MetLife (NYSE:MET) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of MetLife (NYSE:MET) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Wednesday.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of MetLife from $89.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, September 27th. TD Cowen lifted their price target on MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Barclays dropped their price target on MetLife from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of MetLife from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $88.62.

MetLife Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MET opened at $81.88 on Wednesday. MetLife has a 12-month low of $64.61 and a 12-month high of $89.05. The company has a market cap of $56.70 billion, a PE ratio of 16.51, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.06. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $82.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $78.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 5th were paid a dividend of $0.545 per share. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 5th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is 43.95%.

Institutional Trading of MetLife

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MET. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. grew its position in MetLife by 1.3% during the third quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 9,464 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $781,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the period. Abacus Planning Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of MetLife by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 12,301 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,015,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Avestar Capital LLC lifted its stake in MetLife by 3.2% in the third quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 4,264 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $352,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA increased its position in MetLife by 0.8% in the third quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA now owns 16,675 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,375,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its stake in shares of MetLife by 2.0% in the third quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 6,984 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $576,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

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.