Franklin Resources Inc. Decreases Holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Franklin Resources Inc. lowered its position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 53.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 782,431 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 889,662 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned 0.11% of MetLife worth $67,195,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of MetLife by 7,837.0% in the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,129,353 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $79,250,000 after purchasing an additional 1,115,124 shares during the period. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI purchased a new position in MetLife during the third quarter worth $91,771,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in MetLife by 22.4% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,396,274 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $378,799,000 after acquiring an additional 988,666 shares during the last quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of MetLife by 79.1% in the 3rd quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 1,726,209 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $142,378,000 after acquiring an additional 762,291 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of MetLife by 256.6% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 948,223 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $78,209,000 after purchasing an additional 682,333 shares during the period. 94.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have issued reports on MET. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of MetLife from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on MetLife from $89.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, September 27th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on MetLife from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. StockNews.com raised shares of MetLife from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, MetLife presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $88.62.

MetLife Stock Down 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE MET traded down $1.49 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $81.25. 2,971,519 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,333,552. The company has a market cap of $56.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.68, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.06. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $83.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $77.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. MetLife, Inc. has a one year low of $64.61 and a one year high of $89.05.

MetLife Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 5th were given a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.68%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 5th. MetLife's payout ratio is 43.95%.

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.