Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reiterated by TD Cowen in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $865.00 price target on the social networking company’s stock. TD Cowen’s target price suggests a potential upside of 19.99% from the company’s current price.
Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Daiwa Securities Group cut their price objective on Meta Platforms from $790.00 to $687.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $796.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday. Citizens Jmp upped their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $885.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $800.00 price target (down from $850.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $763.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Three equities research 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 data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $791.86.
Get Our Latest Research Report on Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms Trading Down 0.1%
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 (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The business had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $7.14 earnings per share. Meta Platforms’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Meta Platforms will post 27.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms
In related news, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,196 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total value of $5,063,409.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,186 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. This trade represents a 41.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 7,848 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total transaction of $4,379,184.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer owned 828 shares in the company, valued at $462,024. This represents a 90.46% decrease in their position. 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 have sold a total of 148,222 shares of company stock worth $101,033,627 over the last three months. 13.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Meta Platforms
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Artemis Investment Management LLP raised its holdings in Meta Platforms by 329.6% during the 3rd quarter. Artemis Investment Management LLP now owns 192,252 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $139,417,000 after buying an additional 147,497 shares during the period. Dickmeyer Boyce Financial Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 7.3% during the 3rd quarter. Dickmeyer Boyce Financial Management Inc. now owns 897 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $651,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the period. Aletheian Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 12.6% during the 3rd quarter. Aletheian Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,405 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,744,000 after purchasing an additional 270 shares during the last quarter. YHB Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in Meta Platforms by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. YHB Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 14,745 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $10,693,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the period. Finally, Titleist Asset Management LLC raised its position in Meta Platforms by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Titleist Asset Management LLC now owns 11,609 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $8,419,000 after purchasing an additional 573 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Key Meta Platforms News
Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo assigned Meta a $1,000 price target, arguing that AI could accelerate advertising growth and create new revenue streams. TD Cowen also reaffirmed its “buy” rating with an $865 target, suggesting analysts see substantial upside if Meta executes on its AI strategy. Wells Fargo Meta price target article
- Positive Sentiment: Meta continues expanding Muse, its consumer AI assistant, including a new iPad app and an open protocol with Sierra, Shopify, Stripe, Walmart and others designed to let AI agents interact with businesses. Successful “agentic commerce” could eventually provide Meta with transaction-based revenue in addition to advertising. Meta Muse iPad launch article
- Positive Sentiment: President Trump’s financial disclosure showed purchases of as much as $25 million of Meta stock. While the transaction does not change Meta’s fundamentals, it may bolster investor sentiment around the company’s AI and advertising prospects. Trump Meta stock purchase article
- Neutral Sentiment: Meta-backed AI startup Manus raised more than $500 million after ending its proposed acquisition by Meta. The financing validates investor interest in the technology, but Meta will not directly capture the startup’s future growth. Manus funding article
- Negative Sentiment: Jefferies found that roughly one-third of tested websites blocked Muse access. Restrictions could delay Meta’s plans to monetize AI agents through online purchases and bookings, making the timing of potential agentic-commerce revenue less certain. Jefferies Muse website access article
- Negative Sentiment: Florida is seeking tighter safeguards for minors and asking a court to restrict features such as infinite scrolling for teenagers. Such measures could reduce engagement, limit ad inventory and increase compliance costs if they spread to other jurisdictions. Florida Meta regulation article
- Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that Meta’s heavy AI infrastructure spending is consuming cash before the company demonstrates clear returns. The stock also faces valuation risk after its latest quarterly earnings missed the consensus EPS estimate, despite strong revenue growth.
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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