Donoghue Forlines LLC Takes Position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Donoghue Forlines LLC bought a new position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 19,094 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,563,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in MetLife by 244.4% during the 3rd quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 310 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring 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 purchasing an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC grew its stake in shares of MetLife by 374.3% during the third quarter. Wolff Wiese Magana LLC now owns 351 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 277 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in MetLife in the third quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

MetLife Price Performance

Shares of MET opened at $86.24 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $59.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.07. MetLife, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $64.61 and a fifty-two week high of $89.05. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $83.68 and a 200-day simple moving average of $79.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.16.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 2.53%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s payout ratio is currently 43.95%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on MetLife in a research report on Thursday. They set a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 price objective for the company. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of MetLife from $90.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of MetLife from $89.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, September 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $90.46.

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.