MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) Shares Sold by Trexquant Investment LP

Trexquant Investment LP lowered its stake in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 13.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 206,838 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 31,360 shares during the quarter. Trexquant Investment LP’s holdings in MetLife were worth $16,936,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

MetLife Price Performance

MET stock opened at $81.18 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $55.30 billion, a PE ratio of 13.60, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $83.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $83.01. MetLife, Inc. has a 52-week low of $67.30 and a 52-week high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last posted its quarterly 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%. Analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th were issued a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.69%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is currently 36.52%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a research note on Friday, March 7th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of MetLife in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 price target on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on shares of MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, MetLife currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $94.58.

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.