VMS Asset Management Limited Invests $11.51 Million in Meta Platforms, Inc. $META

Key Points

• VMS Asset Management Limited opened a new position in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter, buying 17,430 shares valued at about $11.51 million. The stake makes Meta its second-largest holding and about 4.4% of its portfolio.
• Meta’s latest quarterly results were strong, with EPS of $10.44 topping estimates by a wide margin and revenue rising 33.1% year over year to $56.31 billion. Analysts still see solid growth ahead, with consensus calling for $29.35 EPS this year.
• The stock is facing a mix of optimism and risk: analysts are upbeat on AI and a possible subscription business, but Meta also faces regulatory, legal, and security concerns tied to WhatsApp, youth addiction litigation, and Instagram account hacks.

VMS Asset Management Limited bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 17,430 shares of the social networking company's stock, valued at approximately $11,505,000. Meta Platforms accounts for about 4.4% of VMS Asset Management Limited's investment portfolio, making the stock its 2nd biggest position.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Westchester Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Meta Platforms during the third quarter worth $26,000. RHL Group LLC bought a new stake in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Key Capital Management INC bought a new stake in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter worth $48,000. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC bought a new stake in Meta Platforms during the fourth quarter worth $48,000. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Meta Platforms News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain constructive on earnings power, with Erste Group raising its FY2027 EPS estimate for Meta and Truist pointing to a potential new subscription business that could add about $20 billion in revenue over time. Meta Platforms analyst update Truist says Meta is building a new $20B business
• Positive Sentiment: Meta expanded its AI infrastructure strategy by signing a data-center deal with Reliance in India, which could support long-term AI and cloud-scale ambitions. Meta agrees to Indian AI data center deal as hyperscaler bolsters its infrastructure
• Neutral Sentiment: Some commentary argues the market may be overreacting to Meta’s AI capex, saying the spending should be judged by its impact on the core ad business rather than near-term monetization. Meta: The Market's Perception On AI CapEx Seems Misplaced
• Neutral Sentiment: The broader AI data-center boom is facing scrutiny, with a report saying not all announced gigawatts will actually be built by 2030, adding uncertainty around hyperscaler infrastructure spending. Wall Street's $800 Billion AI Data Center Bet Is Showing Cracks
• Negative Sentiment: Meta is drawing criticism over a subscription push and broader concerns that its AI strategy still lacks a clear direct revenue path, which may be pressuring sentiment on the stock. Meta's Subscription Push Exposes Its Weak Hand in AI
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and legal risks remain elevated after the EU ordered Meta to restore WhatsApp access for rival AI chatbots, and a court denied Meta a new trial in the youth social-media addiction case. EU regulators order Meta to allow rival AI chatbots free access to WhatsApp Google and Meta denied new trial in youth social media addiction case
• Negative Sentiment: Security concerns resurfaced after reports said an AI bug helped hackers breach tens of thousands of Instagram accounts, reinforcing worries about product trust and platform risk. Meta A.I. Bug Allowed Hackers to Take Over Instagram Accounts

Meta Platforms Stock Down 2.3%

Shares of NASDAQ META opened at $570.98 on Thursday. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a one year low of $520.26 and a one year high of $796.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 2.35 and a quick ratio of 2.35. The business's fifty day moving average price is $621.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $636.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.44 trillion, a PE ratio of 20.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 1.23.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The social networking company reported $10.44 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.67 by $3.77. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 36.93% and a net margin of 32.84%.The firm had revenue of $56.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $55.56 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.43 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 33.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.35 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be issued a $0.525 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Meta Platforms's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.63%.

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms

In other Meta Platforms news, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,195 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $607.84, for a total value of $5,589,088.80. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 13,186 shares of the company's stock, valued at $8,014,978.24. This trade represents a 41.08% decrease in their position. 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. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, insider Curtis J. Mahoney sold 2,079 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $609.92, for a total value of $1,268,023.68. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 1,118 shares in the company, valued at approximately $681,890.56. The trade was a 65.03% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 41,305 shares of company stock worth $25,567,928. 13.53% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on META shares. Rosenblatt Securities reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $1,015.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, May 28th. Piper Sandler started coverage on Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, June 2nd. They set an "overweight" rating for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price target on Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $750.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Guggenheim decreased their price target on Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $800.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price target on Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $835.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-five have issued a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Meta Platforms presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $840.60.

Meta Platforms Company Profile

Meta Platforms, Inc NASDAQ: META, formerly Facebook, Inc, is a global technology company best known for building social networking services and immersive computing platforms. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the company operates a family of consumer-facing products and services that connect users, creators and businesses. In October 2021 the company rebranded as Meta to reflect an expanded strategic focus on augmented and virtual reality technologies alongside its social media businesses.

Meta's core consumer products include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and community building across mobile and desktop devices.

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