PDS Planning Inc Takes Position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

PDS Planning Inc purchased a new position in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 2,460 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $201,000.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of MetLife during the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at about $44,000. Finally, Atala Financial Inc bought a new position in MetLife in the 4th quarter worth about $45,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on MET shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays dropped their price target on MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. StockNews.com cut shares of MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Friday, March 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $94.58.

MetLife Price Performance

NYSE MET opened at $83.02 on Thursday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $83.44 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $82.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.91, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04. 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, Inc. has a 12-month low of $67.30 and a 12-month high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last announced its 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 forecast that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were issued a $0.545 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.63%. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is currently 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.