Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Bought by Krilogy Financial LLC

Key Points

• Krilogy Financial increased its Meta Platforms stake by 7% in the third quarter, adding 1,969 shares to own 30,194 shares valued at approximately $22.4 million. Institutional investors collectively own 79.91% of META.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish, with Meta receiving a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $796.51; several firms recently raised targets as high as $885.
• Meta shares opened at $762.50, near their 52-week high, while investors weigh strong revenue growth and AI opportunities against elevated valuation and projected capital expenditures of up to $145 billion.

Krilogy Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 7.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 30,194 shares of the social networking company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,969 shares during the quarter. Krilogy Financial LLC's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $22,433,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in META. Walker Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Walker Asset Management LLC now owns 608 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $441,000 after buying an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Affinity Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 13.2% during the 3rd quarter. Affinity Capital Advisors LLC now owns 8,014 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $5,759,000 after buying an additional 934 shares in the last quarter. Spartan Planning & Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $788,000. Fagan Associates Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 3.5% in the third quarter. Fagan Associates Inc. now owns 20,102 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $14,578,000 after purchasing an additional 672 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Forvis Mazars Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 14,647 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $10,622,000 after buying an additional 502 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company's stock.

Meta Platforms News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta introduced Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, frontier AI models designed for complex, multi-step personal and professional tasks. The launch supports the view that Meta is catching up with OpenAI and Anthropic while creating potential subscription and advertising opportunities. Meta Platforms Introduces AI Tools to Fine-Tune Facebook Algorithms
• Positive Sentiment: Third-party app data reportedly showed strong early retention for Meta’s standalone Muse assistant, helping ease concerns about slowing downloads and reinforcing expectations that the company’s AI investments can improve engagement and monetization. Why Meta Stock Is Up Today
• Positive Sentiment: Wall Street support strengthened, with Truist assigning a $1,000 price target and KeyCorp and Rosenblatt reaffirming bullish ratings with targets of $900 and $886, respectively. Analysts cited Muse adoption and AI-driven advertising improvements as catalysts. Social Media Stocks Rally as Truist Sets $1,000 Meta Target
• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s partnership with Virtuix expanded, with Omni One orders reportedly tripling year over year after becoming available for Meta Quest. The development provides modest support for demand across Meta’s virtual-reality ecosystem. Virtuix Deepens Meta Partnership
• Neutral Sentiment: Facebook is giving users more control over feed-ranking algorithms. The move may improve user trust and engagement, although greater personalization controls could affect content distribution and ad performance. Facebook Gives Users More Algorithm Control
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain cautious about Meta’s premium valuation and substantial AI spending, with planned capital expenditures reportedly reaching $130 billion to $145 billion. Third-quarter results, scheduled for October 21, will be important for validating AI monetization and revenue guidance. Meta Q3 Preview

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. DZ Bank reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Meta Platforms from $710.00 to $875.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Citizens Jmp upped their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $885.00 and gave the stock a "market outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. BNP Paribas Exane dropped their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $955.00 to $855.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Raymond James Financial upped their target price on Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-five have issued a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $796.51.

Meta Platforms Trading Up 2.6%

NASDAQ META opened at $762.50 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $647.53 and a 200 day moving average of $622.44. The company has a market capitalization of $1.94 trillion, a PE ratio of 28.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1 year low of $520.26 and a 1 year high of $779.82.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $7.14 earnings per share. Meta Platforms's revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a $0.5250 dividend. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms's payout ratio is presently 7.91%.

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms

In other Meta Platforms news, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares of the company's stock, valued at $131,515,624.16. The trade was a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total value of $21,359,386.56. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 148,222 shares of company stock valued at $101,033,627 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

About Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.

Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.

Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.

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