Brokers Set Expectations for Meta Platforms FY2026 Earnings

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) – Analysts at Erste Group Bank decreased their FY2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Meta Platforms in a research report issued on Wednesday, February 18th. Erste Group Bank analyst H. Engel now forecasts that the social networking company will earn $29.58 per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of $29.72. Erste Group Bank has a “Hold” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Meta Platforms’ current full-year earnings is $26.70 per share. Erste Group Bank also issued estimates for Meta Platforms’ FY2027 earnings at $34.11 EPS.

A number of other research firms also recently commented on META. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating and set a $900.00 price objective (up from $870.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Arete Research set a $718.00 price target on Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Piper Sandler upped their price target on Meta Platforms from $840.00 to $880.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on Meta Platforms in a report on Monday, November 24th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $800.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Bank of America boosted their target price on Meta Platforms from $810.00 to $885.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-nine have issued a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $844.44.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

NASDAQ:META opened at $637.25 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $1.61 trillion, a P/E ratio of 27.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.28. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $656.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $688.15. Meta Platforms has a fifty-two week low of $479.80 and a fifty-two week high of $796.25. The company has a quick ratio of 2.60, a current ratio of 2.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The social networking company reported $8.88 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $8.16 by $0.72. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 30.08% and a return on equity of 38.61%. The company had revenue of $59.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $58.33 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $8.02 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 23.8% compared to the same quarter last year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be given a dividend of $0.525 per share. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 16th. Meta Platforms’s payout ratio is presently 8.94%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Susan J. Li sold 6,418 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Sunday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $639.77, for a total transaction of $4,106,043.86. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 73,346 shares in the company, valued at $46,924,570.42. This trade represents a 8.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 2,461 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated Sunday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $639.77, for a total value of $1,574,473.97. Following the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 12,108 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,746,335.16. The trade was a 16.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 27,791 shares of company stock valued at $17,835,648. Corporate insiders own 13.61% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Meta Platforms

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors grew its stake in Meta Platforms by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors now owns 3,506 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,587,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Vista Capital Partners Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.3% during the second quarter. Vista Capital Partners Inc. now owns 1,075 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $794,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares during the period. Trust Co of the South grew its position in Meta Platforms by 0.8% during the third quarter. Trust Co of the South now owns 1,850 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $1,359,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. Sentinel Pension Advisors LLC increased its stake in Meta Platforms by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Sentinel Pension Advisors LLC now owns 915 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $672,000 after buying an additional 14 shares during the period. Finally, Alpine Bank Wealth Management lifted its position in Meta Platforms by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Alpine Bank Wealth Management now owns 4,301 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $3,159,000 after buying an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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: Board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.525/share (payable Mar. 26); Goldman Sachs lists Meta among top growth picks — this boosts yield and buyback/dividend narrative that can support the stock. Meta (META) Strengthens Investor Appeal With Dividend Payout and Platform Expansion Efforts
• Positive Sentiment: Billionaire and institutional buying headlines (e.g., Bill Ackman, David Tepper coverage) are being cited by media — signals of high-profile conviction that can attract momentum buyers. A Billionaire Just Bet Big on This AI Stock. Should Investors Follow Suit?
• Positive Sentiment: Industry-level tailwind: Bridgewater projects ~ $650B of AI capex among big tech in 2026 — validates Meta’s heavy AI investment as part of a broad secular cycle that could expand ad/compute monetization over time. Big Tech to invest about $650 billion in AI in 2026, Bridgewater says
• Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary and analyst features (Jim Cramer, MarketBeat, Motley Fool) highlight Meta’s long-term AI/cloud ambitions and relative valuation within the “Magnificent Seven” — supportive for medium/long-term holders but not immediate catalysts. Jim Cramer Believes Meta’s (META) Developing Its Own Cloud Business
• Negative Sentiment: Investor concern about funding model: coverage highlights hyperscalers (including Meta) increasingly using debt to finance AI buildouts — shifts risk profile and worries some investors about rising leverage and capital allocation. How the AI debt binge shattered hyperscalers’ ‘unspoken contract’ with investors
• Negative Sentiment: WSJ reports Meta continues to borrow billions for AI despite strong free cash flow — reinforces investor unease that spending pace and financing choices could pressure margins or returns. Meta Rakes It In, Yet Still Borrows Billions for AI
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/legal risk: India’s Supreme Court will review appeals by Meta/WhatsApp over a ~₹213 crore penalty related to privacy policy — an active legal overhang in a key growth market. Indian Supreme Court To Hear Meta, WhatsApp Pleas Against ₹213 Crore Penalty Over Privacy Policy
• Negative Sentiment: Minor insider selling disclosed (director sale ~ $370k) — not large enough alone to move fundamentals but adds to mixed sentiment. Insider Selling: Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Director Sells $370,724.40 in Stock

About Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms, Inc (NASDAQ: META), formerly Facebook, Inc, is a global technology company best known for building social networking services and immersive computing platforms. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the company operates a family of consumer-facing products and services that connect users, creators and businesses. In October 2021 the company rebranded as Meta to reflect an expanded strategic focus on augmented and virtual reality technologies alongside its social media businesses.

Meta’s core consumer products include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and community building across mobile and desktop devices.