MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Stake Trimmed by Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH trimmed its holdings in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 12.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 665,218 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 95,227 shares during the period. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned about 0.10% of MetLife worth $53,410,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new position in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. North Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of MetLife during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Graney & King LLC bought a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on MET shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of MetLife from $86.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $97.00 target price (up previously from $94.00) on shares of MetLife in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on MetLife from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of MetLife from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of MetLife from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, May 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $96.09.

MetLife Stock Performance

Shares of MET traded up $0.54 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $78.33. 1,065,480 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,355,790. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.16. The business's 50-day moving average price is $78.72 and its 200-day moving average price is $79.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.85. MetLife, Inc. has a 12 month low of $65.21 and a 12 month high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.96 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.00 by ($0.04). MetLife had a net margin of 6.08% and a return on equity of 20.89%. The business had revenue of $18.57 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.06 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.83 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current year.

MetLife declared that its board has initiated a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, April 30th that authorizes the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes 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 Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 5th will be paid a $0.5675 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 5th. This represents a $2.27 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.90%. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.91%.

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.