Blue Trust Inc. Boosts Stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 26.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,910 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 2,088 shares during the quarter. Blue Trust Inc.’s holdings in MetLife were worth $817,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. raised 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 purchasing an additional 123 shares in the last quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. increased its position in shares of MetLife by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 12,301 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,015,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Avestar Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of MetLife by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 4,264 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $352,000 after buying an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA lifted its position in MetLife by 0.8% in the 3rd 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. boosted its stake in MetLife by 2.0% in the third quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 6,984 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $576,000 after buying an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. 94.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

MetLife Stock Performance

Shares of MetLife stock opened at $86.77 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $83.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $80.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $60.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.07. 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, Inc. has a 12 month low of $64.61 and a 12 month high of $89.05.

MetLife Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.545 per share. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s payout ratio is currently 43.95%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of MetLife from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays raised their price objective on MetLife from $90.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on MetLife from $93.00 to $92.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $90.46.

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.