Meeder Asset Management Inc. Grows Position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Meeder Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 48,101.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 106,043 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 105,823 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in MetLife were worth $8,746,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of MET. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of MetLife by 244.4% during the third quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 310 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 220 shares during the period. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. increased its stake in shares of MetLife by 131.9% during the third quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 327 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the period. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC increased its stake in shares of MetLife by 374.3% during the third quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 351 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 277 shares during the period. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of MetLife during the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC increased its stake in shares of MetLife by 177.3% during the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 416 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 266 shares during the period. 89.81% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MetLife Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE MET traded down $0.77 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $82.60. The company had a trading volume of 2,402,846 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,320,056. MetLife, Inc. has a 12-month low of $61.85 and a 12-month high of $86.94. The stock has a market cap of $57.19 billion, a PE ratio of 16.65, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.05. The business's 50-day moving average is $81.92 and its 200 day moving average is $75.80. 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 Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 5th will be given a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 5th. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.64%. MetLife's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.95%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on MetLife from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. StockNews.com raised MetLife from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on MetLife from $89.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, September 27th. Citigroup upped their price target on MetLife from $83.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on MetLife from $86.00 to $85.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 19th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $88.46.

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.