2,135 Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Sold by Iowa State Bank

Iowa State Bank lowered its position in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 14.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 12,361 shares of the social networking company’s stock after selling 2,135 shares during the period. Meta Platforms comprises 1.4% of Iowa State Bank’s portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest holding. Iowa State Bank’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $8,964,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of META. Auto Owners Insurance Co lifted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 76,587.7% in the fourth quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 105,292,277 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $69,502,379,000 after buying an additional 105,154,977 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its position in Meta Platforms by 4.0% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 92,033,963 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $51,841,811,000 after acquiring an additional 3,510,123 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Meta Platforms during the 4th quarter worth about $22,152,075,000. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 14.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 21,038,035 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $12,036,491,000 after acquiring an additional 2,673,494 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 18,200,469 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $12,013,948,000 after acquiring an additional 1,046,715 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta Muse is strengthening the AI growth narrative. Coverage highlights the potential for Muse to capture share in personal-agent and AI-powered shopping markets, with early users reportedly relying on it for purchases that might otherwise go through Amazon. Analysts and commentators see the product as a possible long-term monetization driver. Meta Muse: Sparking the AI Revolution
• Positive Sentiment: AI infrastructure investments could support Meta’s long-term economics. Meta’s large spending commitments are being viewed as a way to improve advertising performance, engagement and future AI monetization. The company also has a 20-year power purchase agreement with Vistra, helping secure nuclear power for energy-intensive data centers and AI workloads. Vistra Stock Gains as Federal Funds Fuel Nuclear Power Expansion
• Positive Sentiment: Reels-first testing in India may improve video engagement and advertising opportunities. Sending some Facebook users directly into full-screen Reels could increase time spent on the platform and create additional short-form video inventory, although the financial impact remains unproven. Facebook tests going Reels-first in India
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta and other technology companies are challenging U.K. data demands. The dispute with Ofcom over online-safety information requests could limit compliance costs if successful, but it also underscores continuing regulatory scrutiny of Meta’s platforms. Meta, TikTok, X challenge UK watchdog over online safety data demands
• Negative Sentiment: New Mexico’s lawsuit represents the largest immediate risk. A judge is expected to rule this month on a potential penalty of up to $40 billion, an amount that could materially affect Meta’s cash position, earnings and ability to fund AI infrastructure. New Mexico Wants Meta to Pay Up to $40 Billion
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned about valuation and spending. Meta’s ambitious AI buildout requires substantial capital, while one market commentator reduced exposure to META as Treasury yields approached 5.26%, increasing pressure on expensive megacap technology stocks. Analyst Sells Cisco and Trims Meta Amid Rising Yields

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms

In related news, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total value of $2,002,514.40. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares in the company, valued at $3,875,854.26. This represents a 34.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at 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 Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total value of $28,510,400.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 184,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $131,515,624.16. This trade represents 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. In the last three months, insiders sold 146,647 shares of company stock valued at $99,886,901. Corporate insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

META has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $750.00 to $865.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, September 25th. Susquehanna lowered their target price on Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $650.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Monness Crespi & Hardt boosted their price target on Meta Platforms from $730.00 to $830.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, September 28th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Meta Platforms from $720.00 to $580.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, DA Davidson reduced their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $850.00 to $700.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-four have issued a Buy rating and ten have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $791.86.

Meta Platforms Stock Down 0.1%

Meta Platforms stock traded down $0.47 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $741.43. The stock had a trading volume of 5,730,973 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,470,250. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.89 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.19. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $520.26 and a fifty-two week high of $779.82. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $628.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is $616.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.23.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($1.01). Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%.The firm had revenue of $60.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $60.22 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. Meta Platforms’s revenue for the quarter was up 28.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a dividend of $0.5250 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 21st. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio is presently 7.91%.

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.