Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Stock: Insider Javier Olivan Sells 946 Shares

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, October 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $728.10, for a total transaction of $688,782.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 6,932 shares in the company, valued at $5,047,189.20. This trade represents a 12.01% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Javier Olivan also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Monday, October 12th, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $728.10, for a total transaction of $457,974.90.
• On Monday, October 5th, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $728.08, for a total transaction of $457,962.32.
• On Monday, October 5th, Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $728.08, for a total transaction of $688,763.68.
• On Monday, September 28th, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $748.91, for a total transaction of $471,064.39.
• On Monday, September 28th, Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $750.42, for a total transaction of $709,897.32.
• On Monday, September 21st, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total transaction of $427,889.83.
• On Monday, September 21st, Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total transaction of $643,535.42.
• On Monday, September 14th, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $657.73, for a total value of $413,712.17.
• On Monday, September 14th, Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $657.73, for a total value of $622,212.58.
• On Tuesday, September 8th, Javier Olivan sold 2,516 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $616.44, for a total value of $1,550,963.04.

Meta Platforms Price Performance

Shares of META stock traded down $24.96 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $737.54. The company had a trading volume of 16,114,396 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,509,559. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 12 month low of $520.26 and a 12 month high of $779.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $647.53 and its 200 day moving average is $622.44. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.88 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.78, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.19.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). The company had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%. Meta Platforms’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $7.14 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 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. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were paid a dividend of $0.5250 per share. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is currently 7.91%.

Meta Platforms News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s new Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full models are improving investor confidence in its ability to compete with OpenAI, Anthropic, and other leading AI developers. Muse Wonder scored 83.2% on an accounting benchmark, ranking second among 57 tested models. Muse Wonder AI benchmark article
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America reiterated its Buy rating and $810 target, while Guggenheim raised its target to $850 and highlighted Meta’s progress relative to Anthropic. Truist also set a $1,000 bull-case target, reinforcing expectations that AI agents could create new revenue opportunities. Bank of America Meta AI outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Meta expanded WhatsApp calling by allowing people without accounts to join free, end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls. The move removes registration, time-limit, and download barriers, potentially improving WhatsApp’s business and communications utility. WhatsApp guest calling article
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain broadly bullish but divided: Goldman Sachs cut its target to $762 while retaining Buy status, citing higher operating expenses; UBS, Guggenheim, KeyCorp, and Rosenblatt remain more optimistic. The conflicting revisions contributed to uncertainty after Meta’s recent rally. Meta analyst disagreement article
• Negative Sentiment: Investors are concerned that accelerating Meta Superintelligence Labs spending and broader infrastructure costs could pressure near-term free cash flow and compress Meta’s valuation multiple. The company’s shares are also trading near their 52-week high, leaving less room for execution disappointments ahead of third-quarter earnings on October 21.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Meta Platforms

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Horizons Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Advantage Trust Co acquired a new position in Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Schuylkill Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter worth $36,000. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on META shares. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $750.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $930.00 to $950.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $796.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $700.00 to $850.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $860.00 to $840.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-five have issued a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $801.53.

About Meta Platforms

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.