Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Stock Price Breaks Above 200-Day Moving Average – Here’s Why

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)’s share price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $632.30 and traded as high as $647.25. Meta Platforms shares last traded at $641.37, with a volume of 19,091,946 shares.

Meta Platforms News Roundup

Here’s some of the latest news about META:

• 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
• Negative Sentiment: Meta’s Facebook was fined by Brazil’s electoral court over alleged failure to provide equal content during a presidential campaign, adding regulatory and reputational risk. Article: Meta Fined by Brazil Electoral Court

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Arete Research boosted their price target on Meta Platforms from $735.00 to $806.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. UBS Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $920.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $775.00 to $820.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, October 19th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $750.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Wolfe Research reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $700.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Three equities research 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’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $833.12.

Meta Platforms Stock Down 2.0%

The company has a quick ratio of 1.90, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The company has a market cap of $1.61 trillion, a P/E ratio of 21.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a fifty day moving average of $677.61 and a 200 day moving average of $632.27.

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

Meta Platforms Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st were paid 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 is 7.16%.

Insider Activity at Meta Platforms

In related news, COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $614.15, for a total value of $580,985.90. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 4,094 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,514,330.10. This trade represents a 18.77% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 149,398 shares of company stock valued at $102,134,435. Corporate insiders own 13.42% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Meta Platforms

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of META. Horizons Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms in the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Advantage Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 116.7% during the 3rd quarter. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. now owns 52 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Meta Platforms in the 1st quarter worth $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Meta Platforms Company Profile

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.