MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Sold by DnB Asset Management AS

DnB Asset Management AS lessened its position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 42.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 119,990 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 88,733 shares during the period. DnB Asset Management AS's holdings in MetLife were worth $9,825,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in MetLife by 14.8% during the third quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,899 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $322,000 after buying an additional 502 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of MetLife by 59.5% in the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 906 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $75,000 after purchasing an additional 338 shares during the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. raised its stake in MetLife by 3.1% in the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 22,294 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,839,000 after purchasing an additional 671 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its position in shares of MetLife by 5.4% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,209,119 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $182,208,000 after buying an additional 112,491 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Glenmede Trust Co. NA lifted its stake in MetLife by 3.0% during the third quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 27,626 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,279,000 after purchasing an additional 809 shares during the last quarter. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MetLife Stock Down 6.3 %

MetLife stock traded down $5.19 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $77.30. The stock had a trading volume of 1,120,983 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,533,437. The business's 50 day moving average price is $82.98 and its 200-day moving average price is $83.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16. MetLife, Inc. has a 52 week low of $67.30 and a 52 week high of $89.05. The company has a market cap of $52.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.95, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 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%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed 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. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is presently 36.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. UBS Group boosted their price objective on MetLife from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays lowered their target price on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com cut shares of MetLife from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on MetLife from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MetLife has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $94.85.

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.