MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Receives Consensus Recommendation of "Buy" from Analysts

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) has received an average rating of "Buy" from the thirteen ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $88.62.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on MET shares. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on MetLife from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. StockNews.com raised shares of MetLife from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 25th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of MetLife from $86.00 to $85.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 19th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of MetLife from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 31st.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MetLife

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MET. Synovus Financial Corp grew its position in MetLife by 5.5% in the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 22,720 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,874,000 after acquiring an additional 1,183 shares in the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC raised its stake in MetLife by 3.9% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 19,282 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,590,000 after purchasing an additional 718 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in MetLife in the 3rd quarter valued at $701,000. World Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in MetLife in the 3rd quarter worth $336,000. Finally, Sanctuary Advisors LLC grew its position in MetLife by 50.7% in the 3rd quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 136,462 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $11,816,000 after purchasing an additional 45,900 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.81% of the company's stock.

MetLife Price Performance

MET traded down $2.95 during trading on Monday, reaching $82.27. The stock had a trading volume of 4,884,225 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,308,879. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $83.78 and a two-hundred day moving average of $77.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.06. MetLife has a 1-year low of $64.17 and a 1-year high of $89.05.

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 paid a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.65%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 5th. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is currently 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.