Columbia Bank Buys 820 Shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. $META

Key Points

• Columbia Bank increased its Meta stake by 13.5%, buying 820 shares in the third quarter to bring its holdings to 6,902 shares, valued at about $5.0 million.
• Meta beat quarterly expectations, reporting $7.40 per share in earnings and $64.60 billion in revenue; revenue rose 26.1% year over year.
• Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus, with an average price target of $833.12. COO Javier Olivan also sold 946 shares under a pre-arranged trading plan.

Columbia Bank lifted its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 13.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,902 shares of the social networking company's stock after acquiring an additional 820 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms accounts for approximately 1.1% of Columbia Bank's holdings, making the stock its 18th largest position. Columbia Bank's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $5,005,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 92,033,963 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $51,841,811,000 after buying an additional 3,510,123 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 14.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 21,038,035 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $12,036,491,000 after buying an additional 2,673,494 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in Meta Platforms by 1.3% during the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 12,836,063 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $7,230,426,000 after acquiring an additional 162,909 shares in the last quarter. Amundi increased its position in Meta Platforms by 18.1% during the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 11,858,972 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $6,784,873,000 after purchasing an additional 1,815,017 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 10,429,812 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $5,964,745,000 after acquiring an additional 404,948 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.91% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $614.15, for a total transaction of $580,985.90. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 4,094 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,514,330.10. This represents a 18.77% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 151,090 shares of company stock worth $103,150,807. Company insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on META shares. Citizens Jmp reissued a "market outperform" rating and set a $885.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Raymond James Financial increased their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Rothschild & Co Redburn raised their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Meta Platforms from $763.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 13th. Finally, Roth Capital lowered their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $750.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have assigned a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Meta Platforms currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $833.12.

Meta Platforms Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of META opened at $610.15 on Friday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12-month low of $520.26 and a 12-month high of $779.82. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $674.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $632.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.56 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.28.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The social networking company reported $7.40 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $63.34 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $7.25 EPS. Meta Platforms's revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a $0.5250 dividend. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.16%.

Key Headlines Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta launched Spaces, a collaboration feature for its Muse AI agents, following the rollout of Muse Voice. The new offerings may help strengthen user engagement and expand Meta’s consumer AI ecosystem. Meta introduces Spaces
• Positive Sentiment: Recent earnings commentary points to AI supporting Meta’s advertising operations, reinforcing the potential for the company’s AI investments to generate revenue. Takeaways from recent earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta paused planned updates to its terms and is keeping existing rules in place. The move avoids an immediate policy change, though the underlying issues remain unresolved. Meta pauses planned terms updates
• Neutral Sentiment: Plans for new nonvoting Class C shares have been described as effectively creating a 2-for-1 split. A split changes the number of shares, but does not by itself change the company’s underlying value; the structure preserves Mark Zuckerberg’s voting control. Is Meta Platforms next for a stock split?
• Negative Sentiment: Meta and other platforms sued to block California restrictions on social-media features for users under 16. The case adds regulatory uncertainty and potential legal costs. Platforms sue over California teen social-media law
• Negative Sentiment: Meta warned that political backlash and possible limits on data-center construction could complicate its AI expansion. Its $15 billion senior-notes offering also highlights the scale of financing required for investment. Data-center expansion concerns
• Negative Sentiment: Reported ETF net selling and insider share sales may add short-term pressure, although the disclosed insider transaction was made under a pre-arranged trading plan. ETFs are net sellers of Meta Platforms

About Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms, Inc is a global technology company that develops social networking, messaging, and digital communication products. Its services include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads, which connect people and help businesses reach audiences around the world.

The company also develops virtual and augmented reality products and technologies through its Reality Labs division, including Quest headsets and related software and services. Advertising is a central part of Meta's business, with its platforms providing tools for businesses to promote products and services.

Founded in 2004 as Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg and fellow students, the company changed its name to Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building social technologies and immersive digital experiences.

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