MetLife recognized as a top workplace, boosting stock performance
MetLife Inc's stock rose by 3.01% and reached a 20-day high amid mixed market conditions, with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.60% and the S&P 500 up 0.06%.
This increase is attributed to MetLife Investment Management being named a '2025 Best Place to Work in Money Management' for the fifth consecutive year. This recognition highlights the company's commitment to a people-first culture and its effectiveness in attracting and retaining talent, which aligns with its growth strategy. The acknowledgment reflects positively on MetLife's reputation in the asset management sector, potentially driving investor confidence.
The implications of this recognition could enhance MetLife's attractiveness to investors, as a strong workplace culture often correlates with better performance and employee satisfaction, which can lead to improved client service and growth.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on MET
About MET
About the author

- Investment Opportunities: The current market conditions favor dividend stocks, providing opportunities for income-seeking investors.
- Strategies for Investors: There are various strategies available for investors to capitalize on the potential growth of dividend stocks.
- Acquisition Agreement: Brighthouse Financial has agreed to be acquired by Aquarian Capital for $70 per share in cash, with shareholders approving the deal, although it still requires final regulatory approval, highlighting the company's significance in the market.
- Market Performance Analysis: With the current stock price around $64, investors buying at this level could earn approximately 9% returns, reflecting optimistic market expectations for the acquisition and indicating the company's undervalued potential.
- Risk Assessment: If the acquisition fails to close as planned, Brighthouse Financial's stock could decline back to around $48, representing a 25% downside risk, which underscores the risk tolerance required from investors in this transaction.
- Investor Strategy Recommendation: Given the emotional and news-driven nature of the stock price, it is advised that only more aggressive investors participate in this trade, as strong confidence in the acquisition's completion is necessary to mitigate potential downside risks.
- Dividend Declaration: MetLife has declared a semi-annual dividend of $29.375 per share, reflecting a robust forward yield of 74.76%, which underscores the company's strong cash flow and commitment to shareholder returns, likely attracting increased investor interest.
- Preferred Stock Dividends: The company also announced a quarterly dividend of $351.5625 per share on its 5.625% Series E non-cumulative preferred stock and $296.875 per share on its 4.75% Series F non-cumulative preferred stock, enhancing the attractiveness of its preferred shares.
- Floating Rate Preferred Stock: Additionally, MetLife plans to declare a quarterly dividend of $0.31501229 per share on its floating-rate Series A preferred stock, pending confirmation of financial tests expected around March 5, 2026, indicating confidence in future financial stability.
- Strategic Goals: Through its New Frontier strategy, MetLife has set a target of $25 billion in free cash flow and anticipates double-digit adjusted EPS growth, highlighting the company's long-term growth potential in the market.
- Strategic Progress: MetLife reported approximately $600 million in new adjusted premiums and revenues in 2025, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth in its Group Benefits business, which strengthens its competitive position in a challenging market.
- Record Pension Risk Transfer Sales: The company achieved over $14 billion in pension risk transfer sales in 2025, marking significant growth in asset management, with year-end assets under management reaching $742 billion, highlighting strategic success in investment management.
- Shareholder Returns and Investments: MetLife returned about $2.9 billion to shareholders through stock repurchases and $1.5 billion in dividends in 2025, demonstrating its commitment to shareholder value while also investing approximately $1.2 billion in acquisitions and business development.
- Future Outlook and Targets: Management expects double-digit adjusted EPS growth in 2026, with adjusted ROE projected between 15% and 17%, indicating sustained growth potential and an enhanced market leadership position in the coming years.
- Investment Income Growth: MetLife's net investment income reached $5.92 billion in Q4 2025, up from $5.41 billion a year earlier, driven by strong market performance following the Federal Reserve's rate cuts, thereby enhancing the company's overall profitability.
- Premium Revenue Surge: The company's adjusted premiums, fees, and other revenues rose by 29% to $18.61 billion in the quarter, reflecting robust consumer spending trends and disciplined premium pricing by insurers, which further fueled demand for policies.
- Increased Adjusted Earnings: MetLife reported adjusted earnings available to common shareholders of $1.65 billion, or $2.49 per share, significantly up from $1.46 billion and $2.09 per share a year prior, indicating a sustained improvement in profitability.
- Underperformance in Market: Despite strong performance in Q4 2025, the company's shares fell by 3.6% over the year, underperforming the broader market, reflecting concerns about its future growth potential.
- Earnings Growth: MetLife reported an adjusted EPS of $2.58 for Q4 2025, surpassing the $2.34 analyst estimate and up 24% from $2.08 in Q4 2024, indicating a significant improvement in profitability.
- Revenue Analysis: Total revenue reached $23.8 billion, falling short of the $31.6 billion consensus but increasing 27% from $18.7 billion year-over-year, reflecting the company's efforts in diversifying income streams, particularly in Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions.
- Investment Income Improvement: Adjusted net investment income rose to $5.58 billion in Q3 2025, up from $5.30 billion in Q4 2024, demonstrating the company's effectiveness in investment management and market adaptability.
- Segment Performance: Group Benefits grew by 12% year-over-year, Retirement and Income Solutions by 18%, while Europe, the Middle East, and Africa surged by 64%, showcasing MetLife's strong performance and successful strategic positioning in global markets.









