Natixis Reduces Stock Position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Natixis cut its stake in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 10.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 241,182 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 28,332 shares during the period. Natixis’ holdings in MetLife were worth $19,748,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MET. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Graney & King LLC bought a new position in shares of MetLife in the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich bought a new position in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth about $48,000. 94.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on MetLife from $109.00 to $94.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on MetLife from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a research note on Friday, March 7th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on MetLife from $97.00 to $91.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, MetLife has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $92.46.

MetLife Stock Performance

MET opened at $72.49 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $79.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $82.13. The company has a market cap of $49.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. MetLife, Inc. has a 52-week low of $65.21 and a 52-week high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.