Capitolis Liquid Global Markets LLC Invests $11.46 Million in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Capitolis Liquid Global Markets LLC purchased a new position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 140,000 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $11,463,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of MetLife by 33.7% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 24,663,239 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,019,427,000 after buying an additional 6,213,923 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in MetLife by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,931,536 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $973,901,000 after acquiring an additional 158,107 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at about $730,716,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of MetLife by 109.2% during the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 8,826,658 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $722,727,000 after purchasing an additional 4,606,748 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in MetLife by 15.7% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,052,202 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $577,434,000 after buying an additional 958,458 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company's stock.

MetLife Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of MET opened at $77.39 on Tuesday. The firm's 50-day moving average is $77.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $81.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $52.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.96, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. MetLife, Inc. has a twelve month low of $65.21 and a twelve month high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.96 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.00 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $18.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.06 billion. MetLife had a net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 15.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.83 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MetLife declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, April 30th that allows the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase up to 5.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

MetLife Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 6th will be issued a $0.5675 dividend. This represents a $2.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.93%. This is a positive change from MetLife's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 6th. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is 36.91%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. Barclays reduced their price objective on MetLife from $95.00 to $88.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 11th. StockNews.com raised shares of MetLife from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on MetLife from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on MetLife from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of MetLife from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, MetLife has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $92.46.

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.

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