Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reissued by TD Cowen in a report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $865.00 target price on the social networking company’s stock. TD Cowen’s price target would suggest a potential upside of 19.93% from the company’s current price.
A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on META. DA Davidson cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. China Renaissance cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $825.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Tigress Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $945.00 price target (down from $995.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. HSBC cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $905.00 to $830.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $791.86.
Read Our Latest Research Report on META
Meta Platforms Stock 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). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The company had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $7.14 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Meta Platforms will post 27.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Activity at Meta Platforms
In related news, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 24th. The shares were 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 SEC, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. This represents a 17.82% 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 quarter, insiders have sold 148,222 shares of company stock worth $101,033,627. 13.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Institutional Trading of Meta Platforms
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Auto Owners Insurance Co lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 76,587.7% during 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 in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 4.0% during 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 purchasing an additional 3,510,123 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 14.6% during the first 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 purchasing an additional 2,673,494 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 18,200,469 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $12,013,948,000 after purchasing an additional 1,046,715 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 1.3% during the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 12,836,063 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $7,230,426,000 after purchasing an additional 162,909 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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: TD Cowen reaffirmed its “Buy” rating and set an $865 price target, implying roughly 20% upside from recent levels. The firm’s view supports the case that Meta’s AI investments can drive future growth. TD Cowen rating report
- Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse AI assistant launched on iPad shortly after its mobile debut and has topped app-download charts. Sustained adoption could create a new consumer platform and improve the long-term payoff from Meta’s AI spending. Meta Muse launches on iPad
- Positive Sentiment: Meta and Sierra are developing the Personal Agent Protocol with partners including Shopify, Stripe, Walmart and Genesys. An open standard for AI agents to transact with businesses could expand Meta’s role in AI commerce and customer interactions. Meta and Sierra AI agent protocol
- Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo recently raised its price target to $1,000 and maintained an Overweight rating, citing enthusiasm around the Muse product cycle. A broad analyst consensus remains “Moderate Buy.” Wells Fargo raises Meta price target
- Neutral Sentiment: Meta is collaborating with AMD, Broadcom, Microsoft and Arista Networks on open, high-density Ethernet infrastructure. The effort may improve AI data-center flexibility, but it also underscores the scale of capital spending required. AI infrastructure collaboration
- Neutral Sentiment: Manus raised more than $500 million after Meta unwound its proposed acquisition of the Chinese AI startup. The financing gives Manus independence but highlights that Meta no longer controls a potentially valuable AI asset. Manus funding after Meta exit
- Negative Sentiment: Florida’s attorney general is seeking restrictions on users under 14 and wants a court to limit features such as Instagram and Facebook’s infinite scroll. Potential product restrictions, compliance costs and reduced engagement pose risks to advertising revenue. Florida legal action against Meta
- Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that Meta and other hyperscalers are burning cash on AI data centers before returns are proven. Meta’s AI strategy primarily depends on monetizing its own apps rather than selling cloud capacity externally, increasing execution risk. AI infrastructure cash-flow analysis
- Negative Sentiment: COO Javier Olivan sold shares through a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. While the transactions are not necessarily a warning, insider selling can modestly weigh on sentiment. Meta insider sale 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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