Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Shares Up 1.9% – Still a Buy?

Posted by Stanley Muller on Oct 5th, 2026

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) rose 1.9% during trading on Monday. The stock traded as high as $746.70 and last traded at $741.90. Approximately 13,745,467 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 22% from the average session volume of 17,523,055 shares. The stock had previously closed at $728.08.

Meta Platforms News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:

Positive Sentiment: Muse strengthens Meta’s e-commerce opportunity: Meta’s AI shopping agent is reportedly completing purchases of products such as vintage wine and Levi’s jeans, potentially diverting transactions from Amazon. Shopify’s support for Muse could also help Meta build a broader commerce ecosystem. Meta’s Muse is already pulling one CEO’s purchases away from Amazon
Positive Sentiment: AI is improving advertising economics: Analysts argue that Meta’s large user base and advertising machine can fund major AI investments. AI-driven targeting, engagement and pricing are supporting revenue growth, while bullish commentary suggests Muse and other AI products could create additional upside. Meta Platforms: The AI Spending Looks Crazy; The Economics Don’t
Positive Sentiment: Long-term nuclear power access supports AI expansion: The Department of Energy plans to provide Vistra with approximately $4.2 billion to expand nuclear output. Much of the additional capacity is covered by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Meta, helping secure reliable electricity for data centers and reducing a potential infrastructure constraint. Vistra Gets $4.2B Federal Loan to Add Nuclear Power Meta Already Bought
Neutral Sentiment: Reality Labs strategy may be changing: Reports of a quieter restructuring or reduction in metaverse spending could improve capital discipline and valuation, but the details and financial impact remain unclear. Pay Attention to Meta’s Quiet Dismantling of Its Biggest Mistake
Negative Sentiment: Spending and legal risks remain: Meta may spend roughly $130 billion to $145 billion on 2026 capital expenditures, raising questions about returns on AI infrastructure. Lawsuits involving training data and intellectual property could further pressure its balance sheet or constrain AI development. Meta AI Plans Could Be Crippled By Lawsuits
Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and macroeconomic headwinds persist: Meta is challenging U.K. demands for online-safety data, while executives face questioning about AI risks in New York. Separately, investor Steve Weiss trimmed his Meta position as Treasury yields approached 5.26%, highlighting valuation sensitivity to higher rates. Meta, TikTok, X challenge UK watchdog over online safety data demands

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on META. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $770.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Jefferies Financial Group upped 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. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $725.00 price target (down from $815.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $785.00 to $875.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, September 25th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane reduced their target price on Meta Platforms from $955.00 to $855.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Three 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.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $787.86.

View Our Latest Research Report on Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms Trading Up 1.9%

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 company’s 50-day moving average is $625.52 and its 200-day moving average is $615.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.89 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.94, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted 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). The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $7.14 earnings per share. 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. Investors 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 currently 7.91%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Meta Platforms news, insider Christopher 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 value of $28,510,400.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at $131,515,624.16. The trade was a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available 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 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 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 sold a total of 146,647 shares of company stock valued at $99,886,901 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Meta Platforms

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Auto Owners Insurance Co boosted its holdings in 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. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter valued at about $22,152,075,000. Corient Private Wealth LP boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 723.1% in the 2nd quarter. Corient Private Wealth LP now owns 8,801,764 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $4,957,946,000 after buying an additional 7,732,446 shares during the period. Jupiter Topco LLC purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter valued at about $2,948,486,000. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 488.1% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 5,466,595 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $3,608,445,000 after buying an additional 4,537,076 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Meta Platforms Company Profile

(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.