Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock Acquired by Legacy Private Trust Co.

Key Points

• Legacy Private Trust Co. increased its Meta Platforms stake by 7.5% in the third quarter, bringing its holdings to 23,364 shares valued at approximately $16.9 million. Institutional investors collectively own 79.91% of Meta’s stock.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish: Meta has an average “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $791.86, with several firms recently raising their targets as high as $955.
• Meta faces competing opportunities and risks. AI products and infrastructure spending could support long-term growth, while insider selling, high valuation, regulatory scrutiny and a potential New Mexico penalty of up to $40 billion remain concerns.

Legacy Private Trust Co. increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 7.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 23,364 shares of the social networking company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,620 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms accounts for about 0.9% of Legacy Private Trust Co.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Legacy Private Trust Co.'s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $16,943,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms in the third quarter worth $33,000. Advantage Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Meta Platforms during the 1st quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Schuylkill Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter valued at $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company's stock.

Meta Platforms News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta Muse is strengthening the AI growth narrative. Coverage highlights the potential for Muse to capture share in personal-agent and AI-powered shopping markets, with early users reportedly relying on it for purchases that might otherwise go through Amazon. Analysts and commentators see the product as a possible long-term monetization driver. Meta Muse: Sparking the AI Revolution
• Positive Sentiment: AI infrastructure investments could support Meta’s long-term economics. Meta’s large spending commitments are being viewed as a way to improve advertising performance, engagement and future AI monetization. The company also has a 20-year power purchase agreement with Vistra, helping secure nuclear power for energy-intensive data centers and AI workloads. Vistra Stock Gains as Federal Funds Fuel Nuclear Power Expansion
• Positive Sentiment: Reels-first testing in India may improve video engagement and advertising opportunities. Sending some Facebook users directly into full-screen Reels could increase time spent on the platform and create additional short-form video inventory, although the financial impact remains unproven. Facebook tests going Reels-first in India
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta and other technology companies are challenging U.K. data demands. The dispute with Ofcom over online-safety information requests could limit compliance costs if successful, but it also underscores continuing regulatory scrutiny of Meta’s platforms. Meta, TikTok, X challenge UK watchdog over online safety data demands
• Negative Sentiment: New Mexico’s lawsuit represents the largest immediate risk. A judge is expected to rule this month on a potential penalty of up to $40 billion, an amount that could materially affect Meta’s cash position, earnings and ability to fund AI infrastructure. New Mexico Wants Meta to Pay Up to $40 Billion
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned about valuation and spending. Meta’s ambitious AI buildout requires substantial capital, while one market commentator reduced exposure to META as Treasury yields approached 5.26%, increasing pressure on expensive megacap technology stocks. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta Amid Rising Yields

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total value of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 184,516 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. The trade was a 17.82% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at 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 company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total transaction 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. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 146,647 shares of company stock worth $99,886,901. Insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

META has been the topic of several research reports. Raymond James Financial raised their price objective on Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $860.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Loop Capital increased their target price on Meta Platforms from $740.00 to $955.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. Arete Research raised their target price on Meta Platforms from $735.00 to $806.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $725.00 price target (down from $815.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $791.86.

Meta Platforms Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NASDAQ:META traded down $0.47 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $741.43. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,730,973 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,470,250. 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 fifty-two week low of $520.26 and a fifty-two week high of $779.82. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $628.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $616.82. The company has a market capitalization of $1.89 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.93, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19.

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 for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The business had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $7.14 EPS. Meta Platforms's revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

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