Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Stock: International Assets Investment Management LLC Reduces Stake

International Assets Investment Management LLC lessened its stake in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 9.2% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 19,853 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 2,005 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms accounts for approximately 0.2% of International Assets Investment Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 24th largest position. International Assets Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $14,420,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Bill Few Associates Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.3% in the third quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. now owns 1,206 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $874,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Value Partners Investments Inc. lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.8% in the third quarter. Value Partners Investments Inc. now owns 866 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $630,000 after buying an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Tenzing Financial LLC lifted its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 16 shares in the last quarter. Uptown Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Meta Platforms by 1.3% during the second quarter. Uptown Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,273 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $717,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sheets Smith Wealth Management boosted its stake in Meta Platforms by 2.8% during the second quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management now owns 594 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $334,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Meta Platforms Stock Down 2.0%

Shares of META opened at $628.77 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $1.61 trillion, a PE ratio of 21.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.28. The business has a fifty day moving average of $678.62 and a 200 day moving average of $632.12. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52-week low of $520.26 and a 52-week high of $779.82. The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 22nd. The social networking company reported $7.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 31.15% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The business had revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $63.34 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $7.25 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 29.01 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

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

Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms

Here are a few of the latest headlines about META:

• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan named Meta its preferred internet stock, citing AI’s contribution to advertising performance and potential growth in Family of Apps ad revenue. Article: Meta Platforms Wins JPMorgan Backing
• Neutral Sentiment: Infrastructure chief Santosh Janardhan is set to leave in early 2027, with former AWS executive David Brown slated to succeed him and lead infrastructure work tied to Meta’s AI computing initiative. The planned succession may support continuity, though the leadership change comes during a major infrastructure buildout. Article: Meta head of infrastructure will leave and be succeeded by former AWS cloud exec
• Negative Sentiment: United Airlines barred AI agents from booking flights, raising doubts about a prominent potential use for Meta’s Muse agent and weighing on sentiment toward the company’s AI ambitions. Article: United Airlines bars AI agents from booking tickets

Insider Activity

In related news, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 7,848 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $558.00, for a total value of $4,379,184.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer directly owned 828 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $462,024. This represents a 90.46% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 184,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. The trade was 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 149,398 shares of company stock worth $102,134,435 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 13.42% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on META. Guggenheim restated a “buy” rating and set a $850.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Loop Capital lifted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $740.00 to $955.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $750.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Arete Research increased their target price on Meta Platforms from $735.00 to $806.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on Meta Platforms from $895.00 to $905.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have issued a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target 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.