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MetLife, Inc. (MET), headquartered in New York City, is a leading global provider of insurance, annuities, and employee benefit programs, serving millions of customers across more than 40 countries. With a market cap of $59 billion, MetLife is at the forefront of delivering innovative financial solutions, empowering individuals, families, and businesses to achieve financial security while maintaining a strong commitment to customer service, corporate responsibility, and long-term sustainability.
Companies with a market value of $10 billion or more are classified as “large-cap stocks,” MetLife is solidly within this category. This classification underscores its substantial size, global reach, and leadership in the financial services sector. MetLife provides a comprehensive suite of insurance, annuity, and employee benefit solutions, showcasing its commitment to financial security, customer-centric innovation, and sustainable practices to meet the diverse needs of its customers worldwide.
MetLife shares are trading 7.6% below their 52-week high of $89.05, which they hit on Nov. 27. The stock has gained 9% over the past three months, outperforming the SPDR S&P Insurance ETF (KIE), which has gained 6.8% over the same time frame.
However, over the longer term, MET has rallied 24.4% on a YTD basis, trailing KIE's stronger performance of 31.1% returns. Similarly, over the last 52 weeks, MET's 28.4% increase falls short of KIE's 31.5% rise.
MET has remained above its 200-day moving average since early August, reflecting a positive long-term outlook. However, the recent drop below its 50-day moving average signals a bearish short-term trend.
MetLife has recently demonstrated strength in its core businesses, including insurance and retirement solutions, driven by robust growth, effective cost-cutting measures, and strategic investments. However, the stock faced a 5.7% decline following its Q3 earnings report on Oct. 30. The company posted adjusted EPS of $1.93, down 1% year over year and below the consensus estimate of $2.16. Revenue rose by 16.2% to $18.44 billion but narrowly missed expectations.
MetLife’s competitor, Aflac Incorporated (AFL), has outperformed MET, delivering a YTD return of 27.3%.
Analysts maintain an optimistic outlook for MET, as the stock has recently outperformed the broader sector. MET has a consensus “Strong Buy” rating overall from the 16 analysts covering the stock and has a mean price target of $93.50, suggesting a potential upside of 13.6% from its current price.
