Meta Platforms, Inc. $META is Osmosis Investment Management UK Ltd's 8th Largest Position

Key Points

• Osmosis Investment Management UK Ltd. cut its Meta position by 47.6% in the second quarter, selling 66,150 shares. Meta still represented 1.9% of the fund’s portfolio and was its eighth-largest holding, valued at $41.1 million.
• Analysts remain broadly positive, with Meta receiving a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $788.88. Recent targets range from $780 to $850.
• Meta reported quarterly revenue of $60.8 billion, up 28% year over year, but earnings per share of $6.18 missed the $7.19 consensus estimate. The company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share, yielding approximately 0.3%.

Osmosis Investment Management UK Ltd lowered its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 47.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 72,965 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 66,150 shares during the period. Meta Platforms comprises about 1.9% of Osmosis Investment Management UK Ltd's portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Osmosis Investment Management UK Ltd's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $41,100,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Covington Investment Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 14.7% during the 2nd quarter. Covington Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 23,911 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $13,469,000 after purchasing an additional 3,060 shares during the last quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 64.4% during the second quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 518,127 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $291,856,000 after purchasing an additional 202,975 shares during the last quarter. Saranac Partners Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 33.0% during the 2nd quarter. Saranac Partners Ltd now owns 2,909 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $1,639,000 after buying an additional 721 shares in the last quarter. Jericho Financial LLP lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 8.0% during the second quarter. Jericho Financial LLP now owns 12,536 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $7,061,000 after acquiring an additional 932 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 5.8% during the 2nd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 431,735 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $243,192,000 after purchasing an additional 23,780 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently commented on META. Citigroup restated a "buy" rating and set a $800.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Wednesday. Benchmark reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $780.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $800.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Raymond James Financial upped their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $825.00 to $850.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Four 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $788.88.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Shares of META stock opened at $682.31 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.74 trillion, a PE ratio of 25.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a current ratio of 2.23, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12 month low of $520.26 and a 12 month high of $790.80. The company's fifty day moving average price is $606.40 and its 200-day moving average price is $609.40.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The business had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $7.14 EPS. Meta Platforms's revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total value of $2,002,514.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,875,854.26. The trade was a 34.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $657.73, for a total value of $622,212.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 10,716 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,048,234.68. This represents a 8.11% 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. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 81,758 shares of company stock valued at $51,214,020. Company insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America maintained a Buy view, estimating Meta could save approximately $8.5 billion in 2027 by shifting AI workloads to its in-house MTIA chips. Meta reportedly plans to deploy newer chips in 2027, potentially reducing dependence on Nvidia and improving AI margins. Meta Can Save $8.5 Billion in 2027 by Using Its Own MTIA Chips
• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse AI agent and the new Meta One subscription are strengthening the investment case that the company can diversify beyond advertising. Meta One combines higher AI usage limits and features across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, creating a potential recurring-revenue stream. Meta Platforms: Get In Before September 23
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst optimism remains a near-term catalyst. Citi identified Meta Connect on September 23 as a possible trigger for additional product announcements and investor enthusiasm, while Rosenblatt reiterated a Buy rating with an $886 price target. Meta Event Next Week Could Spark Stock Gains, Says Citi
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta is expanding Muse’s capabilities, including phone calls, as it competes with emerging AI-agent providers. The move could improve user engagement and monetization, but competition and the execution required to turn usage into paid revenue remain significant. Rival AI Agents and Meta’s Muse Add Calling
• Negative Sentiment: A German court ruled Meta liable for fraudulent third-party advertisements on Facebook and Instagram, ordering the company to remove such content and pay damages. The decision could increase legal costs and raise concerns about platform-monitoring obligations. German Court Rules Meta Liable for Fake Ads
• Negative Sentiment: Consumer advocate Clark Howard said Meta declined to remove a deepfake advertisement using his likeness. The episode adds reputational and regulatory risk as Meta attempts to control AI-generated scams and fraudulent advertising. Facebook Told Clark Howard a Deepfake Ad Meets Its Standards
• Negative Sentiment: Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 20,000 Meta shares worth about $13.5 million. The transaction was made under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, which reduces its signaling value, but insider selling can still weigh modestly on sentiment. SEC Insider Trading Filing

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.

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