Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock Purchased by Sowell Financial Services LLC

Key Points

• Sowell Financial Services increased its Meta stake by 4.3% in the third quarter, owning 38,700 shares valued at approximately $28.1 million. Institutional investors collectively own 79.91% of Meta’s outstanding stock.
• Meta reported strong third-quarter results, with revenue rising 26.1% year over year to $64.6 billion and EPS of $7.40, beating analyst expectations of $6.54.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $833.12, although insiders sold 148,440 shares worth roughly $101.5 million over the past 90 days.

Sowell Financial Services LLC boosted its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 38,700 shares of the social networking company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,584 shares during the period. Meta Platforms accounts for 0.8% of Sowell Financial Services LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Sowell Financial Services LLC's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $28,064,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in META. City State Bank increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 11.3% in the 3rd quarter. City State Bank now owns 3,200 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $2,321,000 after acquiring an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Atticus Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 11.2% during the 3rd quarter. Atticus Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,897 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $2,101,000 after acquiring an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. QP Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Meta Platforms by 5.5% during the third quarter. QP Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,383 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $1,728,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its stake in Meta Platforms by 4.3% during the third quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 59,030 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $45,010,000 after purchasing an additional 2,421 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rodgers & Associates LTD bought a new position in Meta Platforms during the third quarter worth $218,000. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Meta Platforms

In other Meta Platforms news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 19th. The shares were 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 184,516 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% 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. Insiders have sold a total of 148,440 shares of company stock worth $101,456,300 in the last ninety days. 13.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on META. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $840.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday. Roth Capital dropped their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $750.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $875.00 to $850.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $600.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Pivotal Research lifted their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $930.00 to $960.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have assigned a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $833.12.

Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms

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 Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ META opened at $642.62 on Monday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1-year low of $520.26 and a 1-year high of $779.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 1.90. The business's fifty day moving average price is $664.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $630.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.64 trillion, a PE ratio of 21.91, a P/E/G 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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 company had revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $63.34 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $7.25 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 28.86 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

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

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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