MetLife (NYSE:MET) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of MetLife (NYSE:MET) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Barclays dropped their price target on MetLife from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of MetLife from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on MetLife from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of MetLife from $89.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, September 27th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, MetLife currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $88.62.

MetLife Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:MET opened at $81.88 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $82.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $78.42. The company has a market capitalization of $56.70 billion, a PE ratio of 16.51, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.06. MetLife has a twelve month low of $64.61 and a twelve month high of $89.05.

MetLife Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 5th were paid a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 5th. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.66%. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is presently 43.95%.

Institutional Trading of MetLife

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in MetLife by 244.4% in the 3rd quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 310 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. lifted its holdings in MetLife by 131.9% during the 3rd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 327 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC increased its holdings in shares of MetLife by 374.3% in the 3rd quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 351 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 277 shares during the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in MetLife during the third quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC raised its holdings in shares of MetLife by 177.3% during the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 416 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 266 shares during the period. 94.99% of the stock is 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.