1,726 Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Sold by BLB&B Advisors LLC

Key Points

• BLB&B Advisors reduced its Meta stake by 7.6%, selling 1,726 shares and retaining 21,091 shares valued at approximately $15.3 million. Institutional investors collectively own about 79.9% of Meta’s stock.
• Meta reported quarterly earnings of $7.40 per share and revenue of $64.6 billion, exceeding analyst expectations, with revenue up 26.1% year over year. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share, equivalent to a 0.3% yield.
• Analysts maintain a generally favorable outlook, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $833.12, but investors remain concerned about Meta’s substantial AI capital spending, potential financing needs, and related pressure on free cash flow.

BLB&B Advisors LLC cut its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 7.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 21,091 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 1,726 shares during the quarter. BLB&B Advisors LLC's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $15,295,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in META. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd lifted its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 2,939 shares in the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc grew its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 763 shares during the period. William John Sempolinski acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter worth about $3,107,000. Sone Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 38.2% in the second quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC now owns 16,059 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $9,046,000 after acquiring an additional 4,440 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lakewood Capital Management LP lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 63.7% in the second quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP now owns 115,985 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $65,333,000 after acquiring an additional 45,130 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Shares of Meta Platforms stock opened at $606.73 on Tuesday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a one year low of $520.26 and a one year high of $779.82. The company has a market cap of $1.55 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.69, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90. The business's 50 day moving average price is $671.17 and its 200 day moving average price is $632.13.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The social networking company reported $7.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.86. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 31.15%. The company had revenue of $64.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $63.34 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $7.25 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 26.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared 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 is 7.16%.

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms

In other Meta Platforms news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $640.00, for a total transaction of $605,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 5,040 shares in the company, valued at $3,225,600. This trade represents a 15.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold a total of 149,515 shares of company stock worth $102,183,520 over the last ninety days. 13.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Meta Platforms News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s advertising business remains a key support. Revenue increased 26% in the latest quarter, and AI-driven improvements to ad targeting and engagement are helping Meta benefit even as AI agents pressure traditional search. Why AI is boosting Meta's ad business while hurting Google search
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to view Meta favorably, with the stock receiving a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating. The company’s long-term upside depends on whether its AI investments generate sufficient advertising and new-business growth. Meta Platforms Stock Now Rated Moderate Buy
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta postponed new business-account terms after criticism that they could enable extensive scraping of news and other websites. The delay reduces immediate backlash but highlights ongoing concerns about AI data practices and potential regulation. Meta delays new business terms after outcry
• Negative Sentiment: Investors are increasingly focused on the scale and funding of Meta’s AI buildout. The company is reportedly considering at least $20 billion in bond offerings, while a separate 6.5% preferred-share issuance raises concerns about expensive capital, dilution-like effects, and balance-sheet pressure. Meta eyes at least $20 billion from potential bond offerings Meta 6.5% preferreds issuance
• Negative Sentiment: Large capital expenditures—projected at $135 billion to $145 billion for 2026—are raising questions about free cash flow, returns on AI investment, and possible shareholder dilution. Market pressure on major AI spenders has added to the stock’s weakness. Meta and Alphabet face market pressure over capital expenditures
• Negative Sentiment: Settlements involving alleged social-media addiction and harm to young users may limit litigation costs in the near term, but plaintiffs’ attorneys are still demanding product and safety changes, preserving regulatory and reputational risk. Attorney calls for meaningful changes after Meta and Snap settlements

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Yorkville Ives started coverage on Meta Platforms in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $900.00 price target for the company. Moffett Nathanson decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $740.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. BNP Paribas Exane decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $955.00 to $855.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock 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 note on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $780.00 to $880.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $833.12.

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'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.

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