Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Sold by Congress Asset Management Co.

Key Points

• Congress Asset Management Co. reduced its Meta position by 3.9%, selling 11,308 shares and retaining 280,895 shares valued at approximately $203.7 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 79.91% of Meta’s stock.
• Meta insiders have also been selling shares, including Christopher Cox and Mark Zuckerberg through pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans; insiders sold 146,647 shares worth nearly $99.9 million over the past 90 days.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish, with Meta carrying a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $791.86, compared with a recent share price of $738.88. Optimism centers on Meta’s AI and advertising opportunities, though significant AI spending and regulatory risks remain concerns.

Congress Asset Management Co. trimmed its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 3.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 280,895 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 11,308 shares during the period. Meta Platforms makes up about 1.3% of Congress Asset Management Co.'s holdings, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Congress Asset Management Co.'s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $203,699,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Auto Owners Insurance Co boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 76,587.7% in the fourth quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 105,292,277 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $69,502,379,000 after acquiring an additional 105,154,977 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Meta Platforms by 4.0% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 92,033,963 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $51,841,811,000 after purchasing an additional 3,510,123 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter worth about $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in Meta Platforms by 14.6% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 21,038,035 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $12,036,491,000 after purchasing an additional 2,673,494 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in Meta Platforms by 6.1% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 18,200,469 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $12,013,948,000 after purchasing an additional 1,046,715 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target on Meta from $796 to $1,000 while maintaining an Overweight rating, citing investor enthusiasm for the company’s Muse AI product cycle. Why this analyst expects Meta stock to hit $1,000
• Positive Sentiment: Muse is being positioned as a consumer-focused AI agent capable of handling tasks such as shopping, increasing expectations that Meta could create new commerce and advertising revenue streams. Commentators have suggested it could capture significant market share from competing AI platforms. Meta's Muse is already pulling one CEO's purchases away from Amazon
• Positive Sentiment: Meta joined Walmart, OpenAI Chairman Bret Taylor’s Sierra and other companies to develop standards for commercial transactions involving AI bots. Common standards could make agent-based commerce easier to scale and improve Meta’s ability to participate in the emerging market. Meta joins group of companies to tame chaos of doing business with AI bots
• Positive Sentiment: Meta is testing a Reels-first Facebook experience in India, directing some users immediately into full-screen video. The move could increase video engagement, ad inventory and monetization if adopted more broadly. Facebook tests going Reels-first in India
• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s long-term nuclear power agreement with Vistra supports reliable electricity supplies for its growing AI data-center footprint, though it also highlights the substantial infrastructure costs associated with AI expansion. Vistra nuclear power agreement
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta’s AI strategy is attracting enthusiasm despite projected capital spending of roughly $130 billion to $145 billion in 2026. Investors are weighing the potential for stronger advertising and AI monetization against the need for substantial upfront investment. Meta Platforms: The AI spending looks crazy; the economics don't
• Negative Sentiment: New Mexico is seeking damages that could reach $40 billion in a case against Meta, with a judge expected to rule this month. Such a penalty would materially threaten earnings and could constrain AI investment. New Mexico wants Meta to pay up to $40 billion
• Negative Sentiment: Meta is challenging UK demands for information under the country’s online-safety regime, while separate lawsuits could increase regulatory costs and create uncertainty around its AI plans. Meta challenges UK watchdog data demands
• Negative Sentiment: Some investors are becoming more cautious as Treasury yields rise; one portfolio manager disclosed trimming his Meta position. The stock’s recent surge also leaves it vulnerable to profit-taking if Muse adoption or monetization disappoints. Analyst trims Meta amid rising yields

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms

In other Meta Platforms news, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. This represents a 17.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the business's stock in a transaction 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 SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 146,647 shares of company stock worth $99,886,901. 13.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Rothschild & Co Redburn lifted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Arete Research increased their target price on Meta Platforms from $735.00 to $806.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. President Capital raised Meta Platforms from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the company from $660.00 to $897.00 in a report on Thursday, September 24th. DA Davidson decreased their price target on Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $700.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Citizens Jmp upped their price objective on Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $885.00 and gave the stock a "market outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Meta Platforms currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $791.86.

Meta Platforms Price Performance

Shares of META traded down $3.02 on Tuesday, reaching $738.88. The stock had a trading volume of 12,543,645 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,504,529. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a twelve month low of $520.26 and a twelve month high of $779.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.88 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.83, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $628.48 and a 200 day moving average of $616.82. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

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

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

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

Meta Platforms Company Profile

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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