Level Four Advisory Services LLC Lowers Stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Level Four Advisory Services LLC trimmed its holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 3.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 12,899 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 463 shares during the period. Level Four Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in MetLife were worth $1,056,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of MetLife in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 price target on the stock. Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Barclays dropped their price objective on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price 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. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, MetLife has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $94.58.

MetLife Price Performance

MET stock opened at $79.19 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $83.29 and its 200 day moving average price is $82.89. The firm has a market cap of $53.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.27, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.16. MetLife, Inc. has a 1 year low of $67.30 and a 1 year high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 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%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were given a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.75%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is presently 36.52%.

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.