46,961 Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Acquired by Rakuten Investment Management Inc.

Rakuten Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 10.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 489,194 shares of the social networking company’s stock after purchasing an additional 46,961 shares during the period. Meta Platforms accounts for 0.9% of Rakuten Investment Management Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Rakuten Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $361,412,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. MFG Investments LLC bought a new stake in Meta Platforms in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,135,000. Third View Private Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Meta Platforms by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Third View Private Wealth LLC now owns 48,140 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $34,910,000 after purchasing an additional 1,456 shares during the period. Provenance Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Meta Platforms by 1,887.1% in the 3rd quarter. Provenance Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 20,010 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $14,511,000 after purchasing an additional 19,003 shares during the last quarter. RFG Holdings Inc. grew its position in Meta Platforms by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. RFG Holdings Inc. now owns 3,901 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $2,829,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hughes Financial Services LLC grew its position in Meta Platforms by 10.9% in the 3rd quarter. Hughes Financial Services LLC now owns 671 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $487,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan added Meta to its Analyst Focus List as a preferred internet stock, citing the strength of AI-powered advertising and potential new monetization opportunities. The endorsement helped lift shares. Article: Meta stock surges over 5% today: here’s why
• Positive Sentiment: Meta released Muse Ember, a lightweight, cost-efficient AI model built for agent tasks such as coding and document processing. Investors may see it as a step toward expanding AI capabilities efficiently. Article: Meta releases Muse Ember
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta is expanding AI age-estimation technology globally on Instagram to identify teen users and apply Teen Account protections. The rollout could help address safety concerns, but comes amid multiple lawsuits alleging harm to teens. Article: Meta expands Instagram’s AI age-guessing tech globally
• Negative Sentiment: Investor concerns remain about the scale of Meta’s AI investment: a recent analysis noted that free cash flow turned negative last quarter. Heavy spending could weigh on returns if AI monetization does not keep pace. Article: Meta Platforms Stock: Is it a Steal of a Deal at $650?

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms

In related news, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 21st. The stock was 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. The trade was a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total value 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. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 149,398 shares of company stock valued at $102,134,435. 13.42% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Monness Crespi & Hardt restated a “buy” rating and issued a $875.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. DA Davidson boosted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $700.00 to $800.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $850.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Susquehanna raised their target price on Meta Platforms from $650.00 to $850.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Finally, New Street Research lowered their target price on Meta Platforms from $730.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have given a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $833.12.

Meta Platforms Stock Up 5.1%

Meta Platforms stock opened at $641.37 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $1.64 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.87, a PEG ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $676.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $632.30. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 22nd. The social networking company reported $7.40 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86. The company had revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $63.34 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 31.15% and a return on equity of 30.73%. Meta Platforms’s revenue was up 26.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $7.25 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st were paid 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 (DPR) is currently 7.16%.

Meta Platforms Company Profile

Meta Platforms, Inc is a global technology company that develops social networking, messaging, and digital communication products. Its services include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads, which connect people and help businesses reach audiences around the world.

The company also develops virtual and augmented reality products and technologies through its Reality Labs division, including Quest headsets and related software and services. Advertising is a central part of Meta’s business, with its platforms providing tools for businesses to promote products and services.

Founded in 2004 as Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg and fellow students, the company changed its name to Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building social technologies and immersive digital experiences.