United Asset Strategies Inc. Has $811,000 Stock Holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

United Asset Strategies Inc. grew its stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 10.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 12,266 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,142 shares during the period. United Asset Strategies Inc.’s holdings in MetLife were worth $811,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MET. Flputnam Investment Management Co. acquired a new stake in MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at $284,000. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of MetLife by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 31,978 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,115,000 after buying an additional 486 shares during the period. Waldron Private Wealth LLC increased its position in MetLife by 10.8% during the 4th quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC now owns 4,875 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $322,000 after buying an additional 476 shares during the period. Carnegie Capital Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of MetLife by 4.5% in the fourth quarter. Carnegie Capital Asset Management LLC now owns 5,905 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $390,000 after buying an additional 253 shares during the period. Finally, River Street Advisors LLC grew its stake in MetLife by 4.4% during the fourth quarter. River Street Advisors LLC now owns 17,906 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,184,000 after buying an additional 758 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.81% of the company’s stock.

MetLife Trading Down 0.7 %

MET opened at $68.93 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $49.84 billion, a PE ratio of 37.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.52 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 0.53. MetLife, Inc. has a twelve month low of $48.95 and a twelve month high of $74.68. The company has a fifty day moving average of $70.95 and a 200-day moving average of $66.66.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The financial services provider reported $1.93 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.95 by ($0.02). MetLife had a net margin of 2.36% and a return on equity of 19.48%. The company had revenue of $18.72 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.07 billion. On average, sell-side analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 8.71 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Bill Pappas sold 27,000 shares of MetLife stock in a transaction on Monday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.27, for a total value of $1,951,290.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 57,768 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,174,893.36. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, insider Ramy Tadros sold 4,026 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.90, for a total value of $289,469.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 146,981 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,567,933.90. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Bill Pappas sold 27,000 shares of MetLife stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.27, for a total value of $1,951,290.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 57,768 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,174,893.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MET has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Piper Sandler raised their target price on MetLife from $74.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, April 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of MetLife from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of MetLife from $87.00 to $82.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of MetLife from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of MetLife from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $70.00 to $80.00 in a report on Monday, January 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $79.23.

MetLife Company 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.