MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Purchased by ProShare Advisors LLC

ProShare Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 13.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 148,692 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 17,094 shares during the quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC's holdings in MetLife were worth $12,175,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. United Asset Strategies Inc. raised its holdings in MetLife by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. United Asset Strategies Inc. now owns 10,933 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $895,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. grew its position in shares of MetLife by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 11,942 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $978,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC increased its holdings in shares of MetLife by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC now owns 2,707 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $222,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its position in MetLife by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 6,044 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $495,000 after buying an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Davis R M Inc. boosted its stake in MetLife by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. Davis R M Inc. now owns 3,148 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $258,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.99% of the company's stock.

MetLife Stock Performance

Shares of MET stock opened at $80.80 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. MetLife, Inc. has a 52 week low of $65.21 and a 52 week high of $89.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.24 billion, a PE ratio of 13.53, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.85. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $77.04 and a two-hundred day moving average of $81.14.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last issued 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). MetLife had a net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. The business had revenue of $18.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $18.06 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.83 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MetLife declared that its Board of Directors has approved 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 reacquire up to 5.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

MetLife Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 6th will be given a $0.5675 dividend. This represents a $2.27 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.81%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 6th. This is a boost from MetLife's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. MetLife's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.91%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on shares of MetLife from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of MetLife in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $97.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on MetLife from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com raised MetLife from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, May 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $92.69.

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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