Ossiam Increases Stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Ossiam increased its holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 325.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 127,995 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 97,910 shares during the period. Ossiam's holdings in MetLife were worth $10,480,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S increased its holdings in shares of MetLife by 26.6% in the 4th quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 27,663 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,265,000 after buying an additional 5,815 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in MetLife by 198.0% during the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 81,048 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $6,636,000 after acquiring an additional 53,854 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in MetLife by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,434,737 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $526,869,000 after purchasing an additional 290,734 shares during the period. Freedom Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of MetLife by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. now owns 10,002 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $819,000 after purchasing an additional 257 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GeoWealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of MetLife by 15.8% in the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 4,430 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $363,000 after purchasing an additional 604 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.99% of the company's stock.

MetLife Stock Up 1.6 %

NYSE:MET traded up $1.17 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $74.26. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,673,883 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,412,369. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.59 billion, a PE ratio of 12.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.89. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $78.76 and a 200-day moving average of $81.97. MetLife, Inc. has a 1 year low of $65.21 and a 1 year high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share (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%. Equities research analysts forecast that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current year.

MetLife Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 6th will be given a dividend of $0.5675 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 6th. This is an increase from MetLife's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.06%. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is presently 36.52%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently issued reports on MET shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on MetLife from $97.00 to $91.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of MetLife from $95.00 to $88.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of MetLife from $109.00 to $94.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Cowen reissued a "buy" rating on shares of MetLife in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on MetLife in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 price target on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $92.46.

MetLife 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.