The face of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, founded the social networking company 20 years ago. Now organized under the parent company Meta Platforms (META -1.07%), Facebook remains one of the most influential social media sites on the internet under the leadership of Zuckerberg, the company's largest shareholder.
But that's not to say that there aren't other individuals and institutions with sizable positions in Meta. Let's dig under the surface a little and see who the other major investors in Meta stock are.
Beyond Zuck -- the other prominent Meta shareholders
In terms of insiders, the next-largest Meta shareholder after Mark Zuckerberg is Sheryl Sandberg. In addition to serving as the company's chief operating officer for 14 years, Sandberg was a member of the company's board of directors, a position which she left in May 2024. According to a May 31, 2024 regulatory filing, Sandberg owns 639,610 shares of Meta stock, representing about 0.03% of the 2,191,446,233 outstanding shares of the company's Class A stock.
With regards to institutional owners, Vanguard holds the top spot among the social media company's investors, owning 186,347,527 shares of Meta stock. Representing about 8.4% of Meta Class A stock, Vanguard's ownership stake is impressive. But it's worth noting that BlackRock also has a hefty position, owning 7.1% of Meta stock in its iShares series of exchange-traded funds.
Is now a smart time to add Meta to your portfolio?
After seeing the sizable positions that some hold in Meta, retail investors may be wondering if they should pick up shares for themselves. In light of the commanding position that Meta has in social networking, it's a more-than-reasonable consideration. What's especially worth recognizing is the company's commitment to incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the various platforms that the company owns, making it a worthy option for investors looking for AI exposure that transcends semiconductor companies.
