First Horizon Advisors Inc. Grows Position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 1.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 403,492 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 5,250 shares during the period. MetLife makes up 0.9% of First Horizon Advisors Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. First Horizon Advisors Inc. owned about 0.06% of MetLife worth $33,038,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in 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 buying an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. raised its position in MetLife by 131.9% in the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in MetLife during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of MetLife in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 target price for the company. TD Cowen increased their price objective on MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $92.58.

MetLife Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MET traded up $0.26 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $82.46. 2,394,390 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,558,941. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $83.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $81.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16. The company has a market cap of $57.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.81, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.07. MetLife, Inc. has a 1 year low of $67.30 and a 1 year high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 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%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be given a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.64%. MetLife's payout ratio is 36.52%.

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.