Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Shares Down 4.8% Following Insider Selling

Shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) traded down 4.8% during mid-day trading on Monday following insider selling activity. The company traded as low as $713.19 and last traded at $715.62. Approximately 27,599,422 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 57% from the average session volume of 17,527,525 shares. The stock had previously closed at $751.66.

Specifically, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total transaction of $21,359,386.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total transaction of $427,889.83. Following the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 1,175 shares in the company, valued at approximately $799,317.25. The trade was a 34.87% 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. In other news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total value of $643,535.42. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 9,770 shares in the company, valued at $6,646,237.90. The trade was a 8.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on META shares. Roth Capital lowered their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $750.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Citigroup reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $770.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. New Street Research lowered their price target on Meta Platforms from $730.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $710.00 to $875.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. 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. According to MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $787.86.

Meta Platforms News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta expanded Muse for Small Business, adding integrations with Shopify, QuickBooks, Stripe, Canva, Dropbox and Slack. The initiative could help monetize Meta’s substantial AI investment through business subscriptions, transaction fees and software or API sales. Meta expands Muse AI agent for small businesses
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts highlighted Muse’s rapid adoption and Meta’s distribution advantage across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp. Potential monetization beyond advertising—including subscriptions, commerce commissions, enterprise tools and commercial model licensing—has encouraged investors to value Meta as more than an advertising company. Beyond advertising: analysts align on Meta Muse
• Positive Sentiment: Meta hired MongoDB CEO Chirantan “CJ” Desai to lead its enterprise-AI effort, signaling a serious push to sell Muse and related tools to corporate customers. One analyst also raised the price target on META to $830 from $730 with a Buy rating. Meta launches enterprise AI platform
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta’s school-based Instagram safety program and voluntary safeguards discussed at a White House AI meeting may help address scrutiny, but they do not eliminate the broader regulatory risk surrounding teen safety, autonomous AI and data use. Meta expands Instagram school program
• Negative Sentiment: OpenAI introduced its competing always-on Dots agents, intensifying competition in enterprise and consumer AI before Meta has fully monetized Muse. Reports that Muse disclosed a user’s private information and home address also raise trust, reputational and potential legal concerns. OpenAI takes on Meta with Dots
• Negative Sentiment: The New York Times reported that Meta uses AI data-center spending to claim substantial federal research tax benefits, while the company’s accountants reportedly consider the approach risky. Possible scrutiny could increase tax costs or add regulatory uncertainty. How Meta uses AI data centers to avoid federal taxes
• Negative Sentiment: Meta’s heavy AI infrastructure spending continues to pressure the investment case, while CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s sale of 27,474 shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan may add modest sentiment pressure. The recent rally has also left valuation more sensitive to execution disappointments.

Meta Platforms Stock Up 3.3%

The company’s 50 day moving average price is $618.47 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $613.86. The firm has a market cap of $1.88 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.85, a PEG ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.25. 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 issued its quarterly earnings data 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 the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The company’s revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $7.14 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued 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 payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

Institutional Trading of Meta Platforms

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Watchman Group Inc. raised its position in Meta Platforms by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Watchman Group Inc. now owns 5,091 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,913,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Penney Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Penney Financial LLC now owns 399 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $228,000 after buying an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.0% during the first quarter. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,519 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $869,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the period. CWS Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.7% in the first quarter. CWS Financial Advisors LLC now owns 985 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $564,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tenzing Financial LLC lifted its stake in Meta Platforms by 1.3% in the second quarter. Tenzing Financial LLC now owns 1,210 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $726,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% 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.