Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock Purchased by Generate Investment Management Ltd

Generate Investment Management Ltd lifted its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 8.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 183,126 shares of the social networking company’s stock after purchasing an additional 14,302 shares during the period. Meta Platforms comprises about 5.2% of Generate Investment Management Ltd’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. Generate Investment Management Ltd’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $132,799,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of META. WestHill Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 22.9% in the third quarter. WestHill Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 869 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $630,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Forward LLC grew its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 7.8% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Forward LLC now owns 554 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $402,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. boosted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 26.1% during the third quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 94,115 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $68,250,000 after buying an additional 19,491 shares in the last quarter. Q Fund Management Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in Meta Platforms in the third quarter valued at $14,627,000. Finally, Citrine Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 36.3% in the third quarter. Citrine Capital LLC now owns 3,140 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $2,277,000 after acquiring an additional 837 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Meta Platforms Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:META opened at $737.54 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.88 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.78, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.19. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a one year low of $520.26 and a one year high of $779.82. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $650.50 and a 200-day simple moving average of $623.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%. The company had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $7.14 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $728.10, for a total transaction of $688,782.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 6,932 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,047,189.20. This trade represents a 12.01% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible 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 stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. The trade was a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 149,797 shares of company stock worth $102,180,385. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Rosenblatt Securities reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $886.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note 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 report on Thursday, September 24th. Needham & Company LLC restated a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. UBS Group upped their target price on Meta Platforms from $715.00 to $884.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Meta Platforms from $785.00 to $875.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-five have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $801.53.

More Meta Platforms News

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.