Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Position Lessened by Congress Asset Management Co.

Congress Asset Management Co. lowered its position in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 3.9% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 280,895 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 11,308 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms makes up approximately 1.3% of Congress Asset Management Co.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Congress Asset Management Co.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $203,699,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of META. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 18.6% in the second quarter. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd now owns 18,777 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $10,577,000 after acquiring an additional 2,939 shares during the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc increased its position in Meta Platforms by 33.6% during the second quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc now owns 3,031 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $1,707,000 after purchasing an additional 763 shares during the last quarter. William John Sempolinski purchased a new position in Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth approximately $3,107,000. Sone Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $9,046,000 after purchasing an additional 4,440 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lakewood Capital Management LP boosted its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $65,333,000 after purchasing an additional 45,130 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Meta Platforms Stock Down 0.4%

Meta Platforms stock traded down $3.02 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $738.88. 12,543,645 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,504,529. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $628.48 and its 200-day moving average price is $616.82. The company has a market cap of $1.88 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $520.26 and a fifty-two week high of $779.82.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last released its quarterly earnings results 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $7.14 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is 7.91%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Meta Platforms news, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total value of $21,359,386.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,196 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total transaction of $5,063,409.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,186 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. The trade was a 41.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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 ninety days, insiders sold 146,647 shares of company stock valued at $99,886,901. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target on Meta from $796 to $1,000 while maintaining an Overweight rating, citing investor enthusiasm for the company’s Muse AI product cycle. Why this analyst expects Meta stock to hit $1,000
• Positive Sentiment: Muse is being positioned as a consumer-focused AI agent capable of handling tasks such as shopping, increasing expectations that Meta could create new commerce and advertising revenue streams. Commentators have suggested it could capture significant market share from competing AI platforms. Meta’s Muse is already pulling one CEO’s purchases away from Amazon
• Positive Sentiment: Meta joined Walmart, OpenAI Chairman Bret Taylor’s Sierra and other companies to develop standards for commercial transactions involving AI bots. Common standards could make agent-based commerce easier to scale and improve Meta’s ability to participate in the emerging market. Meta joins group of companies to tame chaos of doing business with AI bots
• Positive Sentiment: Meta is testing a Reels-first Facebook experience in India, directing some users immediately into full-screen video. The move could increase video engagement, ad inventory and monetization if adopted more broadly. Facebook tests going Reels-first in India
• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s long-term nuclear power agreement with Vistra supports reliable electricity supplies for its growing AI data-center footprint, though it also highlights the substantial infrastructure costs associated with AI expansion. Vistra nuclear power agreement
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta’s AI strategy is attracting enthusiasm despite projected capital spending of roughly $130 billion to $145 billion in 2026. Investors are weighing the potential for stronger advertising and AI monetization against the need for substantial upfront investment. Meta Platforms: The AI spending looks crazy; the economics don’t
• Negative Sentiment: New Mexico is seeking damages that could reach $40 billion in a case against Meta, with a judge expected to rule this month. Such a penalty would materially threaten earnings and could constrain AI investment. New Mexico wants Meta to pay up to $40 billion
• Negative Sentiment: Meta is challenging UK demands for information under the country’s online-safety regime, while separate lawsuits could increase regulatory costs and create uncertainty around its AI plans. Meta challenges UK watchdog data demands
• Negative Sentiment: Some investors are becoming more cautious as Treasury yields rise; one portfolio manager disclosed trimming his Meta position. The stock’s recent surge also leaves it vulnerable to profit-taking if Muse adoption or monetization disappoints. Analyst trims Meta amid rising yields

Analysts Set New Price Targets

META has been the subject of a number of research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $800.00 price target (down from $850.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on Meta Platforms from $750.00 to $820.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, September 25th. Scotiabank reiterated a “sector perform” rating and set a $600.00 target price (down from $700.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Erste Group Bank raised shares of Meta Platforms from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $650.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $791.86.

Meta Platforms Profile

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.