SFM LLC d b a Sweeney Financial Advisors cut its position in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 36.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,060 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 1,176 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms makes up about 0.8% of SFM LLC d b a Sweeney Financial Advisors’ investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position. SFM LLC d b a Sweeney Financial Advisors’ holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $1,494,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Watchman Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 0.3% during the first quarter. Watchman Group Inc. now owns 5,091 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,913,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Penney Financial LLC raised its holdings in Meta Platforms by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Penney Financial LLC now owns 399 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $228,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,519 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $869,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares during the period. Bill Few Associates Inc. lifted its position in Meta Platforms by 1.3% during the third quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. now owns 1,206 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $874,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the period. Finally, CWS Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. CWS Financial Advisors LLC now owns 985 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $564,000 after purchasing an additional 16 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Meta Platforms Trading Down 3.3%
META opened at $737.54 on Thursday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $650.50 and its two-hundred day moving average is $623.78. The company has a market capitalization of $1.88 trillion, a P/E ratio of 27.78, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.19. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.
Meta Platforms Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st were given a $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is presently 7.91%.
Insider Activity
In other Meta Platforms news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $728.10, for a total value of $688,782.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 6,932 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,047,189.20. This trade represents a 12.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 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 stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares of the company’s stock, 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. In the last quarter, insiders sold 149,797 shares of company stock worth $102,180,385. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
META has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Moffett Nathanson decreased their target price 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. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $715.00 to $884.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Benchmark reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. BNP Paribas Exane cut their price objective on Meta Platforms from $955.00 to $855.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $770.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-five have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $801.53.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on Meta Platforms
Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms
Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Meta’s new Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full AI models are strengthening its competitive position. Muse Wonder ranked second in a 57-model accounting benchmark, ahead of OpenAI and Google models, supporting the view that Meta is narrowing the gap with leading AI developers. Muse Wonder benchmark article
- Positive Sentiment: Bank of America reiterated its Buy rating and $810 price target, while Guggenheim raised its target to $850 and Truist maintained a bullish $1,000 target. Analysts cited Meta’s large user base, AI distribution and potential future revenue from personal AI agents. Bank of America AI outlook
- Positive Sentiment: Meta expanded WhatsApp with free guest voice and video calling for non-account holders, potentially improving adoption and business utility by removing registration and download barriers. WhatsApp guest calling article
- Neutral Sentiment: Wall Street remains broadly constructive but divided. KeyCorp and Rosenblatt reaffirmed bullish ratings with targets of $900 and $886, respectively, while Goldman Sachs cut its target from $860 to $762 but retained a Buy rating. The differing views reflect uncertainty over AI monetization and investment requirements.
- Negative Sentiment: Goldman Sachs cited rising operating expenses, while other commentary warned that accelerated Meta Superintelligence Labs investment could pressure free cash flow and lead to valuation compression around the upcoming third-quarter earnings report.
- Negative Sentiment: COO Javier Olivan disclosed sales totaling 1,575 shares at an average $728.10. Both transactions were conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, reducing their signaling value, but the sales still represent a notable reduction in his direct holdings.
About Meta Platforms
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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