment: Some market commentary remains constructive on Meta’s AI strategy and data-center expansion, suggesting investors still see upside from its huge AI spending program. Insider Monkey: Meta a top growth stock to buy
- Neutral Sentiment: Meta remains a major beneficiary of the AI buildout across the broader tech sector, but that theme is already well known and may be more of a long-term support than a near-term catalyst. Proactive Investors: Does Nvidia hold the key to Meta’s glasses gamble?
- Neutral Sentiment: Insider selling by COO Javier Olivan was disclosed, but it was done under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 plan, so it is less likely to be interpreted as a strong negative signal. InsiderTrades: Meta Platforms COO sells stock
- Negative Sentiment: The Washington state Supreme Court upheld a $35 million campaign finance penalty against Meta, adding another legal overhang for the company. Yahoo News: Washington high court upholds $35 million campaign finance penalty against Meta
- Negative Sentiment: Reuters also reported Meta is lobbying Congress for protection from child-harm lawsuits, highlighting ongoing litigation risk around its social platforms. Reuters: Meta lobbies Congress for protection from child-harm lawsuits
- Negative Sentiment: Sentiment was further hurt by reports that Meta’s head of product for its “AI for work” effort is leaving, raising concerns about execution during a major AI transition. Reuters: Meta head of product for ‘AI for work’ transformation is leaving company
- Negative Sentiment: Another bearish headline said attackers exploited Meta’s AI customer-support chatbot to compromise Instagram accounts, which could weigh on trust in Meta’s AI products and platform security. Yahoo Finance: Meta faces AI support breach as key internal AI executive exits
Meta Platforms Stock Performance
The stock has a market cap of $1.46 trillion, a PE ratio of 20.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $621.98 and a 200 day moving average price of $634.55. The company has a quick ratio of 2.35, a current ratio of 2.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The social networking company reported $10.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.67 by $3.77. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 36.93% and a net margin of 32.84%.The company had revenue of $56.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $55.56 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.43 EPS. Meta Platforms’s revenue for the quarter was up 33.1% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.35 earnings per share for the current year.
Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be given a $0.525 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 15th. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is presently 7.63%.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Meta Platforms
A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of META. First National Bank Sioux Falls lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. First National Bank Sioux Falls now owns 2,001 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $1,321,000 after buying an additional 14 shares during the period. Levin Capital Strategies L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Levin Capital Strategies L.P. now owns 984 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $649,000 after acquiring an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. Vista Capital Partners Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.3% during the second quarter. Vista Capital Partners Inc. now owns 1,075 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $794,000 after acquiring an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. Arcataur Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Meta Platforms by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Arcataur Capital Management LLC now owns 1,736 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $1,146,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares during the period. Finally, Acorn Creek Capital LLC lifted its stake in Meta Platforms by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Acorn Creek Capital LLC now owns 2,118 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $1,398,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.
Meta Platforms Company Profile
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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