Congress Wealth Management LLC DE Lowers Stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Congress Wealth Management LLC DE cut its position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 48.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 14,367 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 13,488 shares during the period. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE's holdings in MetLife were worth $1,176,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new position in MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in MetLife during the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MetLife in the fourth quarter worth $44,000. Finally, Atala Financial Inc purchased a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth $45,000. Institutional investors own 94.99% of the company's stock.

MetLife Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE MET traded up $0.89 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $81.18. 3,249,786 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,281,627. The stock has a market capitalization of $55.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04. The company's 50 day moving average price is $83.04 and its 200 day moving average price is $83.01. MetLife, Inc. has a 12 month low of $67.30 and a 12 month high of $89.05. 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 - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share 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 research analysts anticipate that MetLife, Inc. 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 given a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.69%. MetLife's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.52%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MET has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price 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. StockNews.com cut shares of MetLife from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on MetLife in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 price target for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $94.58.

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.