Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock Acquired by Retirement Planning Group LLC

Retirement Planning Group LLC raised its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 42.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,880 shares of the social networking company’s stock after buying an additional 1,749 shares during the quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $4,264,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of META. Advantage Trust Co acquired a new position in Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth $32,000. Horizons Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the third quarter worth $33,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the first quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Schuylkill Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter valued at $36,000. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More Meta Platforms News

Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Meta reported third-quarter revenue of $64.6 billion, up 26.1% year over year, while adjusted earnings of $7.40 per share exceeded analyst expectations. Advertising remained robust, supported by AI-driven engagement, higher ad prices and improved conversion rates. META’s Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Meta said its Muse AI assistant surpassed 10 million users shortly after launch, strengthening the long-term case for new advertising, consumer and enterprise revenue opportunities. Meta says Muse has over 10M users
• Positive Sentiment: Several firms raised their price targets and maintained bullish ratings, including Bank of America, JPMorgan, UBS, Citigroup, Mizuho and Pivotal Research, citing resilient advertising and improving AI prospects. Meta Stock Falls Despite Strong Q3 Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta announced a 2-for-1 stock split and a new non-voting Class C share. The structure could help fund its AI buildout while preserving Mark Zuckerberg’s voting control, but it also raises concerns about future dilution and governance. Meta wants to pay for its AI buildout
• Negative Sentiment: Investors were alarmed by Meta’s capital-spending outlook of approximately $135 billion to $145 billion for 2026. Heavy data-center and AI investment pushed free cash flow negative, while credit-default-swap costs reached a record, intensifying concerns about debt or equity financing. Meta stock sinks as AI spend pushes free cash flow negative
• Negative Sentiment: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion in a Cambridge Analytica-related privacy case. Meta plans to appeal, but the verdict adds substantial legal, regulatory and reputational risk. Meta ordered to pay $25 billion to New Mexico
• Negative Sentiment: Broader technology-market weakness, AI-investment concerns and escalating Middle East tensions added to the selling pressure, making it harder for Meta’s earnings beat to support the stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms

In other Meta Platforms news, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 owned 184,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $131,515,624.16. This represents a 17.82% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through 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 firm’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 transaction 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. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 149,906 shares of company stock worth $102,347,409. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Meta Platforms Stock Down 7.0%

Shares of META stock opened at $648.85 on Friday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12-month low of $520.26 and a 12-month 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. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $663.35 and a 200-day moving average of $629.62. The company has a market capitalization of $1.65 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.19.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 21st. The social networking company reported $7.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.86. The firm had revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $63.34 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 31.74% and a net margin of 31.15%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 26.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.25 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 26.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were paid 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 presently 7.91%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $1,000.00 to $995.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Susquehanna lifted their target price on Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $850.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Thursday. 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 note on Thursday, July 30th. Monness Crespi & Hardt restated a “buy” rating and issued a $875.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday. Finally, Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating and issued a $850.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have given a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $833.12.

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’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.