MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Short Interest Update

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of November. As of November 30th, there was short interest totalling 6,200,000 shares, an increase of 24.0% from the November 15th total of 5,000,000 shares. Currently, 1.1% of the company's stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 3,210,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.9 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MetLife

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Birmingham Capital Management Co. Inc. AL increased its position in shares of MetLife by 3.1% in the third quarter. Birmingham Capital Management Co. Inc. AL now owns 33,760 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,785,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp increased its holdings in MetLife by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 22,720 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,874,000 after buying an additional 1,183 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC raised its position in shares of MetLife by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 19,282 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,590,000 after buying an additional 718 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of MetLife during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $701,000. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $336,000. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

MetLife Stock Performance

Shares of MET stock traded down $0.26 on Monday, hitting $82.73. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,327,388 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,335,048. MetLife has a fifty-two week low of $64.61 and a fifty-two week high of $89.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.16. The stock's 50 day moving average is $83.77 and its 200-day moving average is $77.51. The company has a market capitalization of $57.28 billion, a PE ratio of 16.68, a PEG ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.06.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 5th. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.64%. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is presently 43.95%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com raised MetLife from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, November 25th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on MetLife from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on MetLife from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on MetLife from $86.00 to $85.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 19th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $88.62.

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.