MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Acquired by Unigestion Holding SA

Unigestion Holding SA increased its position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 144.6% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 23,496 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 13,890 shares during the quarter. Unigestion Holding SA’s holdings in MetLife were worth $1,924,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MET. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Graney & King LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of MetLife during the 4th quarter worth about $44,000. 94.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MetLife Stock Down 9.5 %

Shares of MetLife stock opened at $68.71 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $46.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16. The business has a 50-day moving average of $82.41 and a two-hundred day moving average of $82.93. MetLife, Inc. has a 1 year low of $67.30 and a 1 year high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a return on equity of 20.42% and a net margin of 6.19%. As a group, equities analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were given a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.17%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of MetLife from $94.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Friday, March 7th. StockNews.com cut MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on shares of MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $94.85.

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.