Hickory Point Bank & Trust Takes Position in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Hickory Point Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 2,793 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $229,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in MetLife by 244.4% during the 3rd quarter. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC now owns 310 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. lifted its stake in MetLife by 131.9% during the 3rd quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 327 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in MetLife during the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new position in MetLife during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on MET shares. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on MetLife from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Barclays reduced 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. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on MetLife in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $97.00 price target on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com lowered MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $94.58.

MetLife Stock Performance

MetLife stock opened at $86.16 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.43, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $83.65 and a 200 day moving average price of $81.91. MetLife, Inc. has a 52 week low of $67.30 and a 52 week high of $89.05. 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 (NYSE:MET) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 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%. Equities research analysts anticipate that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 4th. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.53%. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is presently 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.