Short Interest in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Drops By 12.8%

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,420,000 shares, a decline of 12.8% from the February 28th total of 7,360,000 shares. Approximately 1.1% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,470,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.9 days.

MetLife Stock Performance

Shares of MetLife stock traded down $5.19 on Thursday, reaching $77.30. 1,120,983 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,277,040. The firm has a market capitalization of $52.66 billion, a PE ratio of 12.95, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04. MetLife has a 1-year low of $67.30 and a 1-year high of $89.05. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $82.98 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $83.01. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a return on equity of 20.42% and a net margin of 6.19%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that MetLife will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were issued a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.82%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.52%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MetLife

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. United Asset Strategies Inc. grew its position in MetLife by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. United Asset Strategies Inc. now owns 10,933 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $895,000 after buying an additional 120 shares during the period. Barrett & Company Inc. grew its holdings in shares of MetLife by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 11,942 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $978,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares during the period. Eagle Strategies LLC increased its stake in MetLife by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC now owns 2,707 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $222,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in MetLife by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 6,044 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $495,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Davis R M Inc. boosted its position in MetLife by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. Davis R M Inc. now owns 3,148 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $258,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MET has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of MetLife from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of MetLife from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $94.85.

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.