Bain Capital Public Equity Management II LLC has significantly increased its investment in Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META), acquiring 165,992 shares valued at approximately $95.7 million. This move was disclosed in the firm’s recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, indicating that Meta now constitutes about 7.5% of Bain Capital’s portfolio, making it the sixth largest position held by the firm.
Multiple institutional investors have also adjusted their stakes in Meta Platforms over the past quarter. Notably, GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake by an astonishing 67,172.9%, acquiring an additional 23,417,803 shares, bringing its total ownership to 23,452,665 shares valued at $13.5 billion. Other significant investors include Invesco Ltd. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which increased their holdings by 2.3% and 8.8% respectively.
Investment Landscape and Insider Activity
As institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 79.91% of Meta’s shares, this level of institutional interest reflects confidence in the company’s future prospects. Meta Platforms opened at $735.11 recently, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.85 trillion. The stock’s performance shows a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.62 and a PEG ratio of 1.53.
In other corporate developments, CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold 15,847 shares on August 1 at an average price of $753.43, totaling around $11.9 million. Additionally, insider Christopher K. Cox sold 60,000 shares on August 5 for approximately $46.6 million. Following this transaction, he retains ownership of 237,205 shares valued at nearly $184.1 million. Over the past three months, insiders have sold 312,767 shares valued at about $234.7 million.
Analysts’ Perspectives and Future Expectations
Recent reports from research analysts have expressed optimism regarding Meta’s performance. Loop Capital reaffirmed a “buy” rating, raising its price target to $980.00, up from $888.00. Scotiabank adjusted its target from $675.00 to $685.00, while KeyCorp increased its target from $800.00 to $905.00. BMO Capital Markets also revised their target, setting it at $710.00.
The consensus rating among analysts currently stands at “Moderate Buy,” with three analysts recommending a “Strong Buy,” thirty-nine suggesting “Buy,” and five advising a “Hold.” The consensus target price for Meta is approximately $822.41 according to MarketBeat data.
Meta Platforms, Inc. is engaged in developing products that connect individuals worldwide through various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. The company operates in two main segments: Family of Apps and Reality Labs, continually expanding its reach in the social networking space.
As institutional interest continues to grow, coupled with positive analyst sentiment, Meta Platforms appears well-positioned for future growth in the technology sector.
