Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Shares Up 1.4% - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Meta shares rose 1.4% on Friday, trading as high as $556.85 amid above-average volume, but the stock remains well below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages.
• Recent commentary remains broadly bullish on Meta’s AI investments, saying they could boost engagement, ad monetization, and long-term revenue, while new Qualcomm AI data-center partnerships also highlight Meta’s role in the AI buildout.
• Despite strong recent earnings — including EPS of $10.44 versus $6.67 expected and revenue up 33.1% year over year — Meta is facing headwinds from legal scrutiny, insider selling, and a broader tech selloff tied to capex concerns.

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META - Get Free Report)'s stock price traded up 1.4% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $556.85 and last traded at $550.25. Approximately 18,394,320 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 13% from the average session volume of 16,322,039 shares. The stock had previously closed at $542.87.

Key Meta Platforms News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and bullish commentators say Meta’s AI investments are helping boost engagement, ad monetization, and long-term revenue growth, supporting the case for upside in the stock. Meta Platforms' AI-Push to Drive Top-Line Growth: More Upside Ahead?
• Positive Sentiment: Qualcomm’s new AI data center push included partnerships with Meta, reinforcing Meta’s role in the AI infrastructure buildout and signaling continued strategic spending. Qualcomm stock jumps on AI data center push, Meta and Microsoft deals
• Positive Sentiment: Consumer-sentiment coverage suggests Meta is keeping users engaged longer on its platforms, which could support future ad revenue even amid the selloff. Ca$htag$: Is META Winning Over Consumers?
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta continues to appear on lists of top AI stocks and long-term holdings, but these are mostly sentiment pieces rather than new fundamental catalysts. 5 Best Trending AI Stocks to Watch in 2026
• Negative Sentiment: Meta is facing fresh legal and reputational headwinds after a former executive sued the company, alleging it tried to silence her and surveilled her for a year. ‘Careless People’ author claims Meta surveilled her for a year to enforce her silence
• Negative Sentiment: Recent commentary highlights Meta’s selloff as part of a broader AI/mega-cap tech de-rating, with investors worried that heavy capex is being punished in the short term. Wedbush brushes off tech sell-off as buying chance in multi-year AI bull run

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on META shares. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $850.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $805.00 to $780.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Barclays lifted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $830.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Benchmark started coverage on Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, June 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, Arete Research set a $735.00 target price on Meta Platforms and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 2nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-five have given a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $840.60.

Meta Platforms Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $1.39 trillion, a PE ratio of 20.00, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.23. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $614.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $631.32. The company has a quick ratio of 2.35, a current ratio of 2.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24.

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

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 25th. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th were given a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 15th. Meta Platforms's dividend payout ratio is 7.63%.

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms

In other Meta Platforms news, insider Curtis J. Mahoney sold 2,079 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $609.92, for a total value of $1,268,023.68. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 1,118 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $681,890.56. This trade represents a 65.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,195 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $607.84, for a total transaction of $5,589,088.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,186 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,014,978.24. The trade was a 41.08% 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. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders sold a total of 39,013 shares of company stock worth $24,115,999 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 13.53% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Meta Platforms

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Auto Owners Insurance Co increased its holdings in Meta Platforms by 76,587.7% in the 4th quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 105,292,277 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $69,502,379,000 after acquiring an additional 105,154,977 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the fourth quarter worth approximately $22,152,075,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 199,995,630 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $132,015,115,000 after purchasing an additional 7,269,279 shares in the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 488.1% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 5,466,595 shares of the social networking company's stock worth $3,608,445,000 after purchasing an additional 4,537,076 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 5.1% during the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 90,841,345 shares of the social networking company's stock valued at $59,963,463,000 after purchasing an additional 4,395,763 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Meta Platforms

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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