Swedbank AB Boosts Stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Swedbank AB boosted its stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 76.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 3,466,808 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 1,496,645 shares during the period. Swedbank AB owned about 0.50% of MetLife worth $283,862,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Scientech Research LLC acquired a new position in shares of MetLife during the second quarter worth about $264,000. Creative Planning grew its position in shares of MetLife by 3.1% during the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 127,003 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $8,914,000 after buying an additional 3,865 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of MetLife by 1.6% during the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 47,203 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $3,313,000 after buying an additional 737 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its holdings in shares of MetLife by 155.3% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 2,088 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $147,000 after purchasing an additional 1,270 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Truist Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of MetLife by 13.2% in the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 1,938,609 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $136,071,000 after purchasing an additional 226,784 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on MET shares. TD Cowen boosted their target price on MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of MetLife from $90.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of MetLife from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of MetLife from $93.00 to $92.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on MetLife in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 price objective on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $90.46.

MetLife Price Performance

MET stock traded up $1.09 on Wednesday, hitting $86.77. 3,980,048 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,605,380. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. MetLife, Inc. has a 1-year low of $64.61 and a 1-year high of $89.05. The stock has a market cap of $60.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $83.95 and a 200-day moving average of $80.30.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.545 per share. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.51%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is currently 43.95%.

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.