Morgan Stanley Raises Meta Platforms (META) Price Target to $820

Morgan Stanley maintained its Overweight rating on Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) and lifted its price target from $775.00 to $820.00 in a research note issued on October 19, 2026.

META Meta Platforms, Inc.

$709.33 ▲ +9.34% year to date

1M 3M YTD

Daily close · Oct 16, 2026

Morgan Stanley's Call on Meta Platforms

In its October 19, 2026 note, the firm chose to keep an Overweight rating on the social media giant while pushing the target up by $45.00 from its previous level of $775.00. The updated target points to added room for growth from the stock's recent trading levels.

Other Institutional Activity in Meta Platforms

Other large funds have also adjusted their positions in Meta Platforms recently. AlphaStar Capital Management grew its holdings by 888 shares, ending with 14,901 shares worth about $10.8 million in an October 16 filing. PensionDanmark reduced its stake by 13,642 shares to end with 420,531 shares valued at roughly $305.0 million on October 19. Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors added 765 shares for a total of 765 shares worth about $554,861 on October 16. Banque Pictet & Cie expanded its holdings by 36,133 shares, wrapping up the period with 380,037 shares valued at approximately $275.6 million.

Meta Platforms, Inc. Stock Down 0.6%

Meta Platforms closed at $705.44 on October 19, 2026, and recently traded around $704.95 as of October 20. The stock trades above its 50-day moving average of $657.51 and its 200-day moving average of $632.20. Shares sit 9.6% below their 52-week high of $779.82 and well above their 52-week low of $520.26.

Recent Earnings

Meta Platforms reported $228.2 billion in trailing twelve month revenue alongside trailing earnings of $26.54 per share. The company posted a net profit margin of 29.8% and a return on equity of 29.8%, with year-over-year revenue growth coming in at 28.0%. Its next earnings report is scheduled for October 21, 2026.

Dividend

Meta Platforms pays an annual dividend rate of $2.10 per share, which translates to a dividend yield of 0.3%. The payout ratio stands at 7.9% of earnings.

Insider Buying and Selling at Meta Platforms, Inc.

Company insiders completed several transactions ahead of the rating change. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg sold 27,474 shares on September 24, 2026, for a total value of $21.4 million. Chief Operating Officer Javier Olivan sold 1,575 shares on September 28, 1,575 shares on October 5 at an average price of $728.08 for $1.1 million, and another 1,575 shares on October 12 at an average price of $728.10 for $1.1 million.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Wall Street firms continue to update their views on the company. Goldman Sachs maintained a Buy rating and an $860.00 price target on October 14. UBS kept a Buy rating while raising its target from $715.00 to $884.00 on October 14. Citigroup maintained a Buy rating and lifted its target from $800.00 to $895.00 on October 15. JP Morgan reiterated an Overweight rating with a $920.00 target on October 15. Across the wider analyst community, the stock carries a consensus Strong Buy recommendation and a mean price target of $818.99 from 58 analyst opinions.

About Meta Platforms

Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, Meta Platforms builds applications and hardware that let people connect through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality headsets, and AI glasses. The company operates through its Family of Apps and Reality Labs segments, driving massive digital advertising and virtual reality initiatives worldwide.

Bottom Line

Investors will look toward the upcoming earnings release on October 21, 2026, for fresh updates on ad revenue and Reality Labs spending. Market participants should monitor subsequent institutional filings and analyst revisions to see if other firms follow Morgan Stanley's lead.