Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. Buys 27,298 Shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. $META

Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 39.3% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 96,774 shares of the social networking company’s stock after buying an additional 27,298 shares during the quarter. Meta Platforms accounts for 3.2% of Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest position. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A.’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $70,179,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Toth Financial Advisory Corp increased its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 86.9% during the 3rd quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 114 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Ayalon Insurance Comp Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 48.6% in the 3rd quarter. Ayalon Insurance Comp Ltd. now owns 21,400 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $15,519,000 after buying an additional 7,000 shares during the last quarter. Puff Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Puff Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,083 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,961,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Applied Capital LLC FL grew its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 2.3% in the third quarter. Applied Capital LLC FL now owns 8,181 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $5,933,000 after buying an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Elevation Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in Meta Platforms by 2.0% during the third quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 901 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $653,000 after buying an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Shares of META stock traded down $6.42 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $714.88. 6,828,145 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,427,426. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.82 trillion, a P/E ratio of 26.99, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.19. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $634.11 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $618.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 33.18%. The company had revenue of $60.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 earnings per share 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 paid a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7.91%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $777.44, for a total transaction of $21,359,386.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at $131,515,624.16. This trade represents a 17.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 148,222 shares of company stock valued at $101,033,627. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Meta Platforms News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen reaffirmed its “Buy” rating and set an $865 price target, implying roughly 20% upside from recent levels. The firm’s view supports the case that Meta’s AI investments can drive future growth. TD Cowen rating report
• Positive Sentiment: Meta’s Muse AI assistant launched on iPad shortly after its mobile debut and has topped app-download charts. Sustained adoption could create a new consumer platform and improve the long-term payoff from Meta’s AI spending. Meta Muse launches on iPad
• Positive Sentiment: Meta and Sierra are developing the Personal Agent Protocol with partners including Shopify, Stripe, Walmart and Genesys. An open standard for AI agents to transact with businesses could expand Meta’s role in AI commerce and customer interactions. Meta and Sierra AI agent protocol
• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo recently raised its price target to $1,000 and maintained an Overweight rating, citing enthusiasm around the Muse product cycle. A broad analyst consensus remains “Moderate Buy.” Wells Fargo raises Meta price target
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta is collaborating with AMD, Broadcom, Microsoft and Arista Networks on open, high-density Ethernet infrastructure. The effort may improve AI data-center flexibility, but it also underscores the scale of capital spending required. AI infrastructure collaboration
• Neutral Sentiment: Manus raised more than $500 million after Meta unwound its proposed acquisition of the Chinese AI startup. The financing gives Manus independence but highlights that Meta no longer controls a potentially valuable AI asset. Manus funding after Meta exit
• Negative Sentiment: Florida’s attorney general is seeking restrictions on users under 14 and wants a court to limit features such as Instagram and Facebook’s infinite scroll. Potential product restrictions, compliance costs and reduced engagement pose risks to advertising revenue. Florida legal action against Meta
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that Meta and other hyperscalers are burning cash on AI data centers before returns are proven. Meta’s AI strategy primarily depends on monetizing its own apps rather than selling cloud capacity externally, increasing execution risk. AI infrastructure cash-flow analysis
• Negative Sentiment: COO Javier Olivan sold shares through a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. While the transactions are not necessarily a warning, insider selling can modestly weigh on sentiment. Meta insider sale filing

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $700.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective 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. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $800.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Citigroup reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. Finally, UBS Group reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have given a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $791.86.

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.