Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Earns “Buy” Rating from Bank of America
by Mitch Edgeman · The Markets DailyMeta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reiterated by research analysts at Bank of America in a report issued on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $810.00 target price on the social networking company’s stock. Bank of America‘s target price indicates a potential upside of 9.28% from the stock’s previous close.
Several other research firms also recently weighed in on META. Phillip Securities raised Meta Platforms to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. UBS Group dropped their price target on Meta Platforms from $766.00 to $715.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Benchmark reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on shares of Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $750.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Scotiabank reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $600.00 price target on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-four have assigned a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $789.63.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms Stock Performance
Shares of META opened at $741.24 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $608.02 and a 200-day simple moving average of $610.09. The company has a quick ratio of 2.23, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a market capitalization of $1.89 trillion, a PE ratio of 27.92, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.25. Meta Platforms has a 52-week low of $520.26 and a 52-week high of $785.73.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 EPS 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 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 firm posted $7.14 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Meta Platforms will post 27.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Transactions at Meta Platforms
In other news, insider Christopher Cox sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $650.28, for a total transaction of $13,005,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 244,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $159,003,864.48. The trade was a 7.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 3,348 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $600.97, for a total value of $2,012,047.56. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 9,498 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,708,013.06. This represents a 26.06% 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. Insiders have sold 81,758 shares of company stock valued at $51,214,020 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Meta Platforms
Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. RHL Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Advantage Trust Co bought a new stake in Meta Platforms in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Philadelphia Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Meta Platforms during the second quarter valued at $32,000. Axiom Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Meta Platforms in the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Schuylkill Financial LLC acquired a new position in Meta Platforms during the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.91% of the company’s stock.
Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms
Here are the key news stories impacting Meta Platforms this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Muse is gaining traction: Muse reportedly surpassed ChatGPT, Grok and Claude in U.S. iOS rankings, with approximately 730,000 downloads in its first several days. Estimates also indicate that its first 12-day mobile launch outpaced ChatGPT’s early performance, strengthening expectations that Meta can monetize AI across its large user base. Meta’s Muse personal AI agent tops ChatGPT, Grok and Claude for post-launch downloads
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst support added momentum: Wells Fargo raised its Meta price target to $796 from $640 and maintained an Overweight rating, citing recent AI model launches and early Muse adoption. Investor attention is also building ahead of Meta Connect, with options activity increasing as traders anticipate further product announcements. Meta stock jumps 9% today: here’s why
- Positive Sentiment: Potential platform and commerce opportunity: Shopify plans to let Muse complete purchases at participating stores, while Stripe and other services could help turn Muse into a developer platform and new transaction-revenue channel. Shopify to Use Meta’s Muse for Agentic Checkout
- Positive Sentiment: AI infrastructure investment supports the longer-term thesis: Meta’s planned Alberta data center and large-scale subsea network underscore its commitment to AI capacity, although these projects require substantial capital spending. Meta data center boosts Alberta appeal for hyperscalers
- Neutral Sentiment: Meta’s agreement with plastics-recycling startup MacroCycle may help fund development of MacroCycle’s first commercial plant, but the announcement appears unlikely to materially affect Meta’s near-term earnings or valuation. Meta deal will help plastics recycling startup MacroCycle build its first factory
- Negative Sentiment: Risks could limit follow-through: Amazon blocked Muse from shopping on its website over security, privacy and unauthorized-agent concerns, highlighting the regulatory and platform-access challenges facing agentic commerce. In addition, Zacks noted that recent earnings-estimate revisions do not currently support continued strength. Amazon blocks Meta’s Muse AI assistant
About Meta Platforms
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.
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