MetLife Falls 2.55% to 392nd in Trading Volume as Institutions Pile In and Analysts Diverge

MetLife (NYSE:MET) fell 2.55% on August 1, 2025, with a trading volume of $0.32 billion, ranking 392nd among stocks on the day. Institutional investors have shown renewed interest in the insurer, as GSA Capital Partners LLP increased its stake by 136% in the first quarter, now holding 14,721 shares valued at $1.18 million. Additional new positions were added by several smaller firms, including Ball & Co, Transcend LLC, and Quarry LP, collectively injecting over $100,000 into the stock during the fourth quarter. Motco also boosted its holdings by 105.5% to 413 shares.

Analyst sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, with Piper Sandler raising its price target to $94 and maintaining an "overweight" rating. JPMorgan and Wells Fargo similarly adjusted their targets upward to $95 and $97, respectively. Despite these upgrades, Wall Street Zen downgraded the stock to "hold," reflecting divergent views on near-term performance. The company’s recent $3 billion stock buyback program and quarterly dividend of $0.5675 per share—payable September 9—highlight management’s confidence in valuation and capital returns.

The stock’s 12-month range of $65.21–$89.05 suggests volatility persists, though earnings growth of 15.6% in Q2 and a 20.89% return on equity indicate underlying strength. With 95% of shares held by institutions, MetLife’s performance remains sensitive to large investor movements and macroeconomic factors. The firm’s debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55 and market cap of $50.2 billion position it as a mid-cap player in the insurance sector.

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