Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Decreases Stake in MetLife, Inc. $MET

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lessened its stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 20.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 331,384 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 84,564 shares during the quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA’s holdings in MetLife were worth $26,161,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MET. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in MetLife by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 33,595 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,652,000 after buying an additional 224 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in MetLife by 8.0% in the fourth quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC now owns 215,142 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $16,983,000 after buying an additional 16,018 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of MetLife by 12.1% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 72,555,335 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $5,727,518,000 after acquiring an additional 7,805,814 shares during the period. Argyle Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of MetLife by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Argyle Capital Management LLC now owns 39,395 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,110,000 after acquiring an additional 1,742 shares during the period. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of MetLife by 20.7% during the 4th quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 52,494 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,144,000 after acquiring an additional 9,005 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

MetLife Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MET opened at $80.22 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $52.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.07, a P/E/G ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 0.74. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $73.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $76.60. MetLife, Inc. has a 52 week low of $67.33 and a 52 week high of $83.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.34 by $0.15. MetLife had a return on equity of 21.81% and a net margin of 4.38%.The firm had revenue of $52.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $31.43 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.08 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 27.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.85 EPS for the current year.

MetLife Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.5925 per share. This represents a $2.37 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 12th. This is an increase from MetLife’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. MetLife’s payout ratio is currently 48.30%.

Trending Headlines about MetLife

Here are the key news stories impacting MetLife this week:

• Positive Sentiment: MetLife raised its quarterly common dividend 4.4% to $0.5925 per share (ex?dividend May 12, payable June 9), implying an annualized yield ?3.0%. The payout bump supports income investors and signals management confidence in cash flow. MetLife Increases Common Stock Dividend by 4.4%
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect Q1 EPS to be up ~13.3% YoY, with Zacks noting rising net investment income and strong segment growth forecasts that could produce an earnings beat — a near?term catalyst for the stock. Can Higher Investment Income Help MetLife Deliver a Q1 Earnings Beat?
• Positive Sentiment: MetLife polling shows majority of employers favor embedding guaranteed lifetime?income options into workplace plans — a trend that could expand demand for MetLife’s retirement and annuity products over time. Majority of Employers Support Embedding Guaranteed Lifetime Income Options into Workplace Retirement Plans, MetLife Poll Finds
• Neutral Sentiment: MetLife continues active CRE investing: a $170M commitment to transform Water Tower Place in Chicago signals capital deployment into income?producing real estate, which can boost long?term returns but ties up capital. MetLife bets $170 million on Water Tower Place transformation
• Neutral Sentiment: Smaller real?estate buy in Peoria (140?unit Villa Enclave) shows continued portfolio activity at local level — modest impact on corporate earnings but illustrative of steady asset management. MetLife Drops Cash on 140-Unit Peoria Villa Enclave
• Neutral Sentiment: HCLTech expanded a partnership tied to MetLife Stadium and became an AI partner to the NFL franchises — boosts MetLife brand visibility around the stadium but has limited direct earnings impact on MetLife, Inc. HCLTech expands MetLife Stadium deal, becomes official AI partner to NFL franchises
• Neutral Sentiment: Executive movement: Oxford Properties hired a MetLife executive as head of U.S. operations — notable for industry talent flow but not material to MetLife’s near?term fundamentals. Oxford Properties Hires MetLife Exec As New Head Of U.S.
• Neutral Sentiment: Several media pieces about World Cup transit and MetLife Stadium (fans, commuting challenges) are generating headlines; these are operational/PR?level stories tied to the stadium event and unlikely to move MetLife, Inc.’s stock materially. New Yorkers to World Cup Fans: Please Don’t Walk to MetLife
• Neutral Sentiment: MetLife data releases on dental costs spotlight consumer risk and may support product marketing (dental, supplemental insurance), but these are brand/research items rather than earnings catalysts. MetLife warns major dental bills can drain savings fast

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on MetLife from $101.00 to $93.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on MetLife from $93.00 to $90.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Bank of America lowered their target price on MetLife from $103.00 to $99.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Barclays cut their price target on MetLife from $92.00 to $89.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of MetLife from $98.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $93.38.

MetLife Profile

MetLife, Inc is a global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs. Headquartered in New York City, the company offers a range of risk protection and retirement solutions to individuals, employers and institutional clients. Its core businesses include life insurance, group benefits, retirement products such as annuities, and supplemental health products including dental and disability coverage.

In addition to traditional life and group insurance, MetLife provides workplace benefits and voluntary products distributed through employer-sponsored programs.