MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the thirteen research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $94.58.

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Friday, March 7th. Barclays cut their price target on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th.

MetLife Stock Down 0.7 %

MetLife stock opened at $81.58 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $55.58 billion, a PE ratio of 13.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04. 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 has a one year low of $67.30 and a one year high of $89.05. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $83.44 and a 200 day moving average of $82.56.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last released 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%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that MetLife will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th were given a $0.545 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.67%. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is currently 36.52%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MetLife

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Transce3nd LLC bought a new stake in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new stake in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.