Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Purchased by China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd.

Key Points

• China Universal Asset Management increased its Meta stake by 26.3% in the third quarter, to 76,938 shares worth about $56.7 million; institutional investors overall own 79.91% of the company.
• Meta reported quarterly EPS of $7.40, beating the $6.54 consensus, while revenue of $64.6 billion exceeded estimates and rose 26.1% year over year.
• Company insiders sold 149,515 shares valued at about $102.2 million over the past 90 days. Analysts’ average rating was “Moderate Buy,” with an average price target of $833.12.

China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 26.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 76,938 shares of the social networking company's stock after purchasing an additional 16,041 shares during the period. Meta Platforms accounts for 3.0% of China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd.'s holdings, making the stock its 8th biggest position. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd.'s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $56,715,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. TOWER TRUST & INVESTMENT Co raised its stake in Meta Platforms by 0.3% in the third quarter. TOWER TRUST & INVESTMENT Co now owns 8,157 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $5,915,000 after buying an additional 21 shares during the period. Shakespeare Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 6.9% during the 3rd quarter. Shakespeare Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,306 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $947,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 96,817 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $70,210,000 after acquiring an additional 4,439 shares during the period. Essential Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 269.5% during the 3rd quarter. Essential Investment Partners LLC now owns 909 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $659,000 after acquiring an additional 663 shares during the period. Finally, Motley Fool Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 60.1% during the 3rd quarter. Motley Fool Asset Management LLC now owns 140,420 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $101,830,000 after acquiring an additional 52,706 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total transaction of $2,002,514.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. This represents a 34.07% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Susan Li sold 9,196 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total transaction of $5,063,409.56. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,186 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. This trade represents a 41.09% 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. Insiders have sold 149,515 shares of company stock valued at $102,183,520 over the last 90 days. 13.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Meta Platforms Trading Up 2.4%

META stock opened at $621.03 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $672.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $632.16. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82. The company has a market capitalization of $1.59 trillion, a PE ratio of 21.17, a price-to-earnings-growth 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 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 31.15% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The firm had revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $63.34 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $7.25 EPS. The business's revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate 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. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st were paid a $0.5250 dividend. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms's payout ratio is 7.16%.

Key Headlines Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s bond sale attracted orders reportedly reaching $58 billion, a sign of robust investor appetite for the company’s debt. That demand may have helped support the stock despite concerns about Big Tech’s AI spending. Article: Meta stock rises as $20B bond sale attracts strong investor demand
• Positive Sentiment: Meta completed a $15 billion, five-part U.S. bond sale. The successful issuance gives the company capital to support its investment plans, while recent earnings-call coverage highlighted ad growth and adoption of its Muse AI tools. Article: Meta raises $15 billion in five-part US bond sale Article: META Q3 Earnings Call Put Spotlight on Muse Growth and AI Spending
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta and Snap settled claims related to alleged harm to young users from social media; financial terms were not disclosed. The settlements avert the scheduled trial, but do not resolve broader scrutiny of platform design. Article: Snap Settled a Social Media Addiction Suit
• Negative Sentiment: The bond financing underscores the cost of Meta’s AI ambitions. Reports indicate borrowing costs rose, while the company is ramping up spending on data centers and AI models—raising questions about returns and pressure on future cash flow. Article: Apple Shares Slip, Meta Debt Costs Rise Article: Meta seeks to raise up to $25 billion in debt sale as AI spending jumps
• Negative Sentiment: Meta postponed new business terms after backlash over potential web scraping, and reports of its AI crawler overwhelming a small business website add to reputational and policy risks. Article: Meta delays new business terms after outcry over potential web scraping of news sites

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have commented on META shares. Citizens Jmp reaffirmed a "market outperform" rating and set a $885.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $800.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Loop Capital raised their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $740.00 to $955.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. Wedbush lifted their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $700.00 to $730.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Finally, President Capital raised shares of Meta Platforms from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $660.00 to $897.00 in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $833.12.

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's principal platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Threads, which enable users to connect, communicate, share content, and discover products and services.

Meta also operates Reality Labs, its division focused on virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies. Reality Labs develops products such as Meta Quest virtual reality headsets and related software and experiences, along with research and hardware intended to support immersive computing.

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