3,000 Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Sold by Axon Capital LP

Key Points

• Axon Capital reduced its Meta stake by 27.5% in the third quarter, selling 3,000 shares and retaining 7,900 shares valued at approximately $5.7 million. Meta represents about 10.6% of Axon’s portfolio.
• Despite Axon’s sale, several other hedge funds increased their Meta holdings, and institutional investors collectively own approximately 79.91% of the stock.
• Meta’s latest results exceeded expectations, with revenue up 26.1% to $64.6 billion and EPS of $7.40; analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus, while elevated AI spending and potential financing needs remain key investor concerns.

Axon Capital LP lessened its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 27.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,900 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 3,000 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms makes up approximately 10.6% of Axon Capital LP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. Axon Capital LP's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $5,729,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Conning Inc. lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Conning Inc. now owns 17,300 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $12,546,000 after purchasing an additional 831 shares during the period. AMI Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Meta Platforms by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 10,955 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $7,944,000 after buying an additional 306 shares in the last quarter. Sigma Investment Counselors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 21.5% during the third quarter. Sigma Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 19,828 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $14,379,000 after acquiring an additional 3,503 shares in the last quarter. Parametrica Management Ltd raised its holdings in Meta Platforms by 17.8% during the third quarter. Parametrica Management Ltd now owns 19,040 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $13,807,000 after buying an additional 2,880 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WestEnd Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 9.9% in the 3rd quarter. WestEnd Advisors LLC now owns 61,470 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $44,579,000 after acquiring an additional 5,533 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms

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

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Shares of META stock opened at $606.73 on Tuesday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12 month low of $520.26 and a 12 month high of $779.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.55 trillion, a P/E ratio of 20.69, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The firm's 50 day moving average is $671.17 and its 200 day moving average 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 analysts' consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 31.15% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The business had revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $63.34 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $7.25 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st were given 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 payout ratio is 7.16%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total transaction of $21,359,386.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at 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 firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total value 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. This represents a 17.82% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 149,515 shares of company stock valued at $102,183,520 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on META. Needham & Company LLC reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. UBS Group restated an "outperform" rating and set a $920.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Pivotal Research upped their price objective on Meta Platforms from $930.00 to $960.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $800.00 price objective (down from $850.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Raymond James Financial raised their target price on Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have assigned a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target 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.

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