National Pension Service Has $115.48 Million Stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

National Pension Service lessened its stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 8.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,410,324 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 124,066 shares during the quarter. National Pension Service owned 0.20% of MetLife worth $115,477,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings 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 worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. raised its stake in shares of MetLife by 131.9% during the 3rd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 327 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife during the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in MetLife during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.99% of the company's stock.

MetLife Stock Performance

MET stock traded up $2.11 on Friday, reaching $86.16. 4,838,836 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,579,201. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.69 billion, a PE ratio of 14.43, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.07. MetLife, Inc. has a 12 month low of $67.30 and a 12 month high of $89.05. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $83.65 and its 200 day moving average price is $81.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a return on equity of 20.42% and a net margin of 6.19%. On average, research analysts anticipate that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.545 per share. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife's payout ratio is presently 36.52%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently commented on MET. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on shares of MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on MetLife in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 target price on the stock. Barclays decreased their price target on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $94.58.

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.