Schroder Investment Management Group Acquires 14,582 Shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Schroder Investment Management Group lifted its stake in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 4.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 328,964 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 14,582 shares during the period. Schroder Investment Management Group's holdings in MetLife were worth $26,814,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MET. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new stake in MetLife during the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Graney & King LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter worth approximately $34,000. Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new position in MetLife during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich bought a new position in MetLife during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $48,000. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MetLife Trading Up 0.3 %

MetLife stock traded up $0.20 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $69.27. 9,179,751 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,354,893. 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, Inc. has a 52-week low of $65.21 and a 52-week high of $89.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.60, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.89. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $82.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $82.87.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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 net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. On average, analysts anticipate 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 was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were given a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.15%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on MET. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of 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 upped their price target on shares of MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on MetLife from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on MetLife in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $94.85.

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.