Algert Global LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. $META

Key Points

• Algert Global LLC reduced its Meta Platforms stake by 14.5% in the second quarter, selling 2,534 shares and retaining 14,969 shares valued at approximately $8.4 million.
• Other institutional investors increased their holdings, and institutional investors collectively own about 79.9% of Meta’s stock. Meta shares opened at $665.75, with a market capitalization of roughly $1.70 trillion.
• Meta reported quarterly revenue of $60.8 billion, up 28% year over year, but EPS of $6.18 missed estimates. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating, while the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share.

Algert Global LLC trimmed its position in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 14.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 14,969 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 2,534 shares during the quarter. Algert Global LLC's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $8,432,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Asset One Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Meta Platforms by 23.4% in the second quarter. Asset One Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,053 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $9,042,000 after buying an additional 3,045 shares during the last quarter. Safeguard Investment Advisory Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 18.0% in the second quarter. Safeguard Investment Advisory Group LLC now owns 3,119 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $1,758,000 after acquiring an additional 475 shares during the period. Ally Financial Inc. increased its stake in Meta Platforms by 18.3% in the second quarter. Ally Financial Inc. now owns 42,000 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $23,658,000 after purchasing an additional 6,500 shares during the period. Theleme Partners LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.9% in the second quarter. Theleme Partners LLP now owns 459,450 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $258,804,000 after purchasing an additional 8,375 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Meritage Group LP purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth about $161,321,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company's stock.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Shares of META opened at $665.75 on Friday. The company's 50 day moving average price is $606.33 and its 200 day moving average price is $609.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $790.80. The company has a market capitalization of $1.70 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.08, a PEG ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.25.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion for 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%.Meta Platforms's revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $7.14 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be paid a $0.525 dividend. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms's payout ratio is presently 7.91%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on META shares. KeyCorp reduced their price target on Meta Platforms from $790.00 to $780.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $750.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Evercore reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Meta Platforms from $815.00 to $725.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $640.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have given a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $788.88.

More Meta Platforms News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse personal AI agent reached No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. free-app chart, surpassing ChatGPT roughly one week after launch. Its ability to handle shopping, bookings, email and phone calls could give Meta a significant consumer-AI growth platform and strengthen the case for future subscriptions or commerce revenue. Meta's Muse tops Apple's US free app chart
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America said Meta’s internally developed MTIA AI chips could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by reducing reliance on third-party processors. Custom silicon could improve the economics of Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure over time. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support and upcoming product announcements remain potential catalysts. Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating, while investors are looking ahead to Meta Connect on September 23 for additional AI, glasses and subscription details. Meta Earns Buy Rating from Rosenblatt Securities
• Neutral Sentiment: Muse’s early popularity is encouraging, but analysts disagree on its financial impact. The generous free tier may accelerate adoption while delaying revenue and increasing computing costs; consumer distrust of Meta and the need to provide sensitive account data could also limit paid conversion. Meta’s Muse Agent Has Wall Street Divided on Its AI Potential
• Negative Sentiment: Investors are taking profits after META rose roughly 23%–24% over the past month. Valuation and expectations have risen quickly, increasing sensitivity to any evidence that AI spending will not generate near-term earnings growth.
• Negative Sentiment: Meta’s AI investment program is placing significant pressure on cash flow. Articles highlighted a more than 90% decline in free cash flow as capital expenditures rise, raising concerns about the payback period for data centers, chips and other infrastructure. Meta Versus Oracle: AI Capex Payback Velocity
• Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational pressure is increasing. A German court held Meta liable for fraudulent third-party ads, while regulators and its Oversight Board criticized safeguards against deepfakes and nonconsensual filming involving its smart glasses. These issues could increase compliance costs and threaten user trust. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads
• Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares worth approximately $13.5 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The planned nature reduces the signal, but the sale may still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms

In other news, CFO Susan Li sold 9,196 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total transaction of $5,063,409.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 13,186 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. This represents a 41.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $675.23, for a total value of $13,504,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 224,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $151,599,938.68. This trade represents a 8.18% decrease in their position. 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. Insiders sold a total of 81,758 shares of company stock valued at $51,214,020 in the last three months. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Meta Platforms Profile

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company's principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding META? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.