Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Sold by Legacy Wealth Management LLC MS

Legacy Wealth Management LLC MS lowered its stake in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 70.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,606 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 3,890 shares during the period. Legacy Wealth Management LLC MS’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $1,165,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta launched Spaces, a collaboration feature for its Muse AI agents, following the rollout of Muse Voice. The new offerings may help strengthen user engagement and expand Meta’s consumer AI ecosystem. Meta introduces Spaces
• Positive Sentiment: Recent earnings commentary points to AI supporting Meta’s advertising operations, reinforcing the potential for the company’s AI investments to generate revenue. Takeaways from recent earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta paused planned updates to its terms and is keeping existing rules in place. The move avoids an immediate policy change, though the underlying issues remain unresolved. Meta pauses planned terms updates
• Neutral Sentiment: Plans for new nonvoting Class C shares have been described as effectively creating a 2-for-1 split. A split changes the number of shares, but does not by itself change the company’s underlying value; the structure preserves Mark Zuckerberg’s voting control. Is Meta Platforms next for a stock split?
• Negative Sentiment: Meta and other platforms sued to block California restrictions on social-media features for users under 16. The case adds regulatory uncertainty and potential legal costs. Platforms sue over California teen social-media law
• Negative Sentiment: Meta warned that political backlash and possible limits on data-center construction could complicate its AI expansion. Its $15 billion senior-notes offering also highlights the scale of financing required for investment. Data-center expansion concerns
• Negative Sentiment: Reported ETF net selling and insider share sales may add short-term pressure, although the disclosed insider transaction was made under a pre-arranged trading plan. ETFs are net sellers of Meta Platforms

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Christopher Cox sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total transaction of $2,002,514.40. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,271 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,875,854.26. This represents a 34.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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 quarter, insiders have sold 149,398 shares of company stock worth $102,134,435. 13.42% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Shares of Meta Platforms stock opened at $610.15 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $1.56 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.28. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $674.97 and its 200-day moving average is $632.16. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a one year low of $520.26 and a one year high of $779.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 1.90.

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

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were paid a $0.5250 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is presently 7.16%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

META has been the topic of several analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $580.00 to $685.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $895.00 to $905.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. KeyCorp upped their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $905.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $886.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Tuesday, October 20th. Finally, CICC Research dropped their price objective on Meta Platforms from $773.00 to $700.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $833.12.

About Meta Platforms

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.