MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Receives Consensus Rating of "Buy" from Brokerages

Shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of "Buy" from the thirteen analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $88.46.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on MET shares. StockNews.com raised MetLife from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Barclays lowered their target price on MetLife from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Bank of America cut their price target on MetLife from $99.00 to $96.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of MetLife from $89.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, September 27th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MetLife

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of MetLife by 244.4% in the third quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 310 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. raised its stake in MetLife by 131.9% in the third quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 327 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC grew its position in 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 acquiring an additional 277 shares during the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in MetLife in the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC increased its holdings in shares of MetLife by 177.3% in the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 416 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 266 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.81% of the company's stock.

MetLife Stock Up 0.7 %

MET traded up $0.58 during trading on Thursday, reaching $82.60. The company had a trading volume of 2,702,770 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,325,695. The company has a market cap of $57.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.54, a PEG ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.05. MetLife has a 12 month low of $61.61 and a 12 month high of $86.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16. The business's fifty day moving average price is $81.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $75.43.

MetLife Dividend Announcement

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