Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock: Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG Raises Holdings

Key Points

• Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG increased its Meta position by 7.8% in the third quarter, adding 15,650 shares to own 215,902 shares worth approximately $156.6 million. Institutional investors collectively own 79.91% of Meta’s stock.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish: Meta has a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $833.12, although some firms recently reduced their targets.
• Meta delivered strong third-quarter results, with revenue rising 26.1% year over year to $64.6 billion and earnings of $7.40 per share, beating estimates. However, escalating AI spending, negative free cash flow and regulatory risks remain key concerns.

Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG boosted its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 7.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 215,902 shares of the social networking company's stock after buying an additional 15,650 shares during the period. Meta Platforms makes up 3.0% of Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG's holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $156,568,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Horizons Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Advantage Trust Co bought a new position in Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth $28,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the second quarter worth $32,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the first quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Schuylkill Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the second quarter worth $36,000. Institutional investors own 79.91% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on META shares. Guggenheim reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $850.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $930.00 to $950.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, September 25th. Monness Crespi & Hardt restated a "buy" rating and set a $875.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $750.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $790.00 to $687.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Meta Platforms currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $833.12.

Insider Activity at Meta Platforms

In other Meta Platforms news, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total value of $21,359,386.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at 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 company's 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 completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares of the company's stock, valued at $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 sold 149,906 shares of company stock valued at $102,347,409 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

More Meta Platforms News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Strong Q3 operating performance: Meta reported $64.6 billion in revenue, up 26% year over year, and adjusted earnings of $7.40 per share versus expectations of roughly $6.54. AI-driven recommendations and advertising tools are improving engagement, ad pricing and conversions. META Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Muse adoption supports the AI thesis: Meta’s Muse AI agent has surpassed 10 million downloads, strengthening the case that the company could eventually monetize AI through subscriptions, enterprise services and additional advertising. However, meaningful revenue contribution is expected later, potentially from 2027 onward. Meta Muse Adoption
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain broadly constructive: UBS, Citigroup, Mizuho, JPMorgan, Bank of America and other firms raised or reaffirmed bullish ratings and price targets, citing resilient advertising growth and long-term AI potential. Some investors, including commentator Mike Khouw, view the selloff as a buying opportunity. Why Mike Khouw Is Buying Meta
• Neutral Sentiment: New Class C shares and a 2-for-1 split: Meta plans to issue one non-voting Class C share for each Class A and Class B share. The move should improve trading liquidity and give Mark Zuckerberg greater flexibility to sell shares or finance AI investment without surrendering voting control, but it does not by itself create economic value for shareholders. Meta’s New Non-Voting Shares
• Neutral Sentiment: Commercial terms delayed: Meta postponed controversial terms that publishers and advertisers said could authorize broader web scraping, moving implementation to November 20 from October 30. The delay may reduce near-term friction, though the underlying regulatory and customer concerns remain. Meta Delays Commercial Terms
• Negative Sentiment: AI spending is the main pressure: Meta lifted the lower end of its 2026 capital-expenditure forecast to $135 billion, with spending potentially reaching $145 billion. Free cash flow turned negative as infrastructure investment accelerated, while credit-default-swap costs reached records. Investors are questioning when Muse and other AI projects will generate returns. Meta AI Spending and Free Cash Flow
• Negative Sentiment: Legal and regulatory risks remain significant: Meta faces a $25 billion New Mexico privacy judgment, additional lawsuits alleging harm to children and scam advertising, and rising legal costs. The company plans to appeal the New Mexico ruling, but the liabilities add uncertainty and pressure margins. Meta New Mexico Privacy Judgment

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Meta Platforms stock opened at $642.62 on Friday. The stock's 50 day moving average is $664.40 and its 200 day moving average is $629.72. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a twelve month low of $520.26 and a twelve month high of $779.82. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The company has a market capitalization of $1.64 trillion, a P/E ratio of 21.91, a PEG ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.19.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 21st. The social networking company reported $7.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.54 by $0.86. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 31.15% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The company had revenue of $64.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $63.34 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $7.25 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 28.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. 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 dividend payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

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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