Smith Group Asset Management LLC Sells 87,308 Shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. $META

Key Points

• Smith Group Asset Management cut its Meta stake by 96.1% in the third quarter, selling 87,308 shares and retaining 3,555 shares valued at approximately $2.58 million. Institutional investors collectively own 79.91% of Meta.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish: Meta has a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating, with three Strong Buy, 47 Buy, and seven Hold ratings, and an average price target of $833.12.
• Meta exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $7.40 in EPS and $64.60 billion in revenue, up 26.1% year over year. However, investors remain concerned about the cost of its AI expansion, including projected capital expenditures of $135 billion to $145 billion and potential additional debt financing.

Smith Group Asset Management LLC lowered its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) by 96.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,555 shares of the social networking company's stock after selling 87,308 shares during the period. Smith Group Asset Management LLC's holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $2,578,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in Meta Platforms by 1.0% during the first quarter. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,519 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $869,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.3% in the third quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. now owns 1,206 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $874,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the period. Value Partners Investments Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Value Partners Investments Inc. now owns 866 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $630,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. CWS Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in Meta Platforms by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. CWS Financial Advisors LLC now owns 985 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $564,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tenzing Financial LLC lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.3% during the second quarter. Tenzing Financial LLC now owns 1,210 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $726,000 after purchasing an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

META has been the subject of several research reports. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Meta Platforms from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Tigress Financial reissued a "strong-buy" rating and set a $945.00 price target (down from $995.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $775.00 to $820.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, October 19th. Pivotal Research boosted 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, October 22nd. Finally, Raymond James Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $860.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, September 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have issued a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $833.12.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

META opened at $606.73 on Tuesday. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $671.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $632.13. The company has a market cap of $1.55 trillion, a P/E ratio of 20.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.19. 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, 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 announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 22nd. The social networking company reported $7.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 31.15% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The firm had revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $63.34 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $7.25 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

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

Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s advertising business remains a key support. Revenue increased 26% in the latest quarter, and AI-driven improvements to ad targeting and engagement are helping Meta benefit even as AI agents pressure traditional search. Why AI is boosting Meta's ad business while hurting Google search
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to view Meta favorably, with the stock receiving a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating. The company’s long-term upside depends on whether its AI investments generate sufficient advertising and new-business growth. Meta Platforms Stock Now Rated Moderate Buy
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta postponed new business-account terms after criticism that they could enable extensive scraping of news and other websites. The delay reduces immediate backlash but highlights ongoing concerns about AI data practices and potential regulation. Meta delays new business terms after outcry
• Negative Sentiment: Investors are increasingly focused on the scale and funding of Meta’s AI buildout. The company is reportedly considering at least $20 billion in bond offerings, while a separate 6.5% preferred-share issuance raises concerns about expensive capital, dilution-like effects, and balance-sheet pressure. Meta eyes at least $20 billion from potential bond offerings Meta 6.5% preferreds issuance
• Negative Sentiment: Large capital expenditures—projected at $135 billion to $145 billion for 2026—are raising questions about free cash flow, returns on AI investment, and possible shareholder dilution. Market pressure on major AI spenders has added to the stock’s weakness. Meta and Alphabet face market pressure over capital expenditures
• Negative Sentiment: Settlements involving alleged social-media addiction and harm to young users may limit litigation costs in the near term, but plaintiffs’ attorneys are still demanding product and safety changes, preserving regulatory and reputational risk. Attorney calls for meaningful changes after Meta and Snap settlements

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms

In related news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $640.00, for a total transaction of $605,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 5,040 shares in the company, valued at $3,225,600. The trade was a 15.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 149,515 shares of company stock valued at $102,183,520 in the last quarter. 13.53% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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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