Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Sold by Pursue Wealth Partners LLC

Key Points

• Pursue Wealth Partners LLC cut its Meta position by 28.5% in the second quarter, selling 1,668 shares and retaining 4,182 shares worth approximately $2.36 million. Institutional investors collectively own 79.91% of Meta’s stock.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish, with Meta carrying a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $787.54. JPMorgan upgraded the stock to Overweight, citing frontier AI models and the growth potential of AI agents.
• Meta’s AI expansion presents both opportunity and risk: its Muse AI agent gained rapid adoption, but infrastructure costs, privacy concerns and the departure of a leading AI researcher could weigh on margins and execution. Meta also reported 28% year-over-year revenue growth, though quarterly EPS missed estimates.

Pursue Wealth Partners LLC reduced its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 28.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,182 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 1,668 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms comprises about 1.3% of Pursue Wealth Partners LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest position. Pursue Wealth Partners LLC's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $2,356,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. RHL Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Advantage Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Niles Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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: JPMorgan upgraded Meta from Neutral to Overweight and raised its price target from $640 to $820, citing the company’s frontier AI models and AI-agent opportunity as potential growth drivers beyond advertising. JPMorgan upgrades Meta on AI models and agents
• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse AI agent gained significant early traction, reportedly reaching the No. 2 position among U.S. apps. Its free and paid subscription tiers could create a recurring revenue stream and help monetize Meta’s substantial AI investments. Meta's AI agent Muse reaches No. 2 app ranking
• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.525 per share, payable September 28 to shareholders of record September 21. The dividend adds to shareholder returns and signals confidence in cash generation. Meta announces quarterly cash dividend
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors remain divided over whether Muse can become a material financial catalyst. Dedicated computing, security and inference costs could pressure margins before subscription revenue scales, while Meta continues to commit heavily to AI infrastructure.
• Negative Sentiment: Star AI researcher Andrew Tulloch is leaving Meta for Anthropic. The departure raises concerns about Meta’s ability to retain high-value technical talent amid intensifying competition for AI researchers. Top AI researcher leaves Meta for Anthropic
• Negative Sentiment: Meta faces renewed privacy and regulatory scrutiny as Muse can access sensitive information and perform actions across third-party applications. Reports of fraudulent cryptocurrency advertisements and related lawsuits add to reputational and legal risks.
• Negative Sentiment: COO Javier Olivan sold shares worth approximately $3.3 million in two transactions under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. Although scheduled sales are less concerning, the sizable reduction in his direct holdings may weigh modestly on sentiment.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Javier Olivan sold 3,348 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, July 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $600.97, for a total value of $2,012,047.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 9,498 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,708,013.06. This represents a 26.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed 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, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 7,848 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total transaction of $4,379,184.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer directly owned 828 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $462,024. The trade was a 90.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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 ninety days, insiders sold 41,581 shares of company stock valued at $24,506,695. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have weighed in on META. Mizuho set a $750.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Rothschild & Co Redburn increased their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $763.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $780.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-five have assigned a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $787.54.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Meta Platforms stock opened at $644.38 on Friday. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $600.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $608.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.64 trillion, a PE ratio of 24.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a one year low of $520.26 and a one year high of $790.80.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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). The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The firm's revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $7.14 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 28.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Company 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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