Strategic Blueprint LLC Increases Holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Strategic Blueprint LLC grew its holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 7.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 3,060 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC’s holdings in MetLife were worth $251,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MET. Sanctuary Advisors LLC acquired a new position in MetLife in the second quarter valued at $6,377,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV boosted its position in shares of MetLife by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 2,342 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $193,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares during the period. Czech National Bank grew its stake in MetLife by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 119,837 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $9,884,000 after buying an additional 6,007 shares during the last quarter. Wright Investors Service Inc. increased its position in MetLife by 1.5% during the third quarter. Wright Investors Service Inc. now owns 21,548 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,777,000 after buying an additional 327 shares during the period. Finally, Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its stake in MetLife by 50.0% in the third quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 109,120 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $9,000,000 after buying an additional 36,367 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on MET shares. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of MetLife in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on MetLife from $93.00 to $92.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on MetLife from $90.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $90.46.

MetLife Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE MET opened at $86.56 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $84.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $80.48. MetLife, Inc. has a 52 week low of $64.61 and a 52 week high of $89.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $59.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.07.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be issued a $0.545 dividend. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.52%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is currently 43.95%.

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.