1,132 Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Bought by West Family Investments Inc.

Key Points

• West Family Investments increased its Meta position by 20.5% in the second quarter, buying 1,132 shares for a total holding of 6,654 shares valued at approximately $3.75 million.
• Institutional investors own 79.91% of Meta, while insiders sold 150,807 shares worth about $102.2 million over the past quarter. Meta also reported quarterly revenue of $60.8 billion, up 28% year over year, but earnings per share missed analyst expectations.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and a $787.86 target price. Investors are weighing Meta’s AI expansion and new enterprise platform against rising capital expenditures, competitive pressures, privacy concerns and legal risks.

West Family Investments Inc. increased its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 20.5% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,654 shares of the social networking company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,132 shares during the period. Meta Platforms comprises approximately 1.1% of West Family Investments Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 13th largest position. West Family Investments Inc.'s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $3,748,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Auto Owners Insurance Co increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 76,587.7% in the 4th quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 105,292,277 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $69,502,379,000 after purchasing an additional 105,154,977 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter valued at $22,152,075,000. Corient Private Wealth LP boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 723.1% during the second quarter. Corient Private Wealth LP now owns 8,801,764 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $4,957,946,000 after buying an additional 7,732,446 shares during the last quarter. Jupiter Topco LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at $2,948,486,000. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its holdings in Meta Platforms by 488.1% in the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 5,466,595 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $3,608,445,000 after buying an additional 4,537,076 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other Meta Platforms news, COO Javier Olivan sold 3,348 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $600.97, for a total transaction of $2,012,047.56. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 9,498 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,708,013.06. This trade represents a 26.06% 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 K. 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 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. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 150,807 shares of company stock worth $102,155,232. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Meta Platforms Trading Down 4.8%

Shares of Meta Platforms stock opened at $715.62 on Tuesday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1-year low of $520.26 and a 1-year high of $779.82. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $616.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is $613.27. 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 market capitalization of $1.82 trillion, a PE ratio of 26.95, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.25.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). The company had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The company's revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed 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 of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.91%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on META shares. New Street Research decreased their target price on Meta Platforms from $730.00 to $700.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $930.00 to $950.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday. Bank of America reissued a "buy" rating and set a $810.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. DA Davidson lowered their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $700.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $770.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $787.86.

Key Headlines Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta launched the Meta Enterprise Platform, offering businesses and developers access to its Muse AI agent, Business Agent, Muse API and Muse Code. The company hired MongoDB CEO Chirantan “CJ” Desai to lead the initiative, signaling an effort to generate revenue from its multibillion-dollar AI investments beyond advertising. Meta launches enterprise AI platform
• Positive Sentiment: Muse’s integration across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp is supporting rapid user adoption; the AI-powered app reportedly reached the top spot in the U.S. App Store. Analysts also see potential revenue from subscriptions, transaction fees, enterprise tools and commercial API licensing. Meta Platforms boosts ad engagement with AI
• Positive Sentiment: Monness Crespi & Hardt raised its price target on META to $830 from $730 and maintained a Buy rating, citing the company’s AI opportunity and expanding ecosystem. AI improvements are also reportedly increasing ad engagement, clicks and conversions. Meta Platforms price target raised
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors remain divided over Meta’s AI strategy. Bullish analysts expect new AI agents, smart glasses and enterprise software to create additional revenue streams, while others question whether the returns will justify the investment.
• Negative Sentiment: Capital expenditures rose sharply to $31.1 billion in the second quarter from $19.4 billion a year earlier. The scale of data-center and AI spending is raising concerns about returns on capital and near-term margins. Meta Platforms: Are You Going to Buy the Promise?
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that OpenAI is developing a competing AI assistant intensified competitive concerns. Separately, alleged Muse disclosures of private messages and a user’s address have triggered privacy and safety criticism, potentially creating regulatory and reputational risks. Elon Musk amplifies privacy concerns over Muse
• Negative Sentiment: Meta also faces legal and political overhang after a New Mexico jury found that Facebook misled residents about personal-data practices, while lawmakers are questioning AI and data-center tax subsidies. Recent gains have additionally left the valuation less compelling, increasing sensitivity to execution disappointments.

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 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.

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