Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Wednesday. The social networking company reported $7.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86, FiscalAI reports. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%. The company had revenue of $64.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $63.34 billion.
Meta Platforms Trading Up 0.5%
NASDAQ:META traded up $3.27 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $697.52. The company had a trading volume of 23,292,531 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,507,625. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $659.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $628.23. The company has a market capitalization of $1.78 trillion, a PE ratio of 26.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.19. Meta Platforms has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82.
Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement
The business also recently declared 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is 7.91%.
Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms
Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Investors are positioning ahead of Meta’s earnings report, with expectations for approximately $63.42 billion in quarterly revenue, representing nearly 24% year-over-year growth. Strong advertising demand, user engagement and monetization trends could support the stock if results exceed expectations. Meta Earnings Prediction Market Preview
- Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse AI assistant reportedly reached 10.9 million U.S. downloads in its first 40 days, strengthening the case that the company can use its large user base to build new advertising, commerce and subscription opportunities. Muse Downloads
- Positive Sentiment: Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a Buy rating and set an $886 price target, citing Meta’s advertising strength and AI opportunity. Rosenblatt Meta Price Target
- Neutral Sentiment: The earnings reaction is likely to depend on whether AI investments are producing measurable returns. Analysts expect roughly $41.68 billion in capital expenditures and an $8.52 billion free-cash-flow outflow, making capex, cash generation and management’s outlook central investor concerns. Meta Earnings Cash Flow Outlook
- Negative Sentiment: A New Mexico jury found Meta liable for misleading consumers about data privacy and ordered it to pay $25 billion in the Cambridge Analytica case. The penalty could become Meta’s largest ever, increasing legal costs and regulatory risk. Meta New Mexico Privacy Penalty
- Negative Sentiment: Speculation that Meta may issue stock to fund its aggressive AI spending is weighing on investors’ minds because an equity raise could dilute existing shareholders. Meta Potential Stock Issuance
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
META has been the topic of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $775.00 to $820.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Moffett Nathanson cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $740.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. HSBC decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $905.00 to $830.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, New Street Research dropped their price objective on Meta Platforms from $730.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have issued a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $811.24.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on META
Insider Activity at Meta Platforms
In other Meta Platforms news, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total value of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 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 that occurred on Thursday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total value 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 have sold 148,331 shares of company stock valued at $101,233,569 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.
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’s principal platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Threads, which enable users to connect, communicate, share content, and discover products and services.
Meta also operates Reality Labs, its division focused on virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies. Reality Labs develops products such as Meta Quest virtual reality headsets and related software and experiences, along with research and hardware intended to support immersive computing.
Read More
- Five stocks we like better than Meta Platforms
- GM Beat and Added a $20 Billion Buyback—Why Did the Stock Fall?
- Intercepting Growth: Karman Secures $218M Lockheed Martin Deal
- Tech Stocks Took a Hit—These 2 Pharma Stocks Are Near New Highs
- Chip Stocks Have Pulled Back—Here’s How 3 Semiconductor ETFs Stack Up for Investors
Receive News & Ratings for Meta Platforms Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meta Platforms and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
