Heritage Investors Management Corp Sells 2,131 Shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. $META

Key Points

• Heritage Investors Management Corp. cut its Meta stake by 4.4%, selling 2,131 shares in the third quarter; it retained 46,303 shares valued at about $33.6 million.
• Meta’s latest quarter topped estimates: earnings were $7.40 per share versus $6.54 expected, and revenue of $64.6 billion rose 26.1% year over year.
• Company insiders sold 151,090 shares worth about $103.2 million over the past 90 days. The article also cites AI-driven advertising opportunities alongside risks from data-center constraints and regulatory challenges.

Heritage Investors Management Corp lessened its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 46,303 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 2,131 shares during the quarter. Heritage Investors Management Corp's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $33,578,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bill Few Associates Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.3% during the third quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. now owns 1,206 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $874,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the period. Value Partners Investments Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Value Partners Investments Inc. now owns 866 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $630,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the period. CWS Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in Meta Platforms by 1.7% in the first quarter. CWS Financial Advisors LLC now owns 985 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $564,000 after buying an additional 16 shares in the last quarter. Tenzing Financial LLC grew its stake in Meta Platforms by 1.3% in the second quarter. Tenzing Financial LLC now owns 1,210 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $726,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the period. Finally, Uptown Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Meta Platforms by 1.3% in the second quarter. Uptown Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,273 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $717,000 after buying an additional 16 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares of the company's stock, valued at $131,515,624.16. This represents a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed 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. Also, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,196 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total value of $5,063,409.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,186 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. This represents a 41.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 151,090 shares of company stock worth $103,150,807. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

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 firm's fifty day simple moving average is $674.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $632.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.56 trillion, a P/E ratio of 20.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The social networking company reported $7.40 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86. The business had revenue of $64.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $63.34 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 31.15% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $7.25 EPS. As a group, 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 issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 7.16%.

Key Stories 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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on META. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $800.00 target price (down from $850.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Wedbush boosted their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $700.00 to $730.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $600.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. BNP Paribas Exane cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $955.00 to $855.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $885.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Three 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $833.12.

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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