Ballew Advisors Inc Sells 1,032 Shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. $META

Ballew Advisors Inc cut its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 55.6% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 825 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 1,032 shares during the quarter. Ballew Advisors Inc’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $600,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Horizons Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Advantage Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth about $28,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter worth approximately $32,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the first quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Schuylkill Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on META. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $930.00 to $950.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $750.00 to $820.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, September 25th. Loop Capital lifted their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $740.00 to $955.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Finally, Evercore boosted their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $860.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 25th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $787.86.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

NASDAQ META traded up $13.82 on Monday, reaching $741.90. The stock had a trading volume of 15,190,492 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,530,553. The stock has a market cap of $1.89 trillion, a P/E ratio of 27.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12-month low of $520.26 and a 12-month high of $779.82. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $625.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $615.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). The business had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The business’s revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.14 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were given a dividend of $0.5250 per share. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.91%.

Key Headlines Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Muse strengthens Meta’s e-commerce opportunity: Meta’s AI shopping agent is reportedly completing purchases of products such as vintage wine and Levi’s jeans, potentially diverting transactions from Amazon. Shopify’s support for Muse could also help Meta build a broader commerce ecosystem. Meta’s Muse is already pulling one CEO’s purchases away from Amazon
• Positive Sentiment: AI is improving advertising economics: Analysts argue that Meta’s large user base and advertising machine can fund major AI investments. AI-driven targeting, engagement and pricing are supporting revenue growth, while bullish commentary suggests Muse and other AI products could create additional upside. Meta Platforms: The AI Spending Looks Crazy; The Economics Don’t
• Positive Sentiment: Long-term nuclear power access supports AI expansion: The Department of Energy plans to provide Vistra with approximately $4.2 billion to expand nuclear output. Much of the additional capacity is covered by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Meta, helping secure reliable electricity for data centers and reducing a potential infrastructure constraint. Vistra Gets $4.2B Federal Loan to Add Nuclear Power Meta Already Bought
• Neutral Sentiment: Reality Labs strategy may be changing: Reports of a quieter restructuring or reduction in metaverse spending could improve capital discipline and valuation, but the details and financial impact remain unclear. Pay Attention to Meta’s Quiet Dismantling of Its Biggest Mistake
• Negative Sentiment: Spending and legal risks remain: Meta may spend roughly $130 billion to $145 billion on 2026 capital expenditures, raising questions about returns on AI infrastructure. Lawsuits involving training data and intellectual property could further pressure its balance sheet or constrain AI development. Meta AI Plans Could Be Crippled By Lawsuits
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and macroeconomic headwinds persist: Meta is challenging U.K. demands for online-safety data, while executives face questioning about AI risks in New York. Separately, investor Steve Weiss trimmed his Meta position as Treasury yields approached 5.26%, highlighting valuation sensitivity to higher rates. Meta, TikTok, X challenge UK watchdog over online safety data demands

Insider Activity at Meta Platforms

In related news, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 7,848 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total transaction of $4,379,184.00. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer owned 828 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $462,024. This trade represents a 90.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total value of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% decrease in their position. 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. Insiders sold a total of 146,647 shares of company stock worth $99,886,901 in the last three months. Company insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Meta Platforms Company Profile

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.