Meta Platforms, Inc. $META Shares Purchased by Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC

Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) by 386.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,165 shares of the social networking company’s stock after buying an additional 1,720 shares during the period. Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Meta Platforms were worth $1,590,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. boosted its holdings in Meta Platforms by 1.1% in the third quarter. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 6,261 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $4,598,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Vision Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 28.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vision Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,941 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $2,894,000 after buying an additional 876 shares during the last quarter. WD Rutherford LLC lifted its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. WD Rutherford LLC now owns 6,334 shares of the social networking company’s stock worth $4,652,000 after buying an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Meta Platforms by 11.8% in the 3rd quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 20,971 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $15,401,000 after buying an additional 2,221 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atwater Malick LLC grew its position in shares of Meta Platforms by 145.8% in the 3rd quarter. Atwater Malick LLC now owns 870 shares of the social networking company’s stock valued at $639,000 after buying an additional 516 shares during the last quarter. 79.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about Meta Platforms

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

• Positive Sentiment: Big‑tech energy partnerships reduce a major execution risk for Meta’s planned AI/data‑center buildout by securing long‑term baseload power and prepayment support — lowers power/capex uncertainty for Meta Compute. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Additional nuclear supply/partner signals (Terrapower reports) similarly bolster Meta’s ability to scale tens/hundreds of gigawatts for AI compute — a strategic enabler for long‑term AI ambitions. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Wikimedia signed deals giving major AI developers access to Wikipedia content (Meta is a partner) — improves training data access and reduces a content‑quality/permission risk for LLM work. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Some analysts remain bullish and have reaffirmed/raised targets (e.g., Rosenblatt), supporting upside expectations if Meta’s AI investments translate into ad or device monetization. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Meta Compute — Zuckerberg’s large new data‑center initiative — clarifies strategy (control over AI compute) but implies materially higher capex and longer payback; investors will watch execution and FCF impact. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Upcoming quarterly results (Q4 & full‑year 2025) are set for Jan. 28 — a near‑term catalyst that could confirm ad momentum or quantify 2026 capex guidance. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Reality Labs cuts (~1,500 jobs, ~10% of the division) signal a pullback from metaverse projects; saves costs but raises execution and product risk for VR/metaverse roadmaps and could weigh on sentiment. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Some analysts trimmed targets and issued pessimistic forecasts citing very large 2026 capex and falling free cash flow — creating pressure and increased volatility ahead of results. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling by COO Javier Oliván (recent small, repeated sales disclosed) can amplify short‑term selling narratives even if transactions are routine. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Ongoing regulatory/legal matters (e.g., WhatsApp appeals, global scrutiny) remain background risks that could add costs or limit product rollouts in key markets. Read More.

Meta Platforms Stock Performance

NASDAQ:META opened at $620.80 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.98. The firm has a market cap of $1.56 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.29. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $641.05 and its 200 day moving average price is $701.04. Meta Platforms, Inc. has a 1-year low of $479.80 and a 1-year high of $796.25.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The social networking company reported $7.25 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.74 by $0.51. Meta Platforms had a net margin of 30.89% and a return on equity of 39.35%. The company had revenue of $51.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $49.34 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.03 EPS. Meta Platforms’s quarterly revenue was up 26.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Meta Platforms, Inc. will post 26.7 EPS for the current year.

Meta Platforms Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th were given a $0.525 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. Meta Platforms’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.28%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on META shares. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Meta Platforms from $820.00 to $750.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. BNP Paribas Exane began coverage on Meta Platforms in a report on Monday, November 24th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $800.00 target price for the company. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Citizens Jmp reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $900.00 price target (up previously from $750.00) on shares of Meta Platforms in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Monness Crespi & Hardt decreased their price objective on Meta Platforms from $860.00 to $808.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirty-nine have assigned a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Meta Platforms presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $822.96.

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms

In related news, Director Robert M. Kimmitt sold 580 shares of Meta Platforms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $646.00, for a total value of $374,680.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 6,167 shares in the company, valued at $3,983,882. The trade was a 8.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, COO Javier Olivan sold 517 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, January 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $653.00, for a total value of $337,601.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 11,166 shares in the company, valued at $7,291,398. This represents a 4.43% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 40,571 shares of company stock valued at $25,137,541. 13.61% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Meta Platforms

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.