Brokerages Set MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Price Target at $94.58

Shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the thirteen analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $94.58.

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com lowered shares of MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MetLife

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new position in MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. 94.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MetLife Stock Performance

NYSE:MET opened at $82.33 on Wednesday. MetLife has a 1 year low of $67.30 and a 1 year high of $89.05. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $83.48 and its 200 day simple moving average is $82.67. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.09 billion, a PE ratio of 13.79, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a return on equity of 20.42% and a net margin of 6.19%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that MetLife will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were given a $0.545 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.65%. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.52%.

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.