Everpar Advisors LLC Trims Holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Everpar Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 9.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,505 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 352 shares during the period. Everpar Advisors LLC’s holdings in MetLife were worth $281,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Transce3nd LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Graney & King LLC purchased a new stake in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. 94.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on MET shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of MetLife from $91.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of MetLife from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of MetLife from $94.00 to $99.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on shares of MetLife from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of MetLife from $95.00 to $88.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MetLife currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $94.17.

MetLife Trading Down 2.2%

NYSE MET opened at $77.22 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.16 and a quick ratio of 0.16. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $76.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $80.57. The company has a market capitalization of $51.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.86. MetLife, Inc. has a 12 month low of $65.21 and a 12 month high of $89.05.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.96 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.00 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $18.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.06 billion. MetLife had a net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 20.42%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.83 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MetLife Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 6th were paid a dividend of $0.5675 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 6th. This represents a $2.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.94%. This is a boost from MetLife’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is currently 36.91%.

MetLife announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Wednesday, April 30th that allows the company to buyback $3.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to reacquire up to 5.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

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.