Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. Has $320.43 Million Holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 0.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,913,408 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 30,187 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in MetLife were worth $320,430,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of MetLife by 244.4% in the third quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 310 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 220 shares during the period. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in MetLife in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Coastline Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of MetLife in the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MetLife Trading Up 2.0 %

Shares of MET stock opened at $83.17 on Thursday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $83.74 and its two-hundred day moving average is $82.15. 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 12 month low of $67.30 and a 12 month high of $89.05. The company has a market cap of $56.66 billion, a PE ratio of 13.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a return on equity of 20.42% and a net margin of 6.19%. Equities analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.62%. MetLife’s payout ratio is 36.52%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays cut their price objective on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, MetLife currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $94.58.

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.