MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Sold by Alerus Financial NA

Alerus Financial NA lessened its stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 112,842 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 339 shares during the period. MetLife accounts for approximately 0.7% of Alerus Financial NA’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Alerus Financial NA’s holdings in MetLife were worth $9,240,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in MetLife during the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Graney & King LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter worth about $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on MetLife in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. StockNews.com downgraded MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Friday, March 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $94.58.

MetLife Price Performance

MetLife stock opened at $83.10 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $83.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $82.80. MetLife, Inc. has a 12-month low of $67.30 and a 12-month high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share 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%. Equities analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th were given a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.52%.

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.