Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. Trims Stock Holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 2.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 51,710 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 1,050 shares during the quarter. MetLife accounts for about 1.3% of Meridian Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 18th largest position. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in MetLife were worth $4,234,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MET. United Asset Strategies Inc. boosted its position in shares of MetLife by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. United Asset Strategies Inc. now owns 10,933 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $895,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the period. Barrett & Company Inc. raised its position in shares of MetLife by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 11,942 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $978,000 after buying an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in MetLife by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 6,044 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $495,000 after buying an additional 126 shares during the period. Davis R M Inc. increased its stake in MetLife by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Davis R M Inc. now owns 3,148 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Daymark Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of MetLife by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,091 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $417,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

MetLife Stock Performance

NYSE:MET opened at $79.19 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 0.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. MetLife, Inc. has a twelve month low of $67.30 and a twelve month high of $89.05. The stock has a market cap of $53.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.04. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $83.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $82.94.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share 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%. As a group, research analysts predict that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were issued a dividend of $0.545 per share. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.52%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on MET shares. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on MetLife from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets started coverage on MetLife in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 price objective on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $94.58.

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.