Five years ago, Meta Platforms Inc. $META shares were around $340 each. As of today, it's at $620.25—a 82.43% gain from its core in social media, ads, and ventures into VR, AI, and metaverse tech via Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The chart shows a firm base from 2022 lows, with steady expansion through 2025, and after-hours at $620.25. That 52-week high of $796.25 points to more connections ahead. In basic terms, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is 12.78%. That's the average yearly lift—calculated by raising the total growth factor to the 1/5 power and subtracting 1. It means growing your money by about 13% each year, on average. Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) keeps it linked: Invest $500 every month for five years, totaling $30,000.

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You buy more shares on quiet days and fewer on active ones, helping balance the tech waves. Projecting forward at the same historical pace, with a monthly growth rate of about 1.01% from $620.25, your shares grow steadily. After 60 months, your total could reach $41,998. That's a gain of $11,998—a 40% return on your investment. The early buys get the most from compounding, while later ones still add to the web.

This follows the past, which isn't a lock for tomorrow—social media can face privacy rules or ad shifts, but a P/E ratio of 27.45 signals fair pricing, and a 0.34% dividend yield offers small regular payouts.

With that 52-week high of $796.25 in view and a $1.56T market cap, META has depth. If DCA's your steady link, it could turn your $500 habit into a connected reward by 2031. Plug in?