Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) COO Javier Olivan Sells 946 Shares of Stock

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) COO Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $707.20, for a total transaction of $669,011.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 5,986 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,233,299.20. This trade represents a 13.65% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Javier Olivan also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Monday, October 19th, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $707.20, for a total transaction of $444,828.80.
• On Monday, October 12th, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $728.10, for a total transaction of $457,974.90.
• On Monday, October 12th, Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $728.10, for a total transaction of $688,782.60.
• On Monday, October 5th, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $728.08, for a total transaction of $457,962.32.
• On Monday, October 5th, Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $728.08, for a total value of $688,763.68.
• On Monday, September 28th, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $748.91, for a total value of $471,064.39.
• On Monday, September 28th, Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $750.42, for a total value of $709,897.32.
• On Monday, September 21st, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total value of $427,889.83.
• On Monday, September 21st, Javier Olivan sold 946 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $680.27, for a total value of $643,535.42.
• On Monday, September 14th, Javier Olivan sold 629 shares of Meta Platforms stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $657.73, for a total value of $413,712.17.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ META traded up $3.27 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $697.52. 28,153,527 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,564,842. 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, Inc. has a 12 month low of $520.26 and a 12 month high of $779.82. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $659.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $628.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.78 trillion, a PE ratio of 26.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.19.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 21st. The social networking company reported $7.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.86. Meta Platforms had a return on equity of 33.18% and a net margin of 29.83%. The business had revenue of $64.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $63.34 billion. As a group, analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 27.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

META has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $770.00 price objective on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $920.00 target price on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $710.00 to $875.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 22nd. BNP Paribas Exane decreased their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $955.00 to $855.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Citic Securities lowered their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $770.00 to $718.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have issued a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $811.24.

Key Meta Platforms News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Revenue and earnings beat expectations. Meta reported $64.6 billion in quarterly revenue versus the $63.34 billion consensus estimate, while EPS of $7.40 exceeded expectations of $6.54. The results reinforced confidence in the company’s advertising engine. Meta Platforms earnings results
• Positive Sentiment: Muse is gaining rapid traction. Meta said its AI assistant Muse has surpassed 10 million users, supporting the investment case that the company can use its massive social-app audience to build future advertising, commerce and subscription opportunities. Muse user growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta is increasing AI infrastructure spending. Third-quarter capital expenditures reached $34.91 billion, and management raised the lower end of its annual spending outlook. The investment could strengthen Meta’s competitive position, but it is also pressuring cash flow and raising questions about the timing of returns. Meta AI capital spending
• Neutral Sentiment: A new Class C stock will preserve Mark Zuckerberg’s control. The nonvoting shares are intended to help fund AI expansion without reducing Zuckerberg’s voting power. The structure may provide financing flexibility, but investors could remain concerned about dilution and governance. Meta new share class
• Negative Sentiment: Major legal exposures cloud the report. Meta faces a $25 billion New Mexico judgment tied to privacy practices and recorded a $9.9 billion charge related to a broader teen mental-health lawsuit settlement. The company plans to appeal the New Mexico ruling, but the liabilities highlight ongoing regulatory and litigation risks. Meta New Mexico privacy judgment

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd grew its position in Meta Platforms by 18.6% during the second quarter. Fairtree Asset Management Pty Ltd now owns 18,777 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $10,577,000 after buying an additional 2,939 shares in the last quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc increased its stake in Meta Platforms by 33.6% during the 2nd quarter. Madison Wealth Partners Inc now owns 3,031 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $1,707,000 after acquiring an additional 763 shares during the period. William John Sempolinski acquired a new position in Meta Platforms in the 2nd quarter valued at $3,107,000. Sone Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Meta Platforms by 38.2% in the 2nd quarter. Sone Capital Management LLC now owns 16,059 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $9,046,000 after acquiring an additional 4,440 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lakewood Capital Management LP raised its holdings in Meta Platforms by 63.7% in the 2nd quarter. Lakewood Capital Management LP now owns 115,985 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $65,333,000 after acquiring an additional 45,130 shares in the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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’s principal platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Threads, which enable users to connect, communicate, share content, and discover products and services.

Meta also operates Reality Labs, its division focused on virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies. Reality Labs develops products such as Meta Quest virtual reality headsets and related software and experiences, along with research and hardware intended to support immersive computing.