Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Acquired by Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund

Key Points

• Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its Meta stake by 1,081 shares, or 0.4%, in the third quarter, bringing its holdings to 271,120 shares valued at about $196.6 million.
• Meta beat quarterly earnings and revenue expectations, reporting EPS of $7.40 versus $6.54 expected and revenue of $64.6 billion, up 26.1% year over year.
• Analysts’ consensus rating is “Moderate Buy,” with an average price target of $833.12; company insiders sold 149,398 shares worth about $102.1 million over the past three months.

Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 0.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 271,120 shares of the social networking company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,081 shares during the period. Meta Platforms comprises 2.1% of Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund's holdings, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $196,611,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Advantage Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Schuylkill Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on META shares. Susquehanna upped their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $850.00 and gave the stock a "positive" rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price objective on Meta Platforms from $840.00 to $860.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Roth Capital reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $750.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $875.00 to $850.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $800.00 target price (down from $850.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Three equities research 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 company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $833.12.

Insider Activity

In other Meta Platforms news, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the company'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 sale, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. The trade was a 17.82% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Susan Li sold 9,196 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total value of $5,063,409.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,186 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. The trade was a 41.09% decrease in their position. 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 three months, insiders sold 149,398 shares of company stock worth $102,134,435. 13.42% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Meta Platforms Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:META opened at $610.15 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $1.56 trillion, a PE ratio of 20.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.28. The firm's fifty day moving average is $674.97 and its 200-day moving average is $632.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 22nd. The social networking company reported $7.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.86. The company had revenue of $64.60 billion for 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%. Meta Platforms's revenue for the quarter was up 26.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $7.25 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms's payout ratio 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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