Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock Sold by Cortland Associates Inc. MO

Cortland Associates Inc. MO cut its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 30,520 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 1,366 shares during the period. Meta Platforms comprises about 3.2% of Cortland Associates Inc. MO's investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Cortland Associates Inc. MO's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $22,132,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. TSG Advice Partners LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms during the 3rd quarter valued at $3,835,000. CKW Financial Group grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 12.4% during the 3rd quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 327 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $237,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Welch Group LLC increased its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. Welch Group LLC now owns 21,054 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $15,268,000 after purchasing an additional 1,459 shares during the last quarter. Trek Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 13.7% in the 3rd quarter. Trek Financial LLC now owns 7,795 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $5,653,000 after purchasing an additional 941 shares during the last quarter. Finally, True Freedom Investing LLC increased its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. True Freedom Investing LLC now owns 6,276 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $4,551,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Shares of META stock opened at $610.15 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $1.56 trillion, a P/E ratio of 20.80, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.28. The business has a 50 day moving average of $674.97 and a two-hundred day moving average of $632.16. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82. 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 (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 for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86. The business had revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $63.34 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 31.15%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 26.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $7.25 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

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

Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta launched Spaces, a collaboration feature for its Muse AI agents, following the rollout of Muse Voice. The new offerings may help strengthen user engagement and expand Meta’s consumer AI ecosystem. Meta introduces Spaces
• Positive Sentiment: Recent earnings commentary points to AI supporting Meta’s advertising operations, reinforcing the potential for the company’s AI investments to generate revenue. Takeaways from recent earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta paused planned updates to its terms and is keeping existing rules in place. The move avoids an immediate policy change, though the underlying issues remain unresolved. Meta pauses planned terms updates
• Neutral Sentiment: Plans for new nonvoting Class C shares have been described as effectively creating a 2-for-1 split. A split changes the number of shares, but does not by itself change the company’s underlying value; the structure preserves Mark Zuckerberg’s voting control. Is Meta Platforms next for a stock split?
• Negative Sentiment: Meta and other platforms sued to block California restrictions on social-media features for users under 16. The case adds regulatory uncertainty and potential legal costs. Platforms sue over California teen social-media law
• Negative Sentiment: Meta warned that political backlash and possible limits on data-center construction could complicate its AI expansion. Its $15 billion senior-notes offering also highlights the scale of financing required for investment. Data-center expansion concerns
• Negative Sentiment: Reported ETF net selling and insider share sales may add short-term pressure, although the disclosed insider transaction was made under a pre-arranged trading plan. ETFs are net sellers of Meta Platforms

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

META has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Needham & Company LLC restated a "hold" rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $800.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. Citic Securities lowered their price objective on Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $718.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Yorkville Ives assumed coverage on Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $900.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Meta Platforms from $775.00 to $820.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, October 19th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $833.12.

Insider Activity

In other Meta Platforms news, CFO Susan Li sold 9,196 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total value of $5,063,409.56. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,186 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,260,343.46. This trade represents a 41.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing 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, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total value of $2,002,514.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at $3,875,854.26. The trade was a 34.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 151,090 shares of company stock worth $103,150,807 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

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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