Handelsbanken Fonder AB Trims Stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Handelsbanken Fonder AB lowered its stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 13.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 94,314 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 14,806 shares during the quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB's holdings in MetLife were worth $7,722,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in MET. Sunpointe LLC purchased a new position in shares of MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at about $273,000. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in shares of MetLife by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 80,147 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $6,562,000 after buying an additional 367 shares during the period. Convergence Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of MetLife by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC now owns 28,781 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,357,000 after acquiring an additional 1,190 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter worth $82,000. Finally, Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund boosted its holdings in MetLife by 127.9% in the fourth quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 39,700 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $3,251,000 after acquiring an additional 22,283 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.99% of the company's stock.

MetLife Stock Performance

MET stock traded up $0.26 on Wednesday, hitting $82.46. The company had a trading volume of 2,394,255 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,539,783. 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, Inc. has a 12-month low of $67.30 and a 12-month high of $89.05. The stock has a market cap of $57.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.07. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $83.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $81.69.

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

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be paid a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.52%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on MET. TD Cowen boosted their price target on shares of MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. StockNews.com lowered MetLife from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on MetLife in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 price target on the stock. Barclays lowered their price objective on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on shares of MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $92.58.

About MetLife

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.