Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock: Collaborative Fund Advisors LLC Grows Stake

Key Points

• Collaborative Fund Advisors increased its Meta stake 33.5% in the third quarter, to 4,399 shares valued at about $3.19 million. Institutional investors collectively own nearly 80% of Meta’s stock.
• Meta beat quarterly earnings and revenue expectations, reporting $7.40 per share and $64.6 billion in revenue; revenue rose 26.1% year over year.
• Analysts’ consensus rating is “Moderate Buy,” with an average price target of $833.12. The article also cites a 5.1% stock gain.

Collaborative Fund Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 33.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,399 shares of the social networking company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,104 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms accounts for 1.7% of Collaborative Fund Advisors LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Collaborative Fund Advisors LLC's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $3,190,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Meta Platforms during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $528,000. Bfsg LLC raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 9.2% in the 3rd quarter. Bfsg LLC now owns 677 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $491,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Jacksonville Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Jacksonville Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,405 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $1,744,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Clear Point Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 13.3% in the 3rd quarter. Clear Point Advisors Inc. now owns 952 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $690,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 40,176 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $25,818,000 after purchasing an additional 1,441 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Meta Platforms Stock Up 5.1%

META stock opened at $641.37 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $1.64 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90. The business's 50-day moving average is $676.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $632.30. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $520.26 and a fifty-two week high of $779.82.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last posted 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 firm 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 company earned $7.25 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms

In other news, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total transaction of $2,002,514.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at $3,875,854.26. This trade represents a 34.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Susan Li sold 9,196 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total value of $5,063,409.56. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 13,186 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,260,343.46. This represents a 41.09% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 149,398 shares of company stock worth $102,134,435. Insiders own 13.42% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on META. Guggenheim reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $850.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Monness Crespi & Hardt reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $875.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Citic Securities decreased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $718.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. DA Davidson lifted their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $700.00 to $800.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $865.00 to $850.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have assigned a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $833.12.

Meta Platforms News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan added Meta to its Analyst Focus List as a preferred internet stock, citing the strength of AI-powered advertising and potential new monetization opportunities. The endorsement helped lift shares. Article: Meta stock surges over 5% today: here's why
• Positive Sentiment: Meta released Muse Ember, a lightweight, cost-efficient AI model built for agent tasks such as coding and document processing. Investors may see it as a step toward expanding AI capabilities efficiently. Article: Meta releases Muse Ember
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta is expanding AI age-estimation technology globally on Instagram to identify teen users and apply Teen Account protections. The rollout could help address safety concerns, but comes amid multiple lawsuits alleging harm to teens. Article: Meta expands Instagram's AI age-guessing tech globally
• Negative Sentiment: Investor concerns remain about the scale of Meta’s AI investment: a recent analysis noted that free cash flow turned negative last quarter. Heavy spending could weigh on returns if AI monetization does not keep pace. Article: Meta Platforms Stock: Is it a Steal of a Deal at $650?

Meta Platforms Profile

Meta Platforms, Inc is a global technology company that develops social networking, messaging, and digital communication products. Its services include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads, which connect people and help businesses reach audiences around the world.

The company also develops virtual and augmented reality products and technologies through its Reality Labs division, including Quest headsets and related software and services. Advertising is a central part of Meta's business, with its platforms providing tools for businesses to promote products and services.

Founded in 2004 as Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg and fellow students, the company changed its name to Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building social technologies and immersive digital experiences.

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