MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Acquired by Mizuho Securities USA LLC

Mizuho Securities USA LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 44.5% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 55,126 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 16,980 shares during the period. Mizuho Securities USA LLC’s holdings in MetLife were worth $4,514,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter worth approximately $36,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter worth approximately $44,000. Finally, Atala Financial Inc acquired a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter worth approximately $45,000. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MetLife Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MET opened at $82.33 on Monday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $83.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $82.67. 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 $56.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.79, 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 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. Equities analysts expect that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were paid a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.65%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.52%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MET has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. TD Cowen upped their target price on MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, MetLife has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $94.58.

MetLife Company 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.