MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Sold by Asset Management One Co. Ltd.

Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lessened its stake in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 8.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 238,394 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 21,067 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.’s holdings in MetLife were worth $19,608,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MET. Avestar Capital LLC boosted its holdings in MetLife by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 4,664 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $382,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Values First Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in MetLife in the fourth quarter worth approximately $36,000. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC grew its position in MetLife by 7.6% in the fourth quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 5,197 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $426,000 after acquiring an additional 367 shares during the period. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in MetLife during the fourth quarter worth $75,000. Finally, Summit Trail Advisors LLC raised its position in MetLife by 17.1% in the fourth quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 12,558 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,028,000 after purchasing an additional 1,830 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

MetLife Trading Down 0.7 %

NYSE MET opened at $81.78 on Friday. MetLife, Inc. has a 52 week low of $67.30 and a 52 week high of $89.05. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $83.41 and a two-hundred day moving average of $81.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.63 billion, a PE ratio of 13.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.07.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. As a group, research analysts expect that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be issued a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 36.52%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on MET shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of MetLife in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays cut their target price on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their price objective on MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MetLife presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $92.17.

MetLife Company Profile

MetLife, Inc, a financial services company, provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services worldwide. It operates through six segments: Retirement and Income Solutions; Group Benefits; Asia; Latin America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and MetLife Holdings. The company offers life, dental, group short-and long-term disability, individual disability, pet insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, vision, and accident and health coverages, as well as prepaid legal plans; administrative services-only arrangements to employers; and general and separate account, and synthetic guaranteed interest contracts, as well as private floating rate funding agreements.