Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) Earns “Overweight” Rating from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)‘s stock had its “overweight” rating reissued by investment analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $920.00 price objective on the social networking company’s stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s price target would suggest a potential upside of 24.88% from the company’s previous close.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Daiwa Securities Group cut their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $790.00 to $687.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Loop Capital lifted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $740.00 to $955.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. Phillip Securities upgraded Meta Platforms from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $795.00 to $750.00 in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Barclays dropped their price target on Meta Platforms from $830.00 to $780.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Evercore boosted their price objective on Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $860.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-six have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $808.88.

Meta Platforms Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NASDAQ META opened at $736.72 on Thursday. Meta Platforms has a 52 week low of $520.26 and a 52 week high of $779.82. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $653.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $625.27. 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 cap of $1.88 trillion, a P/E ratio of 27.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.19.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The social networking company reported $6.18 earnings per share 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 the consensus estimate of $60.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 28.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Meta Platforms will post 27.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Susan J. Li sold 9,196 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.61, for a total transaction of $5,063,409.56. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 13,186 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,260,343.46. This trade represents a 41.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, 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 40,000 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.76, for a total transaction of $28,510,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 184,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $131,515,624.16. The trade was a 17.82% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 149,797 shares of company stock valued at $102,180,385. Insiders own 13.53% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of META. Watchman Group Inc. grew its position in Meta Platforms by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Watchman Group Inc. now owns 5,091 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $2,913,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Penney Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 3.9% during the first quarter. Penney Financial LLC now owns 399 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $228,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the period. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.0% during the first quarter. Barnes Pettey Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,519 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $869,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the period. Bill Few Associates Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.3% in the third quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. now owns 1,206 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $874,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CWS Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 1.7% in the first quarter. CWS Financial Advisors LLC now owns 985 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $564,000 after purchasing an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.91% of the company’s stock.

Key Meta Platforms News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Meta released the open-weight Muse Spark Open model for coding and AI-agent tasks. The model can run locally on high-end Macs through a collaboration with Apple, potentially expanding developer adoption, strengthening Meta’s AI position and creating longer-term monetization opportunities. Meta releases open-weight Muse Spark model for coding, agentic tasks
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America reiterated its Buy rating and $810 target after Meta’s new Muse Wonder models, while Guggenheim raised its target to $850 from $700. Analysts see Meta’s large user base as an advantage in distributing AI products and eventually generating revenue. Meta’s new AI models strengthen Bank of America’s bullish outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Meta- and Google-backed Jio Platforms is preparing a potentially record Indian IPO, which could highlight the value of Meta’s strategic investment and provide a possible valuation reference. Meta- and Google-backed Jio Platforms IPO
• Neutral Sentiment: Goldman Sachs cut its META price target from $860 to $762 but maintained a Buy rating. The reduced target reflects rising operating expenses and leaves only modest implied upside, contributing to the market’s cautious response. Goldman Sachs lowers expectations for Meta
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain concerned that Meta’s planned AI investment—reported at more than $130 billion—could sharply reduce free cash flow, while Reality Labs continues to generate substantial losses. These concerns may pressure valuation if AI monetization does not keep pace with spending.
• Negative Sentiment: Seven Democratic senators are questioning Meta’s claimed $6.6 billion in research tax credits for AI data centers, creating potential tax, regulatory and reputational risks. Senators question Meta AI data-center tax credits
• Negative Sentiment: A Brazilian judge ordered Meta to treat runoff candidates equally, adding political and content-moderation pressure. Separately, an investment manager and Meta insiders disclosed share sales, which may add to short-term sentiment concerns, although some insider transactions were made under prearranged trading plans. Brazil judge orders Meta to treat runoff candidates equally

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 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.