Zions Bancorporation N.A. Decreases Stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET)

Zions Bancorporation N.A. decreased its holdings in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) by 7.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,419 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 191 shares during the quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A.’s holdings in MetLife were worth $198,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in MetLife in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MetLife during the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Finally, Atala Financial Inc acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife in the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on MetLife from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of MetLife from $101.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Friday, March 7th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of MetLife from $96.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded MetLife from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $94.58.

MetLife Price Performance

MET stock opened at $83.91 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 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 0.54. MetLife, Inc. has a 52-week low of $67.30 and a 52-week high of $89.05. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $83.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is $82.80.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.13 by ($0.05). MetLife had a return on equity of 20.42% and a net margin of 6.19%. Equities research analysts expect that MetLife, Inc. will post 9.65 EPS for the current year.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 4th were paid a dividend of $0.545 per share. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.60%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 4th. MetLife’s dividend payout ratio is currently 36.52%.

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.