Key Highlights

● Meta Platforms shares fell 3.72% to close at $709.33 on October 16.

● The consensus 12-month price target is $814.51, implying about 14.8% upside.

● Analysts are split 55 Buy, 7 Hold, and 1 Sell on the stock.

● Targets range from $580 to $1,050 across 63 analysts.

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) closed at $709.33 on Friday October 16, 2026, with the shares listed on Nasdaq and a member of the Nasdaq-100. According to market data, the consensus mean 12-month price target is $814.51, which is 14.8% above the latest close (+14.8%). The shares fell 3.72% on the day, and attention is turning to the company's third-quarter results due on October 21, 2026, with traders reportedly expecting a sizeable move.

Price targets are analyst forecasts rather than guarantees.

What Is the Latest Analyst Price Target?

The data shows a consensus mean target of $814.51 and a median of $830.00, with the highest target at $1,050.00 and the lowest at $580.00. The figures are drawn from 63 analysts, with the data dated October 16, 2026. Measured against the latest close, the mean target implies +14.8% and the median implies +17.0%.

If the consensus proves accurate, the shares would trade near the mean target over the next twelve months. However, the spread between the high and low targets shows that analysts hold differing views, and targets are routinely revised as new information emerges.

What Are Analysts Saying?

The consensus rating is Strong Buy, with a split of 55 Buy, 7 Hold, 1 Sell. Recent actions include Deutsche Bank maintaining a Buy rating with an $820 target on 16 October, Wedbush maintaining a Hold rating and lifting its target from $650 to $700 on the same day, Bank of America Securities reiterating Buy with an $810 target on 16 October, and J.P. Morgan reiterating Buy with a $920 target on 15 October. Oppenheimer maintained a Hold rating on 15 October.

Analysts' views can change quickly, and individual broker actions should be read in the context of the wider consensus rather than in isolation.

What Could Help the Stock Reach the Price Target?

Analysts have pointed to strong advertising checks, with Deutsche Bank reportedly raising its third-quarter revenue estimate. Meta has also released an open-weight version of its Muse Spark model, and its Muse AI assistant has reportedly passed 10.4 million downloads. If the company demonstrates that AI products can be monetised and advertising growth holds, the consensus target suggests room for the shares to recover.

None of this guarantees that the stock will reach the target, and outcomes will depend on company performance and market conditions.

What Could Prevent the Stock Reaching the Target?

A BNP Paribas analyst has reportedly said Meta still needs to show it can monetise Muse, and the lowest target of $580 sits 18.2% below the latest close. The wide range between low and high targets indicates meaningful disagreement. Regulatory and legal scrutiny of AI devices and data practices, along with heavy AI investment, could also weigh on sentiment.

What Should Investors Watch Next?

The 21 October results are the immediate catalyst, particularly advertising revenue, expense guidance and capital expenditure plans. Investors may also follow any further target revisions after the report, as well as developments around Muse and Meta's AI product roadmap. Next earnings date: October 21, 2026.

Upside, With Caveats

The consensus target suggests +14.8% from the latest close of $709.33, but the figure is a forecast and not a certainty.