Meta Platforms stock activity shows continued investor interest and solid quarterly results
Triglav Skladi D.O.O. boosted its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) by 9.0% in the first quarter, according to its latest Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund held 115,140 Meta shares after adding 9,524 shares during the quarter, making Meta about 5.6% of its portfolio and the company’s the fund’s fifth-largest position. The value of Triglav Skladi D.O.O.’s Meta stake stood at $66.361 million at the end of the reporting period.
Several other hedge funds also adjusted their stakes in Meta. Valley Financial Group Inc. increased its Meta stake by 2.4% in the fourth quarter, owning 588 shares valued at $344,000 after acquiring 14 more shares. Lantern Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake by 0.5% in the fourth quarter, to 2,976 shares valued at $1.743 million after purchasing 14 more shares. ABLE Financial Group LLC added 0.7% in the fourth quarter, bringing its Meta holding to 2,136 shares worth $1.251 million after a 15-share purchase. Mosaic Family Wealth Partners LLC grew its position by 1.2% in the fourth quarter to 1,435 shares valued at $840,000 after buying 17 more shares. Orin Green Financial LLC increased its stake by 2.2% in the fourth quarter to 795 shares worth about $465,000 after adding 17 shares. Collectively, institutional investors own about 79.91% of Meta’s stock.
Meta Platforms’ shares were trading up about 0.4% in the latest session, at $785.23, with heavy turnover of roughly 13.36 million shares, above the average volume of around 12.96 million. The company carries a quick ratio and current ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. Meta’s 50-day moving average sits near $724.43, while the 200-day moving average stands around $655.21. The stock has traded in a 12-month range from a low of $479.80 to a high of $796.25, and the company sits with a market capitalization of about $1.97 trillion. The current price-to-earnings ratio is 28.43, the PEG ratio is 1.63, and the beta is 1.27.
Meta Platforms last reported quarterly results on July 30, with earnings of $7.14 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $5.75. Revenue for the quarter was $47.52 billion, above expectations of $44.55 billion. The company posted a return on equity of 39.33% and a net margin of 39.99%, with revenue up 21.6% from the prior year quarter. Analysts project about $26.7 earnings per share for the current year.
In dividends, Meta declared a quarterly payout of $0.525 per share, paid on June 26 to stockholders of record as of June 16. The annualized dividend would be $2.10 per share, yielding about 0.3%. The company’s dividend payout ratio stands around 7.60%.
Insider activity at Meta included notable movements in August. Christopher K. Cox sold 60,000 shares at an average price of $775.95, reducing his stake by about 20.19% to 237,205 shares valued around $184.06 million. CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 15,847 shares at an average price of $753.43 for approximately $11.94 million. In the last quarter, insiders sold a total of 269,243 Meta shares worth about $200.61 million, and insiders collectively own about 13.61% of the company.
Analysts have been updating their views on Meta. TD Cowen lifted its price objective from $800 to $875 and maintained a Buy rating in late July. Rosenblatt Securities increased its target from $846 to $918 with a Buy rating in early May. UBS Group raised its target from $812 to $897 with a Buy rating, also in late July. Bank of America moved its target from $775 to $900 and gave a Buy rating in late July, and Piper Sandler increased its target from $808 to $880 with an Overweight rating. Overall, market consensus remains tilted toward Buy, with MarketBeat indicating a Moderate Buy rating and an average target around $822.41.
Meta Platforms, Inc. engages in developing products that connect people through mobile devices, PCs, virtual reality headsets, and wearables worldwide. It operates two segments: Family of Apps and Reality Labs. The Family of Apps segment includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, among others, while Reality Labs covers augmented and virtual reality initiatives.
Summary and outlook
– The quarter saw strong earnings momentum and a broad base of professional investors increasing and holding Meta stock, reflecting confidence in continued growth.
– Meta’s financials show solid profitability and expanding revenue, supported by a diverse ecosystem of apps and services.
– With multiple upgrades from major firms and a steady dividend, the stock remains a focal point for institutional portfolios.
– As always, investors should consider the mix of growth potential and valuation, alongside broader market dynamics impacting ad-supported platforms and digital services.
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