Crumly & Associates Inc. Increases Stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Crumly & Associates Inc. grew its position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 3.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 6,326 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 184 shares during the period. Crumly & Associates Inc.’s holdings in MetLife were worth $518,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MET. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in MetLife by 244.4% in the 3rd quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 310 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. grew its stake in shares of MetLife by 131.9% in the third quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 327 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares during the period. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of MetLife during the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new position in MetLife during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Institutional investors own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

MetLife Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of MET stock opened at $82.82 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $57.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.87, a PEG ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $83.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $81.26. MetLife, Inc. has a one year low of $67.30 and a one year high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 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%. Sell-side analysts expect that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be given a dividend of $0.545 per share. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s payout ratio is currently 36.52%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on MET shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of MetLife in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 price objective on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, MetLife presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $92.58.

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.