Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock Position Lessened by Axxcess Wealth Management LLC

Key Points

• Axxcess Wealth Management cut its Meta position by 45.7% in the third quarter, selling 24,710 shares and retaining 29,410 shares worth approximately $21.3 million. Institutional investors still own about 79.9% of Meta’s stock.
• Meta reported strong third-quarter results, with revenue rising 26.1% year over year to $64.6 billion and earnings of $7.40 per share, beating analyst expectations. AI-powered recommendations, advertising tools and growing adoption of its Muse AI agent are supporting the company’s growth outlook.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $833.12, but surging AI infrastructure spending, negative free cash flow and legal risks remain key concerns for investors.

Axxcess Wealth Management LLC decreased its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 45.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 29,410 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 24,710 shares during the period. Meta Platforms comprises approximately 0.9% of Axxcess Wealth Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $21,327,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Horizons Wealth Management bought a new stake in Meta Platforms in the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Advantage Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at about $32,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the first quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Schuylkill Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at about $36,000. 79.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Meta Platforms News Summary

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

META has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $800.00 target price (down from $850.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Rothschild & Co Redburn boosted their price target on Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. HSBC reduced their price target on Meta Platforms from $905.00 to $830.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $886.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Tuesday, October 20th. Finally, Arete Research increased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $735.00 to $806.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $833.12.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Shares of META opened at $642.62 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 1.90. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a one year low of $520.26 and a one year high of $779.82. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $664.40 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $630.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.64 trillion, a PE ratio of 21.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.19.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 21st. The social networking company reported $7.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 in the prior year, the business earned $7.25 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 26.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 28.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity at Meta Platforms

In other Meta Platforms news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $707.20, for a total value of $669,011.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 5,986 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,233,299.20. This represents a 13.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total value of $21,359,386.56. 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 148,440 shares of company stock worth $101,456,300 over the last ninety days. 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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