Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock Holdings Boosted by Left Brain Wealth Management LLC

Key Points

• Left Brain Wealth Management increased its Meta stake by 10% in the third quarter, adding 1,784 shares to reach 19,654 shares worth about $14.3 million. Meta represents 4.5% of its portfolio, and institutional investors collectively own 79.91% of the stock.
• Meta beat quarterly earnings and revenue estimates, 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, while the stock was reported down 4.0% and opened at $605.08.

Left Brain Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 10.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 19,654 shares of the social networking company's stock after buying an additional 1,784 shares during the period. Meta Platforms accounts for 4.5% of Left Brain Wealth Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest position. Left Brain Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $14,253,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Modera Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 20.4% during the 3rd quarter. Modera Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,101 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $9,500,000 after buying an additional 2,219 shares in the last quarter. CFC Planning Co LLC raised its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 24.2% during the 3rd quarter. CFC Planning Co LLC now owns 2,830 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $2,054,000 after acquiring an additional 551 shares in the last quarter. Whelan Financial raised its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 8.8% during the 3rd quarter. Whelan Financial now owns 6,955 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $5,044,000 after acquiring an additional 562 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 14.1% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 24,931 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $18,079,000 after acquiring an additional 3,073 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prosperitas Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 8.3% during the 3rd quarter. Prosperitas Financial LLC now owns 14,954 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $10,845,000 after acquiring an additional 1,152 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Meta Platforms Trading Down 4.0%

META opened at $605.08 on Friday. 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 stock's fifty day moving average is $674.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $632.13. The company has a market capitalization of $1.55 trillion, a P/E ratio of 20.63, a PEG ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.28. 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 released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 22nd. 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 return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 31.15%. The firm had revenue of $64.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $63.34 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $7.25 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 26.1% on a year-over-year basis. 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date 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 currently 7.16%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

META has been the topic of several research reports. Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $763.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 13th. Monness Crespi & Hardt reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $875.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Benchmark reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. UBS Group reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $920.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $800.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $833.12.

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Meta Platforms news, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 directly owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing 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, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 7,848 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total transaction of $4,379,184.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer owned 828 shares of the company's stock, valued at $462,024. The trade was a 90.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 151,090 shares of company stock worth $103,150,807. Insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

Meta Platforms Profile

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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