MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Sold by Alerus Financial NA

Alerus Financial NA lessened its holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 112,842 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 339 shares during the quarter. MetLife accounts for approximately 0.7% of Alerus Financial NA’s holdings, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Alerus Financial NA’s holdings in MetLife were worth $9,240,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in MetLife during the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Graney & King LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MetLife in the fourth quarter worth about $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

MetLife Stock Performance

NYSE MET opened at $83.10 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $56.61 billion, a PE ratio of 13.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04. MetLife, Inc. has a twelve month low of $67.30 and a twelve month high of $89.05. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $83.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of $82.80. 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 (NYSE:MET) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a return on equity of 20.42% and a net margin of 6.19%. Equities analysts anticipate that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current year.

MetLife Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were given a dividend of $0.545 per share. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is currently 36.52%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MET has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Barclays cut their price objective on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of MetLife in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 price target for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $94.58.

MetLife 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.