How did MET's Q4 earnings surprise impact investor sentiment?

MetLife's (MET) Q3 earnings report revealed a decline in revenue and earnings, which significantly disappointed investors due to the following reasons:

1. **Revenue Decline**: MetLife reported a 3.4% decrease in revenue year-over-year, coming in at $17.61 billion, below the consensus estimate of $18.47 billion. This shortfall was a notable negative surprise, indicating weaker-than-expected business performance.
2. **Earnings Shortfall**: The company's adjusted EPS was $1.93, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.16. This represented a 10.65% shortfall, suggesting that earnings had not recovered adequately from the previous year's $1.97.
3. **Analyst Expectations**: Prior to the earnings release, analysts had projected a more robust performance, with expectations of $2.17 per share. MetLife's actual EPS of $1.93 fell short of these expectations, adding to the disappointment among investors.
4. **Market Reaction**: Following the earnings release, MetLife's stock experienced significant volatility, with shares trading lower post-announcement. This reflects investor sentiment impacted negatively by the revenue and earnings shortfalls.

In summary, MetLife's Q3 earnings report revealed a decline in revenue and earnings, which significantly disappointed investors due to the revenue shortfall, earnings miss, and weaker-than-expected business performance. Following the earnings release, MetLife's stock experienced significant volatility, with shares trading lower post-announcement, reflecting the negative sentiment among investors.