Manning & Napier Advisors trims Meta Platforms stake

Manning & Napier Advisors LLC, managed by Bill Manning, recently executed a significant transaction involving Meta Platforms, Inc. ((META)). The hedge fund reduced its position by 14,405 shares.

Recent Updates on Meta Platforms, Inc. stock

Meta Platforms’ shares have been volatile in recent weeks but trend modestly higher over the past year, with 12‑month gains in the mid‑single digits and short‑term moves ranging from small pullbacks to double‑digit rebounds; recent snapshots show the stock around $640–$740 versus consensus 12‑month targets in the low‑ to mid‑$800s, implying substantial upside. The main driver of renewed enthusiasm is a very strong Q4 2025 print and better‑than‑expected Q1 2026 guidance: revenue of $59.9 billion grew about 23% year over year, ad revenue rose roughly 23–24% with higher impressions and pricing, and GAAP EPS of $8.88 beat estimates, while guidance points to accelerating growth. Multiple top analysts at firms including BofA, Citi, Piper Sandler, Pivotal, and Wolfe Research have reiterated Buy/Overweight ratings and lifted price targets (generally $810–$910), arguing that Meta’s heavy AI investments are already improving engagement, ad conversion, and monetization across Reels, Instagram, Facebook video, and new products like Business AI and WhatsApp paid messaging. At the same time, management has signaled materially higher 2026 capex and opex—including expectations for total expenses to grow much faster than in 2025—as it scales AI infrastructure and Reality Labs, but analysts broadly view this spending as de‑risked by a stronger revenue outlook and believe Reality Labs losses will peak and then improve after 2026. Another notable recent development is Meta’s long‑term nuclear‑power partnerships with Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo, designed to secure up to 6.6 GW of energy capacity by 2035 and ensure reliable, cost‑effective power for AI data centers; these deals are seen as strategically important for sustaining AI capacity growth over the next decade without a major near‑term hit to operating expenses. Overall, the dominant narrative in recent reports is that Meta’s aggressive AI and infrastructure investments are increasingly being viewed as the core catalyst for faster, durable revenue and profit growth rather than a risk, underpinning the StrongBuy consensus despite near‑term share price choppiness.

Spark’s Take on META Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, META is a Outperform.

The score is driven primarily by very strong profitability and cash generation, tempered by rising leverage and signs of moderating growth. Technicals remain supportive but look overbought, while valuation is somewhat expensive with a very low dividend yield. Earnings call takeaways were positive on ad and AI momentum, but the large planned 2026 expense/capex ramp and ongoing Reality Labs losses add execution risk.

To see Spark’s full report on META stock, click here.

More about Meta Platforms, Inc.

YTD Price Performance: 1.35%

Average Trading Volume: 17,710,202

Current Market Cap: $1692.7B