MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Purchased by Benson Investment Management Company Inc.

Benson Investment Management Company Inc. boosted its position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 1.6% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 66,482 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,060 shares during the period. MetLife accounts for about 2.3% of Benson Investment Management Company Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Benson Investment Management Company Inc.’s holdings in MetLife were worth $5,444,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in MetLife by 244.4% in the third quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 310 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. lifted its position in shares of MetLife by 131.9% during the 3rd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 327 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC boosted its holdings in shares of MetLife by 374.3% in the 3rd quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 351 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 277 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of MetLife in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC raised its stake in MetLife by 177.3% during the 3rd quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 416 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 266 shares in the last quarter. 94.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on MET. StockNews.com downgraded shares of MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays lifted their price target on MetLife from $90.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on MetLife from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $90.00.

MetLife Stock Up 2.1 %

MET stock opened at $81.94 on Tuesday. MetLife, Inc. has a one year low of $64.61 and a one year high of $89.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.16. The company has a fifty day moving average of $83.04 and a 200-day moving average of $79.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.74 billion, a PE ratio of 16.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.07.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be issued a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is presently 43.95%.

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.