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Wall Street JournalAssessing Meta Platforms: Insights From 48 Financial Analysts
In the latest quarter, 48 analysts provided ratings for Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), showcasing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.
Summarizing their recent assessments, the table below illustrates the evolving sentiments in the past 30 days and compares them to the preceding months.
| Bullish | Somewhat Bullish | Indifferent | Somewhat Bearish | Bearish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Ratings | 24 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Last 30D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1M Ago | 10 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2M Ago | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3M Ago | 10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Analysts have recently evaluated Meta Platforms and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $617.12, accompanied by a high estimate of $811.00 and a low estimate of $475.00. This upward trend is apparent, with the current average reflecting a 9.2% increase from the previous average price target of $565.11.
Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Ivan Feinseth | Tigress Financial | Raises | Strong Buy | $645.00 | $575.00 |
| Rob Sanderson | Loop Capital | Raises | Buy | $575.00 | $550.00 |
| Andrew Boone | JMP Securities | Raises | Market Outperform | $550.00 | $525.00 |
| Michael Morris | Guggenheim | Raises | Buy | $600.00 | $500.00 |
| Benjamin Black | Deutsche Bank | Raises | Buy | $585.00 | $525.00 |
| Justin Patterson | Keybanc | Raises | Overweight | $560.00 | $540.00 |
| Rohit Kulkarni | Roth MKM | Raises | Buy | $550.00 | $510.00 |
| Ross Sandler | Barclays | Raises | Overweight | $550.00 | $520.00 |
| Brian Pitz | BMO Capital | Raises | Market Perform | $475.00 | $450.00 |
| Brad Erickson | RBC Capital | Maintains | Outperform | $570.00 | $570.00 |
| Mark Kelley | Stifel | Raises | Buy | $590.00 | $550.00 |
| Youssef Squali | Truist Securities | Raises | Buy | $570.00 | $535.00 |
| Shyam Patil | Susquehanna | Raises | Positive | $600.00 | $550.00 |
| Doug Anmuth | JP Morgan | Raises | Overweight | $610.00 | $480.00 |
| Mark Mahaney | Evercore ISI Group | Raises | Outperform | $600.00 | $550.00 |
| Ken Gawrelski | Wells Fargo | Raises | Overweight | $647.00 | $625.00 |
| Lloyd Walmsley | UBS | Raises | Buy | $635.00 | $630.00 |
| Colin Sebastian | Baird | Raises | Outperform | $530.00 | $500.00 |
| Ronald Josey | Citigroup | Raises | Buy | $580.00 | $550.00 |
| Brent Thill | Jefferies | Raises | Buy | $600.00 | $565.00 |
| Barton Crockett | Rosenblatt | Raises | Buy | $643.00 | $562.00 |
| Thomas Champion | Piper Sandler | Raises | Overweight | $575.00 | $545.00 |
| Brian Nowak | Morgan Stanley | Raises | Overweight | $575.00 | $550.00 |
Key Insights:
- Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Meta Platforms. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.
- Rating: Delving into assessments, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings communicate 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.
For valuable insights into Meta Platforms's market performance, consider these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators. Stay well-informed and make prudent decisions using our Ratings Table.
Stay up to date on Meta Platforms analyst ratings.
Delving into Meta Platforms's Background
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.
Understanding the Numbers: Meta Platforms's Finances
Market Capitalization Analysis: With an elevated market capitalization, the company stands out above industry averages, showcasing substantial size and market acknowledgment.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Meta Platforms showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 22.1% as of 30 June, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Communication Services sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers.
Net Margin: Meta Platforms's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 34.46%. This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health.
Return on Equity (ROE): Meta Platforms's ROE surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 8.79% ROE, the company effectively utilizes shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Meta Platforms's ROA stands out, surpassing industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 5.94%, the company demonstrates effective utilization of assets and strong financial performance.
Debt Management: Meta Platforms's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 0.24.
The Basics of Analyst Ratings
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts will also offer forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide further guidance on stocks. Investors who use analyst ratings should note that this specialized advice comes from humans and may be subject to error.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.