Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock Sold by Engineers Gate Manager LP

Key Points

• Engineers Gate Manager LP cut its Meta position by 19.9% in the second quarter, selling 5,786 shares and retaining 23,294 shares valued at $13.1 million. Institutional investors collectively own approximately 79.9% of Meta’s stock.
• Meta shares opened at $739.43, up 3.3%, with a market capitalization of $1.88 trillion and a one-year range of $520.26 to $779.82. The company reported quarterly revenue of $60.8 billion, up 28% year over year, but earnings of $6.18 per share missed the $7.19 consensus estimate.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive view, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $787.86. Meta also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share, while CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold about $21.4 million in shares under a pre-arranged trading plan.

Engineers Gate Manager LP lowered its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 19.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 23,294 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 5,786 shares during the quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $13,121,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Plimoth Trust Co. LLC increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 6.0% in the 2nd quarter. Plimoth Trust Co. LLC now owns 9,150 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $5,154,000 after buying an additional 519 shares during the last quarter. Summit Financial Strategies Inc. grew its position in Meta Platforms by 16.9% in the second quarter. Summit Financial Strategies Inc. now owns 932 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $525,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Capital Advantage Inc. increased its stake in Meta Platforms by 1.4% in the second quarter. Capital Advantage Inc. now owns 2,550 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $1,436,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC increased its stake in Meta Platforms by 8.3% in the second quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC now owns 19,032 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $10,720,000 after acquiring an additional 1,466 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NorthRock Partners LLC raised its position in Meta Platforms by 6.1% during the second quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC now owns 20,214 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $11,386,000 after purchasing an additional 1,164 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company's stock.

Meta Platforms Stock Up 3.3%

Shares of NASDAQ:META opened at $739.43 on Wednesday. The stock's 50-day moving average is $618.47 and its 200 day moving average is $613.86. The company has a market cap of $1.88 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.85, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.23 and a quick ratio of 2.23. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1 year low of $520.26 and a 1 year high of $779.82.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). The business had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The company's quarterly revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.14 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms's dividend payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total value of $643,535.42. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 9,770 shares in the company, valued at $6,646,237.90. The trade was a 8.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at 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 business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total transaction of $21,359,386.56. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 150,307 shares of company stock valued at $101,851,357 over the last quarter. 13.53% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta expanded Muse for Small Business, adding integrations with Shopify, QuickBooks, Stripe, Canva, Dropbox and Slack. The initiative could create subscription, transaction and enterprise-software revenue streams while reducing the company’s reliance on digital advertising. Meta expands Muse AI agent for small businesses
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts highlighted Muse’s rapid adoption and potential to become a multibillion-dollar growth catalyst. Its integration with Meta’s large Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp user base may support future subscriptions, commerce fees, advertising improvements and AI-api revenue. Beyond advertising: analysts align on Meta Muse
• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s push into business AI was reinforced by its new Meta Enterprise Platform and the hiring of former MongoDB CEO Chirantan “CJ” Desai to lead the effort. The move signals an attempt to monetize substantial AI infrastructure spending through corporate customers. Meta launches enterprise AI platform
• Positive Sentiment: Monness Crespi & Hardt raised its META price target to $830 from $730 and maintained a Buy rating. Analysts also point to AI-driven increases in advertising engagement, clicks and conversions as evidence that current investments may strengthen Meta’s core business. Meta Platforms price target raised
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares for approximately $21.4 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. Because the sale was scheduled in advance, it is not necessarily a signal about the company’s outlook. Mark Zuckerberg sells Meta shares
• Negative Sentiment: OpenAI unveiled its always-on Dots agents, creating a direct competitive threat to Muse in consumer and enterprise AI. Reports that Muse exposed private information, including a user’s address, also raise privacy, safety, regulatory and reputational risks. OpenAI unveils Dots agents
• Negative Sentiment: Investors continue to weigh Meta’s sharply higher AI and data-center expenses against uncertain returns. The company also faces scrutiny over teen safety, data practices and potential regulation, which could increase costs or constrain monetization.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on META. DZ Bank reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Tigress Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating and set a $945.00 price objective (down from $995.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Meta Platforms from $640.00 to $796.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, September 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $725.00 target price (down from $815.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, Guggenheim reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $800.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $787.86.

Meta Platforms Company Profile

Meta Platforms, Inc is a technology company that develops social networking, messaging, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence products. The company operates a global family of apps that includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, enabling users to connect, communicate, share content and discover communities.

Meta generates most of its business through digital advertising displayed across its platforms. Its products serve individuals, creators, businesses and organizations in markets around the world, while its advertising tools help businesses reach audiences based on factors such as interests, activity and demographics.

Through its Reality Labs division, Meta develops virtual and augmented reality hardware, software and services, including the Meta Quest line of headsets and related experiences.

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