MetLife (NYSE:MET) Stock Price Passes Above 200 Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)’s share price crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $78.39 and traded as high as $82.26. MetLife shares last traded at $81.88, with a volume of 1,795,193 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MET has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group lifted 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. Piper Sandler raised their price target on MetLife from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of MetLife from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, 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 report on Wednesday, November 27th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $88.62.

MetLife Trading Down 0.1 %

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $82.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $78.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.06.

MetLife Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 5th were issued a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 5th. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.67%. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is currently 43.95%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MetLife

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of MetLife by 1.3% in the third quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 9,464 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $781,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. Abacus Planning Group Inc. raised its holdings in MetLife by 1.0% during the third quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 12,301 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,015,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the period. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA lifted its position in shares of MetLife by 0.8% in the third quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA now owns 16,675 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,375,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Avestar Capital LLC grew its position in shares of MetLife by 3.2% during the third quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 4,264 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $352,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its stake in MetLife by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 6,984 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $576,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

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.