Payden & Rygel Sells 168,500 Shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Payden & Rygel reduced its position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 49.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 172,400 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 168,500 shares during the quarter. Payden & Rygel's holdings in MetLife were worth $14,116,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Graney & King LLC bought a new stake in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Institutional investors own 94.99% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on MET shares. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on MetLife from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Friday, March 7th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of MetLife from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $93.46.

MetLife Stock Performance

Shares of MET stock traded down $3.72 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $71.52. The company had a trading volume of 2,015,236 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,387,570. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.16. MetLife, Inc. has a one year low of $65.21 and a one year high of $89.05. The firm has a market cap of $48.72 billion, a PE ratio of 11.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.89. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $80.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $82.59.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results 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%. Sell-side analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.