Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Stock Price Up 2.3% – What’s Next?

Shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) rose 2.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $653.88 and last traded at $653.69. Approximately 11,190,007 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 30% from the average daily volume of 16,035,173 shares. The stock had previously closed at $639.30.

Key Stories Impacting Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Blockbuster AMD AI deal validates Meta’s AI buildout — Meta agreed to deploy up to ~6 gigawatts of AMD Instinct GPUs (potentially $60–$100B over time) and could take an equity stake, reducing supplier concentration and locking in multi?year capacity that supports growth expectations. AMD clinches second mega chip supply deal
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America and other brokers reiterate constructive view — BofA kept Buy ratings on META (and AMD), saying the AMD agreement strengthens Meta’s long?term positioning despite higher capex. That analyst backing helps underpin investor confidence after the headline deal. Meta-AMD AI deal boosts scale but extends high capex cycle, analysts say
• Positive Sentiment: Fundamentals and engagement remain strong — Bullish research highlights accelerating user/ARPU trends and Threads engagement as incremental growth drivers, supporting upside to ad monetization as Meta layers AI features. Meta Platforms: The Growth Machine That Keeps On Giving
• Neutral Sentiment: Stablecoin/payments plans under study — Reports say Meta is exploring stablecoin?based payments across its apps in H2?2026; a longer?term monetization opportunity but dependent on partners and regulatory approvals. Meta Hopes to Launch Stablecoin Payments Project This Year
• Neutral Sentiment: White House convening on data?center power costs — Meta is among hyperscalers invited to a government meeting aimed at reining in electricity costs for AI/data centers — relevant to operating costs but not an immediate earnings catalyst. White House to host Big Tech in pledge to rein in power costs
• Neutral Sentiment: Renewable power deal for US data center capacity — Meta signed an 80?MW solar offtake in Pennsylvania to support operations; ESG/operationally positive but small short?term financial impact. MN8 Energy Supports Meta’s U.S. Data Center Operations
• Negative Sentiment: Massive capex outlook remains a headwind — Markets remain focused on Meta’s 2026 capex guidance (roughly $115–$135B) and the spending implied by dual deals with Nvidia and AMD; higher capital intensity could pressure free cash flow and raise dilution/valuation concerns. Why Is Meta Platforms Stock Underperforming?
• Negative Sentiment: Insider sale and governance signal — CFO Susan Li sold ~18,789 shares (~$12.2M), reducing her position ~21% — routine filers can amplify investor nervousness when combined with other headwinds. SEC filing: Susan J. Li sale
• Negative Sentiment: Legal and reputational risks — Recent court filings show internal concern that end?to?end encryption could hamper child?safety reporting, keeping regulatory and litigation risk on the front pages. Meta executive warned Facebook Messenger encryption plan was ‘so irresponsible’
• Negative Sentiment: Technical/market warnings — Some traders and commentators flag technical patterns that could presage a correction, a reminder that momentum from deal headlines can reverse if fundamentals or macro sentiment shift. Meta stock on the verge of a brutal bear cycle, warns expert

Analyst Ratings Changes

META has been the subject of several research analyst reports. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Meta Platforms from $825.00 to $850.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Wedbush raised their price target on Meta Platforms from $880.00 to $900.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $750.00 to $825.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on shares of Meta Platforms from $800.00 to $850.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Wolfe Research restated an “outperform” rating and set a $850.00 target price (up from $800.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-nine have issued a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $844.44.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $1.65 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.28. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $656.11 and its 200-day simple moving average is $687.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 2.60 and a current ratio of 2.60.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 28th. The social networking company reported $8.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $8.16 by $0.72. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 30.08% and a return on equity of 38.61%. The business had revenue of $59.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $58.33 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $8.02 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 23.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 26.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.525 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. This represents a $2.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.94%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CTO Andrew Bosworth sold 8,089 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $631.24, for a total transaction of $5,106,100.36. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer directly owned 2,841 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,793,352.84. This represents a 74.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Susan J. Li sold 18,789 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $650.00, for a total value of $12,212,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 68,888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $44,777,200. The trade was a 21.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 46,580 shares of company stock worth $30,048,498 in the last three months. Company insiders own 13.61% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Meta Platforms

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Goldstone Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 44.4% during the third quarter. Goldstone Financial Group LLC now owns 3,752 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $2,756,000 after purchasing an additional 1,153 shares during the last quarter. CW Advisors LLC boosted its position in Meta Platforms by 27.8% during the 2nd quarter. CW Advisors LLC now owns 176,762 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $130,467,000 after buying an additional 38,432 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Meta Platforms by 34.2% during the 3rd quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC now owns 52,252 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $38,373,000 after acquiring an additional 13,311 shares during the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR increased its position in Meta Platforms by 5.6% in the 2nd quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 84,687 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $62,507,000 after acquiring an additional 4,473 shares during the period. Finally, Cherokee Insurance Co bought a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at $3,321,000. 79.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Meta Platforms Company Profile

Meta Platforms, Inc (NASDAQ: META), formerly Facebook, Inc, is a global technology company best known for building social networking services and immersive computing platforms. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the company operates a family of consumer-facing products and services that connect users, creators and businesses. In October 2021 the company rebranded as Meta to reflect an expanded strategic focus on augmented and virtual reality technologies alongside its social media businesses.

Meta’s core consumer products include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, which enable social networking, messaging, content sharing and community building across mobile and desktop devices.