Graham Capital Management L.P. Trims Stock Holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Graham Capital Management L.P. decreased its holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 62.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 62,196 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 101,331 shares during the period. Graham Capital Management L.P.'s holdings in MetLife were worth $5,093,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Graney & King LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors own 94.99% of the company's stock.

MetLife Price Performance

Shares of MET stock traded up $0.74 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $81.38. The company had a trading volume of 233,498 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,391,519. 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 stock's 50-day moving average is $77.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $81.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.85. MetLife, Inc. has a 52 week low of $65.21 and a 52 week high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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). The company had revenue of $18.57 billion during 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%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 15.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.83 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.5675 per share. This represents a $2.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.79%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 6th. This is an increase from MetLife's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. MetLife's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.91%.

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on MET shares. UBS Group lifted their target price on MetLife from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on MetLife from $109.00 to $94.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on MetLife from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on MetLife from $91.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets began coverage on MetLife in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 target price for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, MetLife presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $92.69.

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.