MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Sold by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board trimmed its holdings in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 10.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 692,393 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 79,112 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owned approximately 0.10% of MetLife worth $56,693,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. United Asset Strategies Inc. increased its stake in shares of MetLife by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. United Asset Strategies Inc. now owns 10,933 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $895,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. raised its stake in shares of MetLife by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 11,942 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $978,000 after buying an additional 121 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of MetLife by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 6,044 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $495,000 after buying an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Davis R M Inc. grew its stake in shares of MetLife by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Davis R M Inc. now owns 3,148 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $258,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the period. Finally, Daymark Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in MetLife by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,091 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $417,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. 94.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

MetLife Stock Performance

Shares of MET stock traded up $1.68 on Thursday, hitting $75.92. The company had a trading volume of 573,835 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,801,015. MetLife, Inc. has a twelve month low of $65.21 and a twelve month high of $89.05. 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 firm has a market cap of $51.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $78.61 and a 200-day moving average price of $81.92.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last posted 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 net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 6th will be given a dividend of $0.5675 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 6th. This represents a $2.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.99%. This is an increase from MetLife's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently weighed in on MET. Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Friday, March 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on MetLife from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on MetLife from $109.00 to $94.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. UBS Group increased their target price on MetLife from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on MetLife from $95.00 to $88.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MetLife currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $92.46.

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.