Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reaffirmed by stock analysts at TD Cowen in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $865.00 target price on the social networking company’s stock. TD Cowen’s price target suggests a potential upside of 20.00% from the company’s previous close.
META has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their price target on Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. President Capital upgraded Meta Platforms from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $660.00 to $897.00 in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Citic Securities dropped their price target on Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $718.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Moffett Nathanson dropped their price target on Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $740.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Benchmark restated a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have assigned a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $791.86.
Check Out Our Latest Report on META
Meta Platforms Price Performance
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). The business had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.14 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Meta Platforms will post 27.94 EPS for the current year.
Insider Activity
In other news, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total transaction of $21,359,386.56. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $728.08, for a total value of $688,763.68. Following the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 7,878 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,735,814.24. This trade represents a 10.72% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 148,222 shares of company stock valued at $101,033,627. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Institutional Trading of Meta Platforms
A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in META. Ayalon Insurance Comp Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 48.6% during the third quarter. Ayalon Insurance Comp Ltd. now owns 21,400 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $15,519,000 after purchasing an additional 7,000 shares during the period. Puff Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 0.9% during the third quarter. Puff Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,083 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,961,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. Applied Capital LLC FL raised its position in Meta Platforms by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Applied Capital LLC FL now owns 8,181 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $5,933,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in Meta Platforms by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 901 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $653,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC raised its position in Meta Platforms by 72.4% during the 3rd quarter. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC now owns 300 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $218,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.
More Meta Platforms News
Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Muse expansion strengthens Meta’s AI narrative. Meta launched a dedicated iPad app for Muse shortly after its mobile debut, while the assistant has reached the top of app-store download charts. The company and Sierra also announced an open protocol, backed by businesses including Shopify, Stripe and Walmart, to let AI agents interact with merchants—potentially creating new commerce and advertising opportunities. Meta’s Muse launches on iPad Meta and Sierra launch protocol
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst optimism remains elevated. Wells Fargo raised its price target to $1,000 from $796 and maintained an Overweight rating, citing enthusiasm for the Muse product cycle. A potential future public-cloud business has also been proposed as another way Meta could monetize its AI infrastructure. Wells Fargo raises Meta price target
- Neutral Sentiment: AI glasses offer long-term upside but execution is uncertain. Meta currently leads the smart-glasses category, and AI could make the devices a major consumer platform. However, the opportunity requires sustained adoption and a viable business model. AI Smart Glasses Will Be Huge
- Negative Sentiment: Florida’s legal action is the clearest near-term pressure. The state’s attorney general is seeking restrictions that could bar users under 14 and limit or disable engagement features such as infinite scroll for teens. Such changes could reduce user engagement, advertising inventory and the effectiveness of Meta’s core platforms. Florida AG seeks to ban users under 14
- Negative Sentiment: Investors are increasingly focused on AI spending and cash flow. Reports say Meta is burning cash at a historically high rate to build AI infrastructure, raising concerns about when those investments will generate returns. Meta also faces a potentially significant New Mexico penalty related to youth-safety litigation. AI infrastructure and cash flow
- Negative Sentiment: COO Javier Olivan sold shares. The sales were conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, limiting their significance, but the transactions may still add modestly to investor caution after Meta’s strong run. Meta insider transaction filing
Meta Platforms Company Profile
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.
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