META Platforms Discloses Substantial Lobbying and Trading Activities
In Q1 of 2025, META Platforms Inc. and affiliated subsidiaries reported $7,990,000 in lobbying expenditures in a new Lobbying Disclosure Act filing.
Key Focus Areas of Lobbying Efforts
The lobbying efforts tackled a variety of crucial issues, including:
- Education on internet security policy and privacy concerns along with discussions related to federal privacy legislation and freedom of expression online. This encompasses connectivity, spectrum, access, local media issues, and challenges associated with Digital Services Taxes (DSTs).
- Corporate tax matters, international tax policy, free trade agreements, data localization, cross-border trade, export regulations, and emerging technologies concerning penalties on intermediate liability.
- Cybersecurity discussions covering data security, encryption, platform integrity, election integrity, content policy, misinformation policies, and voter suppression/interference.
- Technology-related issues such as online advertising transparency, safety for children, data breaches, and the implications of Artificial Intelligence as well as scrutiny regarding Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
- Infrastructure matters regarding subsea cable systems and the implications of Meta’s Community Standards on civil rights and human rights issues.
- Discussions on high-tech worker visas, renewable energy policies, and various aspects of encryption affecting data flow standards in regions such as the EU, India, Turkey, and Bangladesh.
Legislative initiatives such as the Stop CSAM Act, EARN IT Act, and S.146, the TAKE IT DOWN Act, were also a part of these lobbying efforts.
Congressional Trading of META Stock
Over the past six months, members of Congress traded $META stock 17 times, comprising 13 purchases and 4 sales.
Recent trading activities include:
- SENATOR SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO purchased shares valued up to $15,000 on 03/26.
- REPRESENTATIVE KELLY MORRISON executed 3 purchases totaling up to $80,000 on 03/24 without any sales.
- REPRESENTATIVE JOSH GOTTHEIMER traded twice with one purchase worth up to $15,000 on 03/05 and one sale on 01/16 for an equivalent amount.
- REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT BRESNAHAN traded 4 times with a purchase of $15,000 on 03/04 and 3 sales totaling up to $45,000.
- REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE WESTERMAN made a purchase worth up to $15,000 on 03/03.
- REPRESENTATIVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE executed 4 purchases totaling up to $60,000 from 11/01 to 02/12 without any sales.
- REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN L. JACKSON and REPRESENTATIVE JARED MOSKOWITZ both purchased shares worth up to $15,000 on 12/09 and 11/08, respectively.
For ongoing updates and analysis of congressional trading activities, refer to Quiver Quantitative’s trading dashboard.
Insider Trading Activities at META
Over the past six months, META insiders have executed 1,343 trades of $META stock in the open market, with no purchases and only sales recorded.
Details of recent insider trading include:
- MARK ZUCKERBERG, CEO and COB, sold 1,685,935 shares through 1,222 transactions, totaling an estimated $1,092,297,985.
- CHRISTOPHER K COX, Chief Product Officer, sold 60,000 shares across 48 trades, garnering approximately $39,908,564.
- SUSAN J LI, Chief Financial Officer, sold 36,148 shares in 8 trades for an estimated $21,787,268.
- ANDREW BOSWORTH, Chief Technology Officer, sold 24,863 shares across 6 trades totaling about $14,808,665.
- JENNIFER NEWSTEAD, Chief Legal Officer, sold 22,762 shares in 25 transactions for about $13,951,145.
- JAVIER OLIVAN, Chief Operating Officer, sold 21,058 shares in 26 trades for an estimated $13,244,529.
- NICHOLAS CLEGG, President of Global Affairs, sold 8,427 shares across 5 transactions, netting approximately $4,690,970.
- PEGGY ALFORD sold 1,646 shares in 2 transactions, yielding around $993,649.
- AARON ANDERSON, Chief Accounting Officer, sold 731 shares for an estimated $407,167.
To monitor insider trading more closely, visit Quiver Quantitative’s insider trading dashboard.
Recent Hedge Fund Moves Related to META
In the last quarter, 2,206 institutional investors increased their holdings in META, while 1,612 reduced their positions.
Here are some significant recent changes:
- PROFICIO CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC added 6,240,810 shares (+78,471.1%) in Q4 2024, valued at approximately $3,654,056,663.
- LEGAL & GENERAL GROUP PLC removed 3,882,116 shares (-22.0%), estimated at $2,273,017,739.
- NORGES BANK increased holdings by 3,610,287 shares (+11.9%), worth about $2,113,859,141.
- NORTHERN TRUST CORP increased its position by 2,787,832 shares (+13.5%), totaling around $1,632,303,514.
- CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS decreased by 2,699,264 shares (-9.2%), with an estimated value of $1,580,446,064.
- BLACKROCK, INC. added 2,543,790 shares (+1.6%), valued around $1,489,414,482.
META Stock Sees Major Hedge Fund Investment and Strong Analyst Outlook
- ASSENAGON ASSET MANAGEMENT S.A. added 2,225,186 shares (+712.2%) to their portfolio in Q1 2025, for an estimated $1,282,508,202
For insights into hedge funds’ stock portfolios, visit Quiver Quantitative’s institutional holdings dashboard.
Recent META Analyst Ratings
In recent months, Wall Street analysts have closely monitored $META. A total of 22 firms issued buy ratings, while none reported sell ratings on the stock.
To explore more about analyst ratings, check out Quiver Quantitative’s $META forecast page. Here are some notable recent ratings:
- Tigress Financial issued a “Strong Buy” rating on 02/11/2025.
- Cowen & Co. assigned a “Buy” rating on 01/30/2025.
- UBS also gave a “Buy” rating on 01/30/2025.
- RBC Capital provided an “Outperform” rating on 01/30/2025.
- Susquehanna rated it “Positive” on 01/30/2025.
- Cantor Fitzgerald gave an “Overweight” rating on 01/30/2025.
- Citigroup assigned a “Buy” rating on 01/30/2025.
META Price Targets Update
Multiple analysts have updated their price targets for $META over the last six months. Notably, 11 analysts have issued their price targets, with a median target of $700.00.
For detailed price targets, visit Quiver Quantitative’s price target page. Below are some recent price targets set by analysts:
- An analyst from Tigress Financial established a target price of $935.00 on 02/11/2025.
- Argus Research set a target price of $775.00 on 02/04/2025.
- Piper Sandler proposed a target of $670.00 on 01/24/2025.
- RBC Capital set a target price of $700.00 on 01/24/2025.
- JMP Securities set a price target of $750.00 on 01/02/2025.
- Raymond James established a target of $675.00 on 11/25/2024.
- Nat Schindler from Scotiabank set a price of $583.00 on 10/31/2024.
This article is not financial advice. For further information, review Quiver Quantitative’s disclaimers.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
