Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock: Americana Partners LLC Decreases Stake

Key Points

• Americana Partners cut its Meta stake by 63.8% in the third quarter, selling 96,851 shares and retaining 54,906 shares valued at about $39.8 million. Other institutional investors made both increases and decreases; institutions own 79.91% of the stock.
• Meta reported quarterly earnings of $7.40 per share, above the $6.54 consensus estimate, while revenue of $64.6 billion also topped expectations and rose 26.1% year over year.
• Insiders sold 151,090 shares worth about $103.2 million over three months. Analysts remain broadly positive, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $833.12.

Americana Partners LLC lowered its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 63.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 54,906 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 96,851 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms accounts for about 0.9% of Americana Partners LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position. Americana Partners LLC's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $39,817,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd increased its position in Meta Platforms by 18.6% in the 2nd quarter. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd now owns 18,777 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $10,577,000 after acquiring an additional 2,939 shares in the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 33.6% during the second quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc now owns 3,031 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $1,707,000 after purchasing an additional 763 shares in the last quarter. William John Sempolinski acquired a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth approximately $3,107,000. Sone Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 38.2% during the second quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC now owns 16,059 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $9,046,000 after purchasing an additional 4,440 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lakewood Capital Management LP grew its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 63.7% during the second quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP now owns 115,985 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $65,333,000 after purchasing an additional 45,130 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms

In related news, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total value of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. The trade was a 17.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total value of $2,002,514.40. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,271 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. The trade was a 34.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 151,090 shares of company stock worth $103,150,807 over the last three months. Company insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

Meta Platforms Trading Down 4.0%

Shares of NASDAQ META opened at $605.08 on Friday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a twelve month low of $520.26 and a twelve month high of $779.82. The stock has a market cap of $1.55 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The company's fifty day moving average is $674.18 and its 200-day moving average is $632.13.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 22nd. The social networking company reported $7.40 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.86. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 31.15%. The business had revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $63.34 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.25 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms's payout ratio is 7.16%.

Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta made its Muse Voice AI available to U.S. users, including voice and video conversations with its consumer AI agent. Wider access could help the company build engagement with its AI products. Meta says US users can now video chat with their Muse AI avatar
• Positive Sentiment: Meta acquired Conductor, a startup that uses multiple AI agents to help build software projects, adding technology and talent to its AI development efforts. Meta acquires AI coding startup Conductor
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta completed a $15 billion senior-notes offering. Strong investor demand supports its ability to raise funds, but the borrowing adds to scrutiny of the cost of financing its AI expansion. Meta Platforms Completes $15 Billion Senior Notes Offering
• Negative Sentiment: Meta, Google and TikTok sued California’s attorney general to block a law restricting features considered addictive for users under 16. The legal challenge highlights continuing regulatory and litigation exposure around youth safety. Meta, Google, and TikTok sue California AG over teen social media law
• Negative Sentiment: Meta’s president warned that political and community opposition over data-center power and water use could make new facilities harder to build. That could complicate the infrastructure buildout needed to support AI growth. Meta warns election backlash against data centers could make AI expansion harder
• Negative Sentiment: Coverage of Meta’s debut euro bond sale pointed to borrowing costs above Alphabet’s, adding to investor concern about the expense of funding the company’s large AI spending plans. Meta Paid 1.4 Times What Alphabet Did to Borrow in Euros
• Negative Sentiment: Delhi Police filed a case concerning child sexual abuse material on Meta’s platforms after intervention by India’s child-rights authorities, creating potential reputational and legal risk. Child Abuse Material On Meta Platforms Flagged, Delhi Police Files FIR After NHRC Intervention

Analysts Set New Price Targets

META has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $800.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. HSBC decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $905.00 to $830.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Raymond James Financial lifted their target price on Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $860.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. Loop Capital boosted their target price on Meta Platforms from $740.00 to $955.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Meta Platforms from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms 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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