MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Sold by Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd

Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd trimmed its position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 14.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,400 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 900 shares during the period. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd’s holdings in MetLife were worth $442,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in MET. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in MetLife in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of MetLife in the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Coastline Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of MetLife during the third quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter valued at about $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

MetLife Price Performance

NYSE MET opened at $80.62 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. MetLife, Inc. has a 1 year low of $67.30 and a 1 year high of $89.05. The company has a market cap of $54.92 billion, a PE ratio of 13.50, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $83.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $82.45.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last announced its 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 net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. On average, analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were given a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. MetLife’s payout ratio is presently 36.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have commented on MET shares. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Barclays cut their target price on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their target price on MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, MetLife currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $94.58.

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.