MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Sold by Stablepoint Partners LLC

Stablepoint Partners LLC lowered its position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 9.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 52,033 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 5,284 shares during the quarter. Stablepoint Partners LLC's holdings in MetLife were worth $4,178,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new position in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quarry LP acquired a new position in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Graney & King LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company's stock.

MetLife Price Performance

NYSE:MET opened at $78.46 on Friday. MetLife, Inc. has a 12 month low of $65.21 and a 12 month high of $89.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The company's 50-day moving average price is $76.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $80.89. The firm has a market cap of $52.67 billion, a PE ratio of 13.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.86.

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 company had revenue of $18.57 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.06 billion. MetLife had a net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. MetLife's revenue for the quarter was up 15.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.83 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MetLife announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, April 30th that permits the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to reacquire up to 5.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

MetLife Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.5675 per share. This represents a $2.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.89%. This is an increase from MetLife's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 6th. MetLife's payout ratio is 36.91%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on MET shares. Barclays cut their target price on shares of MetLife from $95.00 to $88.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of MetLife from $94.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, May 19th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of MetLife from $91.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of MetLife from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $94.17.

MetLife 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.

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