Brokerages Set MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Target Price at $94.58

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) has received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the thirteen analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $94.58.

MET has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of MetLife in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 target price for the company. Barclays reduced their price objective on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on shares of MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th.

MetLife Price Performance

Shares of MET opened at $83.70 on Wednesday. MetLife has a twelve month low of $67.30 and a twelve month high of $89.05. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $83.52 and a 200 day moving average of $82.79. 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 company has a market capitalization of $57.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last posted 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%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that MetLife will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th were paid a dividend of $0.545 per share. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.60%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is currently 36.52%.

Institutional Trading of MetLife

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in MET. Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in MetLife in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in shares of MetLife during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. 94.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.