Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) had its target price upped by equities research analysts at TD Cowen from $750.00 to $865.00 in a research report issued on Friday, Briefing.com reports. The brokerage currently has a “buy” rating on the social networking company’s stock. TD Cowen’s target price indicates a potential upside of 14.02% from the stock’s previous close.
Several other research firms have also commented on META. Evercore raised their price objective on Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $860.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 25th. Moffett Nathanson lowered their target price on Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $740.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. DA Davidson lowered their target price 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. Benchmark reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, KeyCorp boosted their price target on Meta Platforms from $780.00 to $900.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Three equities research 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 MarketBeat, Meta Platforms presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $785.90.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms Trading Down 2.4%
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share (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 in the previous year, the company earned $7.14 EPS. Meta Platforms’s revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Meta Platforms will post 27.93 EPS for the current year.
Insider Activity
In related news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total value of $643,535.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 9,770 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,646,237.90. This represents a 8.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total value of $2,002,514.40. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. This trade represents a 34.07% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 123,333 shares of company stock worth $80,795,845 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Meta Platforms
A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Auto Owners Insurance Co increased 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 worth $69,502,379,000 after buying an additional 105,154,977 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 3,510,123 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Meta Platforms by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 52,806,712 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $34,734,628,000 after acquiring an additional 878,396 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Meta Platforms during the 4th quarter valued at $22,152,075,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in Meta Platforms by 14.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 21,038,035 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $12,036,491,000 after acquiring an additional 2,673,494 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Key Headlines Impacting Meta Platforms
Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised price targets across the board. CICC lifted its target to $776 and maintained an Outperform rating; Deutsche Bank raised its target to $820 with a Buy rating; and Canaccord Genuity increased its target to $950 while retaining Buy. The revisions reinforce expectations for further upside from AI-related growth. Deutsche Bank Raises Price Target on Meta Platforms
- Positive Sentiment: Muse is strengthening Meta’s consumer AI narrative. Early adoption has reportedly outpaced ChatGPT’s comparable launch, while investors see potential revenue from subscriptions, advertising, commerce referrals and business services. The product’s momentum is helping justify Meta’s significant AI infrastructure spending. Meta’s AI Spending Suddenly Makes Sense
- Positive Sentiment: Meta expanded Muse’s distribution through hardware. The company announced Muse integration with Ray-Ban AI glasses, a camera-free audio-glasses line, the Muse Charm handheld device and $1,299 VR glasses. These products could create new user touchpoints and eventually support non-advertising revenue. Meta’s Muse Charm Device Strategy
- Neutral Sentiment: Meta is approaching a major valuation milestone. Shares have surged about 36% in September and the company’s market capitalization is near $2 trillion. Momentum remains strong, but the sharp advance leaves the stock more sensitive to profit-taking or disappointing AI adoption data. Meta Stock Surges on Muse AI Boom
- Negative Sentiment: Amazon’s decision to block Muse creates a commerce risk. Amazon reportedly restricted Muse from accessing its marketplace, highlighting potential conflicts as AI agents seek to control online shopping traffic. Meta’s partnerships with Shopify and others may mitigate the setback, but platform access remains uncertain. Amazon and Meta Muse Dispute
- Negative Sentiment: Spending and insider selling remain cautionary signals. Analysts have raised concerns that surging capital expenditures could pressure free cash flow, while insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. Privacy concerns surrounding AI glasses and ongoing legal scrutiny also pose longer-term risks.
Meta Platforms Company Profile
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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