MetLife, IncNYSE: MET
Financials · Life & Health Insurance
$87.64
+3.96%
Vol: 2.0M
Research Digest
Monday, June 15, 2026
MetLife launched a new deferred-payment claims product and drew a Barclays price-target raise to $93, reinforcing a steady positive backdrop.
On June 11, 2026, MetLife introduced a flexible deferred-payment option for non-physical-injury claims, expanding its settlement-solutions portfolio. Barclays analyst Alex Scott raised the firm's MetLife price target to $93 from $89 and kept an Overweight rating. The company's Q2 2026 dividend of $0.5925/share (up 4.4% sequentially) was payable June 9, 2026. These moves reinforce a steady capital-return and product-expansion narrative for the insurer. The bear case is muted: the product launch is incremental, an insider (Marlene Debel) filed intent to sell ~21k shares (~$1.7m), and broader insurance industry pricing/rate pressures persist. Overall the recent flow skews modestly positive.
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysJun 14No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
May 21MetLife declared a 4.4% higher Q2 2026 common dividend of $0.5925 per share and Series A/E/F preferred dividends on May 15.Positive▶
On May 15, 2026, MetLife declared second-quarter 2026 dividends on three series of non-cumulative preferred stock and raised its common stock dividend 4.4% to $0.5925 per share from $0.5675. The dividend hike followed strong Q1 2026 results released May 6 — adjusted EPS of $2.42 (up 23% YoY, beating estimates by 6.6%) on $19.68B in revenue, driven by a 58% surge in variable investment income from private equity holdings. MetLife was recently dropped from the S&P 100 index. Analysts raised price targets, with the latest rating a Buy and $98 PT.
May 20No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
May 19MetLife declares 4.4% common dividend hike to $0.5925 on May 15; Keefe Bruyette raises PT to $98.Positive▶
MetLife declared a Q2 common dividend of $0.5925, a 4.4% increase from Q1's $0.5675, plus preferred dividends on Series A/E/F (payable June 15). Q1 2026 revenue of $19.07B and adjusted EPS of $2.42 beat estimates as private equity variable investment income surged 58% to $518M. Buyback retired 21.9M shares for $1.69B since April 2025. Analyst PT raises: Keefe Bruyette $98 (from $87), JPMorgan $96 (from $95), Wells Fargo $95 (from $90). Risk: interest rate sensitivity on the spread book.
May 18MetLife declared a 4.4% increase to its common dividend and a Q2 preferred dividend on May 15, building on strong Q1 results driven by private equity gains.Positive▶
On May 15, 2026, MetLife declared a Q2 common dividend of $0.5925 per share, a 4.4% increase from Q1, along with Q2 preferred stock dividends on its Series A, E, and F shares. Q1 results released May 6 showed revenue of $19.07-19.7 billion and adjusted EPS of $2.42, beating estimates by 6.6% and up 23% year-over-year, with variable investment income jumping 58% to $518 million on strong PE returns. The company has retired 21,901,426 shares for $1.69 billion in buybacks since April 2025. Analysts raised price targets in May: Keefe Bruyette to $98, JPMorgan to $96, and Wells Fargo to $95 with a Buy rating. MetLife was dropped from the S&P 100 index, which may affect index fund exposure.
May 15MetLife drew multiple analyst price-target hikes after Q1 EPS of $2.42 beat by 6.6% on private-equity gains, despite being dropped from the S&P 100.Mixed▶
MetLife reported Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.42, up 23% year over year and 6.6% above consensus, driven by higher private-equity investment gains; net income was $1.14B. Revenue grew only 1.3% (below the 2% forecast) and book value per share missed estimates, but $1.1B was returned via buybacks and dividends. The board raised the Q2 dividend 4.4% to $0.5925/share, payable June 9. On May 12, Keefe Bruyette raised its target to $98 (from $87), with JPMorgan and Wells Fargo also lifting targets. Risk: MetLife was dropped from the S&P 100 index, which could pressure passive demand.
May 14MetLife Q1 2026 EPS of $2.42 beat by 6.6% as variable investment income surged 58% to $518M, triggering analyst PT hikes to $98 (KBW), $96 (JPM), and $95 (Wells Fargo).Positive▶
MetLife reported Q1 2026 results on May 6 with adjusted EPS of $2.42, beating consensus of $2.27 by 6.6%, and adjusted earnings of $1.6 billion driven by broad-based segment growth. Revenue reached $19.1B, up 2.7% YoY. Variable investment income, including private equity holdings, surged 58% to $518 million in the three months through March, fueling the beat. Following the report, Keefe Bruyette raised its price target to $98 from $87, JPMorgan to $96 from $95, and Wells Fargo to $95 from $90 on May 12. Analyst consensus is Moderate Buy with 11 Strong Buy ratings out of 19 covering analysts. Shares have returned 10.7% over the last 30 days. On May 12, MetLife and Global Citizen launched the Footwork for Futures social media challenge supporting youth education and sports.
May 13MetLife shares trade ex-dividend on May 12 for the raised Q2 2026 common stock dividend of $0.5925, a 4.4% increase, with the index also dropping MET from the S&P 100.Positive▶
May 12, 2026 was the record date for MetLife's increased Q2 2026 common stock dividend of $0.5925 per share, a 4.4% bump from $0.5675 in Q1, payable June 9, 2026. The dividend hike comes after MetLife's Q1 2026 earnings exceeded expectations, with adjusted EPS of $2.42 (vs. $2.27 estimate, 6.6% beat) and net income of $1.14 billion, up roughly 30% year-over-year. Variable investment income surged 58% to $518 million, driven by improved private equity portfolio returns. Separately, MetLife has been dropped from the S&P 100 index, which may modestly affect benchmark and index fund flows. The combination of dividend growth and PE-driven earnings beat continues to support MET's investment case despite the index removal.
May 12MetLife Q1 adjusted EPS up 23% to $2.42, beats by 7.6%; returns $1.1B to shareholders, raises dividend 4.4%Positive▶
MetLife reported Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.42, up 23% YoY and beating estimates by 7.6%, with adjusted earnings of $1.6 billion. Adjusted ROE reached 17%, at the top of the 15–17% target range. Group Benefits adjusted earnings rose 19% to $439 million, with Group Life mortality at an exceptional 80.1% (vs. 83–88% target). Asia earnings jumped 31%, with strong contributions from LatAm and EMEA. MetLife returned $1.1 billion via $750M buybacks and $370M dividends, and the board approved a 4.4% common dividend increase. Among 19 analysts, consensus is Moderate Buy.
May 11MetLife reported Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.42 beating $2.25 consensus driven by 58% jump in variable investment income, increased dividend 4.4%, but revenue missed at $19.07B.Positive▶
MetLife announced Q1 2026 results on May 6 with adjusted EPS of $2.42 beating consensus of $2.25 by 7.6%, though revenue of $19.07B missed the $19.43B forecast. Total adjusted earnings rose 18% YoY to $1.586B. Variable investment income surged 58% to $518M driven by private equity returns. Segment growth was strong: Asia earnings +31%, EMEA +33%, Group Benefits +19%, and net investment income grew 10% to $5.4B. The board increased the quarterly dividend 4.4% to $0.5925 payable June 9, returning $1.1B+ to shareholders in Q1 including $750M-$755M in buybacks. Barclays lowered price target to $89 from $92 while maintaining Overweight, citing margin compression concerns. Stock has gained 10.7% over the past 30 days. Risk: net margins under pressure despite earnings growth.
May 8MetLife reports Q1 EPS of $2.42 (beat $2.25 estimate, +23% YoY), raises dividend 4.4%Positive▶
MetLife reported Q1 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.42 (beat $2.25 estimate by 7.6%) with net income up 30% to $1.1B and revenue of $19.68B. Adjusted earnings increased 18% to $1.6B driven by higher variable investment income (+10%), volume growth, and favorable underwriting. Board declared Q2 dividend of $0.5925/share (+4.4% from Q1), continuing 8.1% CAGR since 2011. Q1 2026 adjusted ROE reached 17.0%. Return of $1.1B to shareholders reflects confidence in capital position and earnings sustainability.
May 7MetLife Q1 earnings beat by $0.17 EPS; dividend raised 4.4% on strong segment growthPositive▶
MetLife reported strong Q1 2026 net income up 30% YoY to $1.1B ($1.74 EPS, beat $2.25 consensus est. by $0.17). Adjusted earnings up 18% to $1.6B ($2.42 adj. EPS). Segment earnings: Group Benefits +19% to $439M, RIS +11% to $451M, Asia +31% to $487M. Board declared Q2 dividend of $0.5925 (+4.4% from Q1). Company returned $1.1B via buybacks/dividends. Private equity returns strong. Stock dipped 0.2% on mixed reaction but fundamentals solid. Adjusted ROE at 17%. Key risk: variable investment income volatility.
May 6MetLife Q1 2026 earnings due today; EPS expected to rise 13.3% to $2.22 amid dividend increasePositive▶
MetLife is reporting Q1 2026 earnings on May 6 with analysts expecting EPS of $2.22 (13.3% increase) and revenue of $19.2B (2% growth). The company raised its quarterly dividend by 4.4% to 59.25 cents per share on April 28, 2026. J.P. Morgan maintained its Buy rating as of May 1. The insurer is seeing growing retirement security concerns driving interest in guaranteed income products and has launched AI-powered mental health tools through partnership with Aura. Stock is down 12.8% over six months. Main risks include macro headwinds, interest rate sensitivity, and competitive pressures in life insurance market.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFLAFLAC | $116.89 | -0.78% | -1.4% | 15.4x | 0.61 | $59.5B |
| METMETLIFE | $87.64 | +3.96% | +7.7% | 8.0x | 0.78 | $56.4B |
| PRUPRUDENTIAL | $108.59 | +4.17% | +5.5% | 7.5x | 0.85 | $37.8B |
| PFGPRINCIPAL | $110.48 | +6.31% | +8.0% | 10.8x | 0.90 | $23.9B |
| GLGLOBE | $167.51 | +6.97% | +6.4% | 10.1x | 0.50 | $13.0B |
| BRK.BBERKSHIRE | $494.12 | +2.95% | +1.5% | 23.1x | 0.62 | $1.07T |
Key Fundamentals
RSI (14-Day)
52-Week Range
Moving Averages
Price above both MAs — bullish structure.