Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock Purchased by Everhart Financial Group Inc.

Everhart Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 20,178 shares of the social networking company’s stock after buying an additional 1,007 shares during the period. Meta Platforms makes up about 0.9% of Everhart Financial Group Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest position. Everhart Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $14,633,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in META. Ebert Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 9.4% during the third quarter. Ebert Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,071 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,227,000 after purchasing an additional 265 shares in the last quarter. Veracity Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 11.4% in the third quarter. Veracity Capital LLC now owns 2,909 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $2,110,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Peterson Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,020 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $739,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the period. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 10.6% during the 3rd quarter. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. now owns 2,434 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,765,000 after buying an additional 234 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. boosted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 39.3% in the 3rd quarter. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. now owns 96,774 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $70,179,000 after buying an additional 27,298 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

More Meta Platforms News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains strong: TD Cowen reaffirmed its “Buy” rating and set an $865 price target, implying substantial upside from recent levels. A broader analyst survey also shows a “Moderate Buy” consensus. Benzinga analyst rating report
• Positive Sentiment: Muse is gaining distribution: Meta’s Muse AI assistant launched on iPad shortly after its mobile debut and has topped app-download charts. The traction could strengthen Meta’s consumer AI strategy, although investors still need evidence that usage will become habitual and economically valuable. Meta’s Muse launches on iPad
• Positive Sentiment: AI ecosystem opportunities are expanding: Meta is working with Sierra, Shopify, Stripe, Walmart and others on an open protocol allowing AI agents to interact with businesses. The initiative could support future commerce and advertising use cases. Meta and Sierra AI agent protocol
• Neutral Sentiment: Executive stock sales were planned: COO Javier Olivan sold shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The transactions reduce his holdings but do not necessarily signal a change in management’s outlook.
• Neutral Sentiment: Manus raises independent capital: The AI startup’s parent raised more than $500 million after Meta abandoned its proposed acquisition. The funding validates Manus but also highlights that Meta no longer owns the potential asset. Manus raises more than $500 million after Meta exit
• Negative Sentiment: Florida is escalating youth-safety litigation: The state’s attorney general is seeking restrictions that could disable or limit infinite-scroll features for users under 14. Such restrictions could reduce engagement, advertising inventory and product flexibility if adopted more broadly. Florida seeks limits on Meta’s teen features
• Negative Sentiment: AI spending is raising cash-flow concerns: Meta is doubling down on data centers and AI infrastructure, but unlike cloud providers it primarily expects returns through its own apps rather than external cloud revenue. Investors are therefore focused on whether the spending will produce measurable advertising, engagement or AI monetization gains. Meta AI infrastructure cash-flow analysis

Meta Platforms Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:META traded down $6.00 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $715.31. The stock had a trading volume of 7,934,365 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,432,104. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $634.11 and its 200 day moving average price is $618.50. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1 year low of $520.26 and a 1 year high of $779.82. The company has a market cap of $1.82 trillion, a P/E ratio of 26.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a current ratio of 2.23, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last released its quarterly earnings results 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). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.14 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current fiscal 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 $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.91%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 184,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $131,515,624.16. This represents a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $728.08, for a total transaction of $688,763.68. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 7,878 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,735,814.24. This trade represents a 10.72% 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. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 148,222 shares of company stock worth $101,033,627. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on META. Wolfe Research reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $700.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Monness Crespi & Hardt increased their target price on Meta Platforms from $730.00 to $830.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Meta Platforms from $710.00 to $875.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 22nd. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on Meta Platforms from $720.00 to $580.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Roth Capital dropped their price target on Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $750.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $791.86.

About Meta Platforms

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.