MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Position Trimmed by Gulf International Bank UK Ltd

Gulf International Bank UK Ltd decreased its position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 26.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 33,237 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 12,006 shares during the quarter. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd’s holdings in MetLife were worth $2,668,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in MET. Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. North Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in MetLife in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Motco lifted its holdings in MetLife by 105.5% in the 1st quarter. Motco now owns 413 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

MetLife Trading Up 1.0%

Shares of MetLife stock opened at $77.35 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.44 billion, a PE ratio of 13.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $77.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $78.89. MetLife, Inc. has a 52-week low of $65.21 and a 52-week high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.32 by ($0.30). The business had revenue of $17.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.58 billion. MetLife had a net margin of 5.83% and a return on equity of 19.88%. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.28 EPS. On average, analysts expect that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

MetLife declared that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, April 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase up to 5.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.5675 per share. This represents a $2.27 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 5th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is currently 38.47%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MET has been the subject of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on MetLife from $86.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on MetLife from $94.00 to $92.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday. UBS Group cut their price target on MetLife from $94.00 to $91.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Barclays upped their price target on MetLife from $88.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $97.00 price target (up from $94.00) on shares of MetLife in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $96.00.

MetLife 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.