Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC Reduces Stock Holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lowered its position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 6.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 140,304 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 9,874 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC's holdings in MetLife were worth $11,474,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of MET. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of MetLife by 244.4% in the third quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 310 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. increased its holdings in MetLife by 131.9% during the 3rd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 327 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in MetLife during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its position in shares of MetLife by 177.3% in the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 416 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 266 shares during the last quarter. 94.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MetLife Trading Down 2.1 %

Shares of NYSE MET traded down $1.73 during trading on Friday, hitting $81.02. 3,282,193 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,616,223. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.57, a P/E/G ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.07. 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 company has a 50-day moving average price of $83.41 and a 200-day moving average price of $81.35. MetLife, Inc. has a 1 year low of $67.30 and a 1 year high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. On average, equities analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.69%. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently issued reports on MET. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. StockNews.com lowered MetLife from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of MetLife in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 price objective for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $92.58.

MetLife 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.