MetLife's $0.21 Billion Volume Ranks 484th as Institutional Bets Diverge Amid Mixed Analyst Signals

On August 20, 2025, MetLife (NYSE:MET) rose 0.39% with a trading volume of $0.21 billion, ranking 484th in daily liquidity. Institutional activity remained a focal point, as multiple investment firms adjusted their stakes in the insurer. Convergence Investment Partners LLC, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc., and Graypoint LLC increased holdings, while Victory Capital Management Inc. and Pzena Investment Management LLC reduced positions. These shifts highlight ongoing strategic reassessments among institutional investors.

Analyst sentiment provided mixed signals. A "Moderate Buy" consensus rating from brokerages indicated cautious optimism, though recent quarterly earnings missed expectations, with revenue declining 2.7% year-over-year. Morgan Stanley revised its price target to $94.00 from $98.00, maintaining an "overweight" stance. Meanwhile, Barclays and UBS Group also raised or maintained overweight ratings, suggesting confidence in MetLife’s long-term prospects despite short-term challenges.

Institutional ownership trends underscored diverging strategies. Norges Bank entered a new position worth $756 million, while Pzena Investment Management LLC boosted its stake by 6.8%. Conversely, Pzena also sold 244,707 shares, reflecting a hedging approach. These moves signal a balance between bullish and risk-mitigation strategies among major investors.

Backtesting a strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily volume and holding for one day from 2022 to 2025 yielded a 0.98% average daily return, with a total return of 31.52% over 365 days. The approach showed best performance in June 2023 (7.02%) and worst in September 2022 (-4.20%), illustrating its susceptibility to market volatility while maintaining an upward trajectory overall.