MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Position Reduced by Aquila Investment Management LLC

Aquila Investment Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Free Report) by 33.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 40,000 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 20,000 shares during the quarter. MetLife makes up 2.3% of Aquila Investment Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Aquila Investment Management LLC's holdings in MetLife were worth $2,645,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in MetLife during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. FWL Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. bought a new position in MetLife during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Planned Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of MetLife in the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. 89.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Ramy Tadros sold 4,026 shares of MetLife stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.90, for a total value of $289,469.40. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 146,981 shares in the company, valued at $10,567,933.90. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Ramy Tadros sold 4,026 shares of MetLife stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.90, for a total value of $289,469.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 146,981 shares in the company, valued at $10,567,933.90. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Bill Pappas sold 27,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.27, for a total transaction of $1,951,290.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 57,768 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,174,893.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group cut their price objective on MetLife from $87.00 to $82.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on MetLife from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on MetLife from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on MetLife from $74.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 5th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded MetLife from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $70.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $79.08.

MetLife Stock Performance

MET traded down $0.84 on Friday, reaching $70.14. The company had a trading volume of 2,744,588 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,697,949. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $70.81 and a 200-day moving average price of $66.58. MetLife, Inc. has a 1 year low of $48.95 and a 1 year high of $74.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.71 billion, a PE ratio of 38.33, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.04.

MetLife (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The financial services provider reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.95 by ($0.02). MetLife had a net margin of 2.36% and a return on equity of 19.48%. The business had revenue of $18.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.07 billion. As a group, research analysts forecast that MetLife, Inc. will post 8.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.