Meta Platforms’ (META) Buy Rating Reiterated at Rosenblatt Securities

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)‘s stock had its “buy” rating restated by investment analysts at Rosenblatt Securities in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $886.00 price objective on the social networking company’s stock. Rosenblatt Securities’ price target indicates a potential upside of 32.19% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $810.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research note on Monday, June 1st. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Meta Platforms from $900.00 to $650.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Monness Crespi & Hardt dropped their target price on Meta Platforms from $890.00 to $730.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Barclays cut their target price on Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $780.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on Meta Platforms from $835.00 to $810.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $788.88.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

NASDAQ META opened at $670.24 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Meta Platforms has a 52-week low of $520.26 and a 52-week high of $790.80. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $603.98 and its 200 day moving average price is $609.04. The firm has a market cap of $1.71 trillion, a P/E ratio of 25.24, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.25.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 EPS 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations 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% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Meta Platforms will post 28.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms

In other Meta Platforms news, CAO Aaron Anderson sold 3,240 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $618.06, for a total transaction of $2,002,514.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 6,271 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,875,854.26. This trade represents a 34.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, 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 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $650.28, for a total value of $13,005,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 244,516 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $159,003,864.48. This trade represents a 7.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 60,183 shares of company stock worth $36,673,495 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bullseye Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter worth about $335,000. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas boosted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas now owns 3,086 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $1,738,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Talon Private Wealth LLC grew its position in Meta Platforms by 136.7% in the second quarter. Talon Private Wealth LLC now owns 4,008 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $2,258,000 after acquiring an additional 2,315 shares in the last quarter. Marathon Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Meta Platforms by 4.3% in the second quarter. Marathon Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 7,016 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $3,952,000 after acquiring an additional 287 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Junto Capital Management LP raised its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 104.1% during the second quarter. Junto Capital Management LP now owns 110,841 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $62,436,000 after purchasing an additional 56,537 shares during the period. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Meta Platforms News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: New AI subscription revenue opportunity: Meta launched Meta One, with plans ranging from $2.99 to $499 per month. The service offers higher usage limits for Meta AI tools, image and video creation features, and premium functionality across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Investors view the rollout as an early step toward recurring AI revenue beyond advertising. Meta launches subscriptions with enhanced AI features
• Positive Sentiment: AI commercialization is broadening: Meta is allowing AI agents to help businesses set up and manage WhatsApp Business messaging, potentially improving monetization and adoption among commercial users. Analysts have also highlighted improving AI-driven advertising and the possibility of meaningful revenue from the Muse AI platform. Meta now lets AI agents handle WhatsApp Business setup
• Positive Sentiment: Potentially lower dependence on Nvidia: Reports say Meta plans to expand the use of cheaper, proprietary AI chips. If successful, the initiative could reduce hardware costs and supply-chain dependence while supporting Meta’s large AI infrastructure buildout. Meta plans cheaper in-house AI chips
• Neutral Sentiment: AI safety stance: CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Meta delayed its Muse AI agent for several months to address safety and security issues and favors independent evaluators and advisers rather than a broad industry slowdown. The position may reduce release-related risk, but it also underscores the regulatory and liability challenges surrounding frontier AI. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on AI safety
• Neutral Sentiment: New hardware expansion: Meta reportedly plans to launch camera-free Luna smart glasses this fall, adding another potential AI and consumer-device growth avenue. Execution, adoption and privacy concerns remain uncertain. Meta camera-free smart glasses report
• Negative Sentiment: Spending and regulatory risks persist: Meta’s aggressive AI infrastructure investment is increasing fixed costs and could pressure free cash flow if advertising growth or AI utilization disappoints. Separately, California restrictions on youth-oriented advertising practices and lawsuits involving alleged facial-recognition features could create additional legal costs and regulatory risk. Meta legal and regulatory risks

Meta Platforms Company Profile

Meta Platforms, Inc develops technologies that help people connect, communicate and build communities online. The company’s principal products include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp and Threads, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and digital communication.

Meta generates most of its business through advertising displayed across its family of apps. It also develops artificial intelligence technologies, business messaging tools and hardware and software through its Reality Labs division, including Quest virtual- and mixed-reality devices and related experiences.

The company was founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and was renamed Meta Platforms in 2021 to reflect its broader focus on building the metaverse.