Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock: Cidel Asset Management Inc. Raises Stake

Key Points

• Cidel Asset Management increased its Meta stake 14.1% in the third quarter, adding 1,231 shares to reach 9,934 shares valued at about $7.2 million. Institutional investors collectively own 79.91% of Meta’s stock.
• Meta’s latest quarterly results beat analyst estimates: EPS was $7.40 versus $6.54 expected, and revenue rose 26.1% year over year to $64.6 billion. Despite the results, the stock was reported down 4.0%, opening at $605.08.
• Meta is expanding its AI efforts by making Muse Voice available to U.S. users and acquiring AI coding startup Conductor. Its AI buildout faces headwinds, including borrowing-cost concerns, potential data-center permitting opposition, and ongoing legal and regulatory risks.

Cidel Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 14.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,934 shares of the social networking company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,231 shares during the quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $7,204,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Intrua Financial LLC raised its holdings in Meta Platforms by 5.4% in the third quarter. Intrua Financial LLC now owns 2,164 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $1,570,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 7.4% during the third quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC now owns 7,596 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $5,636,000 after buying an additional 522 shares during the last quarter. Summit Global Investments increased its holdings in Meta Platforms by 24.2% in the 3rd quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 24,002 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $17,406,000 after buying an additional 4,675 shares during the period. Opinicus Capital Inc. grew its position in Meta Platforms by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Opinicus Capital Inc. now owns 3,317 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $2,405,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Finally, Invera Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Meta Platforms by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Invera Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,376 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $1,723,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.91% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting 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

Meta Platforms Trading Down 4.0%

NASDAQ META opened at $605.08 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.55 trillion, a PE ratio of 20.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.28. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $674.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $632.13. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The social networking company reported $7.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86. The company had revenue of $64.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $63.34 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 31.15%. Meta Platforms's revenue for the quarter was up 26.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $7.25 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st were given 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 payout ratio is 7.16%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on META shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Meta Platforms from $1,000.00 to $995.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $800.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $750.00 to $950.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, President Capital upgraded Meta Platforms from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $660.00 to $897.00 in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $833.12.

Insider Activity

In related news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $614.15, for a total transaction of $580,985.90. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 4,094 shares in the company, valued at $2,514,330.10. This trade represents a 18.77% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 151,090 shares of company stock valued at $103,150,807. 13.53% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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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