Meta Platforms Inc Class A (META)

Meta Platforms' stock has experienced volatility, with a recent decline but an overall increase over the last year. Key events include strong Q3 2024 results driven by ad revenue and AI progress, significant investments in AI infrastructure and energy supplies, a rumored restructuring of Reality Labs with spending cuts, a favorable court ruling in an FTC antitrust case and compliance efforts with the EU Digital Markets Act, and the announcement of a new quarterly dividend and a $50 billion buyback authorization.

Meta Platforms' advertising business exhibits some demand seasonality. Historically, a "Buy Date of March 28 and a Sell Date of August 7" has shown a geometric average return above the S&P 500 Total Return Index over the past 12 years, suggesting a period of seasonal strength for the stock. This indicates that advertising spending may see increased activity during certain parts of the year.

Meta Platforms, Inc. is a technology conglomerate focused on social networking, advertising, and virtual and augmented reality. Its core products include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads. The company also develops VR/AR hardware and software through Reality Labs and generates revenue through advertising placements. Meta is investing heavily in the metaverse and AI.

Meta Platforms has a global presence with offices and data centers across North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Its headquarters is in Menlo Park, California. Key operational centers are in New York and Dublin. In fiscal year 2024, the US & Canada region generated the largest share of Meta's revenue at 38.42%, followed by Asia Pacific (27.36%), Europe (23.32%), and the Rest of World (10.9%).

Meta's brand reputation continues to be influenced by past challenges, including privacy scandals and antitrust investigations. The rebranding to Meta led to a reduction in public trust. The company is working to rebuild trust, particularly in Washington D.C., through its AI initiatives. Despite these efforts, Meta still faces skepticism and competition from other social media platforms.

Mark Zuckerberg is the largest individual shareholder of Meta Platforms, owning approximately 13.6% of shares. Institutions hold around 67.7% of Meta's shares. Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock Inc., Fidelity Investments, State Street Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Geode Capital Management, Llc.