Markel Group Inc. cut its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META – Free Report) by 10.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 209,163 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 25,000 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms comprises 1.2% of Markel Group Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest position. Markel Group Inc.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $151,681,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd raised its position in Meta Platforms by 18.6% during the second quarter. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd now owns 18,777 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $10,577,000 after acquiring an additional 2,939 shares in the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 33.6% in the second quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc now owns 3,031 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,707,000 after acquiring an additional 763 shares during the period. William John Sempolinski acquired a new position in Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at approximately $3,107,000. Sone Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Meta Platforms by 38.2% in the 2nd quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC now owns 16,059 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $9,046,000 after purchasing an additional 4,440 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lakewood Capital Management LP boosted its position in Meta Platforms by 63.7% in the 2nd quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP now owns 115,985 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $65,333,000 after purchasing an additional 45,130 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company’s stock.
Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms
Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
- Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan added Meta to its Analyst Focus List as a preferred internet stock, citing the strength of AI-powered advertising and potential new monetization opportunities. The endorsement helped lift shares. Article: Meta stock surges over 5% today: here’s why
- Positive Sentiment: Meta released Muse Ember, a lightweight, cost-efficient AI model built for agent tasks such as coding and document processing. Investors may see it as a step toward expanding AI capabilities efficiently. Article: Meta releases Muse Ember
- Neutral Sentiment: Meta is expanding AI age-estimation technology globally on Instagram to identify teen users and apply Teen Account protections. The rollout could help address safety concerns, but comes amid multiple lawsuits alleging harm to teens. Article: Meta expands Instagram’s AI age-guessing tech globally
- Negative Sentiment: Investor concerns remain about the scale of Meta’s AI investment: a recent analysis noted that free cash flow turned negative last quarter. Heavy spending could weigh on returns if AI monetization does not keep pace. Article: Meta Platforms Stock: Is it a Steal of a Deal at $650?
Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms
In related news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $614.15, for a total value of $580,985.90. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 4,094 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,514,330.10. The trade was a 18.77% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 149,398 shares of company stock valued at $102,134,435. 13.42% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
META has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. BNP Paribas Exane dropped their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $955.00 to $855.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $920.00 to $940.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $840.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Scotiabank increased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $600.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Finally, Wolfe Research restated an “outperform” rating and set a $700.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $833.12.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms Stock Performance
Shares of META stock opened at $641.37 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12-month low of $520.26 and a 12-month high of $779.82. The business’s 50 day moving average is $676.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $632.30. The company has a market capitalization of $1.64 trillion, a P/E ratio of 21.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.28.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 22nd. The social networking company reported $7.40 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86. The business had revenue of $64.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $63.34 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 31.15%. The business’s revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $7.25 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st were given a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.16%.
Meta Platforms Company Profile
Meta Platforms, Inc is a global technology company that develops social networking, messaging, and digital communication products. Its services include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads, which connect people and help businesses reach audiences around the world.
The company also develops virtual and augmented reality products and technologies through its Reality Labs division, including Quest headsets and related software and services. Advertising is a central part of Meta’s business, with its platforms providing tools for businesses to promote products and services.
Founded in 2004 as Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg and fellow students, the company changed its name to Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building social technologies and immersive digital experiences.
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