Throughout the last three months, 47 analysts have evaluated Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
| Bullish | Somewhat Bullish | Indifferent | Somewhat Bearish | Bearish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Ratings | 22 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Last 30D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1M Ago | 6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2M Ago | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3M Ago | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Analysts' evaluations of 12-month price targets offer additional insights, showcasing an average target of $654.6, with a high estimate of $811.00 and a low estimate of $525.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 7.76% from the previous average price target of $607.47.
Interpreting Analyst Ratings: A Closer Look
An in-depth analysis of recent analyst actions unveils how financial experts perceive Meta Platforms. The following summary outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
| Analyst | Analyst Firm | Action Taken | Rating | Current Price Target | Prior Price Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Beck | Raymond James | Maintains | Strong Buy | $675.00 | $675.00 |
| Ken Gawrelski | Wells Fargo | Lowers | Overweight | $641.00 | $652.00 |
| Ronald Josey | Citigroup | Raises | Buy | $705.00 | $645.00 |
| Lloyd Walmsley | UBS | Raises | Buy | $719.00 | $690.00 |
| Aaron Kessler | Seaport Global | Raises | Buy | $675.00 | $555.00 |
| Andrew Boone | JMP Securities | Raises | Market Outperform | $660.00 | $635.00 |
| Shyam Patil | Susquehanna | Raises | Positive | $675.00 | $600.00 |
| Rohit Kulkarni | Roth MKM | Raises | Buy | $635.00 | $620.00 |
| Ross Sandler | Barclays | Raises | Overweight | $630.00 | $550.00 |
| Nat Schindler | Scotiabank | Lowers | Sector Perform | $583.00 | $585.00 |
| Doug Anmuth | JP Morgan | Raises | Overweight | $660.00 | $640.00 |
| James Lee | Mizuho | Raises | Outperform | $675.00 | $650.00 |
| Justin Post | B of A Securities | Raises | Buy | $660.00 | $630.00 |
| Brian Pitz | BMO Capital | Raises | Market Perform | $530.00 | $525.00 |
| Thomas Champion | Piper Sandler | Raises | Overweight | $650.00 | $575.00 |
| Colin Sebastian | Baird | Raises | Outperform | $630.00 | $605.00 |
| Barton Crockett | Rosenblatt | Maintains | Buy | $811.00 | $811.00 |
| Mark Shmulik | Bernstein | Raises | Outperform | $675.00 | $600.00 |
| Brent Thill | Jefferies | Raises | Buy | $675.00 | $600.00 |
| John Blackledge | TD Cowen | Raises | Buy | $675.00 | $600.00 |
| James Lee | Mizuho | Raises | Outperform | $650.00 | $600.00 |
| Deepak Mathivanan | Cantor Fitzgerald | Maintains | Overweight | $670.00 | $670.00 |
| Eric Sheridan | Goldman Sachs | Raises | Buy | $636.00 | $555.00 |
| Mark Kelley | Stifel | Raises | Buy | $663.00 | $590.00 |
| Rohit Kulkarni | Roth MKM | Raises | Buy | $620.00 | $550.00 |
| Nat Schindler | Scotiabank | Announces | Sector Perform | $585.00 | - |
| Youssef Squali | Truist Securities | Raises | Buy | $650.00 | $570.00 |
| Josh Beck | Raymond James | Raises | Strong Buy | $650.00 | $600.00 |
| Deepak Mathivanan | Cantor Fitzgerald | Raises | Overweight | $670.00 | $660.00 |
| Justin Patterson | Keybanc | Raises | Overweight | $655.00 | $560.00 |
| Brian Pitz | BMO Capital | Raises | Market Perform | $525.00 | $475.00 |
| Lloyd Walmsley | UBS | Raises | Buy | $690.00 | $635.00 |
| Michael Morris | Guggenheim | Raises | Buy | $665.00 | $600.00 |
| Ken Gawrelski | Wells Fargo | Raises | Overweight | $652.00 | $647.00 |
| Jeffrey Wlodarczak | Pivotal Research | Announces | Buy | $780.00 | - |
| Deepak Mathivanan | Cantor Fitzgerald | Maintains | Overweight | $660.00 | $660.00 |
| Brian White | Monness, Crespi, Hardt | Raises | Buy | $620.00 | $570.00 |
| Barton Crockett | Rosenblatt | Raises | Buy | $811.00 | $643.00 |
| Justin Post | B of A Securities | Raises | Buy | $630.00 | $563.00 |
| Doug Anmuth | JP Morgan | Raises | Overweight | $640.00 | $610.00 |
| Andrew Boone | JMP Securities | Raises | Market Outperform | $635.00 | $550.00 |
| Scott Devitt | Wedbush | Maintains | Outperform | $600.00 | $600.00 |
| Colin Sebastian | Baird | Raises | Outperform | $605.00 | $530.00 |
| Deepak Mathivanan | Cantor Fitzgerald | Maintains | Overweight | $660.00 | $660.00 |
| Ronald Josey | Citigroup | Raises | Buy | $645.00 | $580.00 |
| Gil Luria | DA Davidson | Announces | Buy | $600.00 | - |
| Deepak Mathivanan | Cantor Fitzgerald | Announces | Overweight | $660.00 | - |
Key Insights:
- Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Meta Platforms. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.
- Rating: Offering insights into predictions, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Meta Platforms compared to the broader market.
- Price Targets: Analysts set price targets as an estimate of a stock's future value. Comparing the current and prior price targets provides insight into how analysts' expectations have changed over time. This information can be valuable for investors seeking to understand consensus views on the stock's potential future performance.
To gain a panoramic view of Meta Platforms's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
Stay up to date on Meta Platforms analyst ratings.
Discovering Meta Platforms: A Closer Look
Meta is the largest social media company in the world, boasting close to 4 billion monthly active users worldwide. The firm's "Family of Apps," its core business, consists of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. End users can leverage these applications for a variety of different purposes, from keeping in touch with friends to following celebrities and running digital businesses for free. Meta packages customer data, gleaned from its application ecosystem and sells ads to digital advertisers. While the firm has been investing heavily in its Reality Labs business, it remains a very small part of Meta's overall sales.
A Deep Dive into Meta Platforms's Financials
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization is above the industry average, indicating that it is relatively larger in size compared to peers. This may suggest a higher level of investor confidence and market recognition.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Meta Platforms showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 18.87% as of 30 September, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Communication Services sector.
Net Margin: Meta Platforms's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 38.65%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Meta Platforms's ROE stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 9.77%, the company demonstrates effective use of equity capital and strong financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Meta Platforms's ROA stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 6.45%, the company demonstrates effective utilization of assets and strong financial performance.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.3, Meta Platforms adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
The Basics of Analyst Ratings
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
In addition to their assessments, some analysts extend their insights by offering predictions for key metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates. This supplementary information provides further guidance for traders. It is crucial to recognize that, despite their specialization, analysts are human and can only provide forecasts based on their beliefs.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.
