Rhumbline Advisers Sells 28,748 Shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Rhumbline Advisers lowered its position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 2.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,186,747 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 28,748 shares during the quarter. Rhumbline Advisers owned about 0.17% of MetLife worth $97,171,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its holdings in MetLife by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 4,548,725 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $375,179,000 after buying an additional 68,579 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its holdings in MetLife by 16.8% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 4,238,087 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $347,735,000 after buying an additional 608,224 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB lifted its holdings in shares of MetLife by 76.0% during the fourth quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 3,466,808 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $283,862,000 after purchasing an additional 1,496,645 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC grew its position in shares of MetLife by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 3,274,258 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $268,096,000 after buying an additional 114,166 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp boosted its holdings in MetLife by 5.0% in the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 2,239,841 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $184,744,000 after acquiring an additional 105,762 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company's stock.

MetLife Trading Up 0.8 %

MetLife stock traded up $0.65 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $83.08. 2,776,177 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,647,594. MetLife, Inc. has a 52-week low of $67.30 and a 52-week high of $89.05. 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 firm's 50 day moving average price is $83.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $81.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.07.

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 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, analysts anticipate that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.62%. MetLife's payout ratio is presently 36.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MET has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. TD Cowen lifted their target price on MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Barclays lowered their target price 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. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on MetLife in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com lowered MetLife from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on shares of MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $92.58.

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.