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New York-based MetLife, Inc. (MET) is a financial services company that provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services worldwide. Valued at $61.9 billion by market cap, the company also provides pension risk transfers, institutional income annuities, structured settlements, and capital markets investment products, as well as other products and services.
Shares of this global provider of insurance, annuities, and employee benefit programs have outperformed the broader market over the past year. MET has gained 31.6% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 21.5%. In 2026, MET stock is up 26.6%, surpassing the SPX’s 12.6% rise on a YTD basis.
Zooming in further, MET’s outperformance is also apparent compared to the iShares U.S. Insurance ETF (IAK). The exchange-traded fund has gained about 15% over the past year. Moreover, the stock’s double-digit gains on a YTD basis outshine the ETF’s 9.8% returns over the same time frame.
MetLife outperformed on strong underwriting, global growth, and cost discipline. Double-digit gains in Asia, LATAM, and EMEA, plus AI and tech investments, are supporting margins and productivity. With a strong PRT pipeline and $3 billion in new buybacks, management expects sustained growth despite near-term normalization in mortality and markets.
On Aug. 5, MET reported its Q2 results, and its shares closed up by 3.8% in the following trading session. Its revenue stood at $19.2 billion, up 10.5% year over year. The company’s adjusted EPS increased 20.3% from the year-ago quarter to $2.43.
For the current fiscal year, ended in December, analysts expect MET’s EPS to grow 11.3% to $9.89 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is impressive. It beat the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters.
Among the 19 analysts covering MET stock, the consensus is a “Moderate Buy.” That’s based on 11 “Strong Buy” ratings, one “Moderate Buy,” and seven “Holds.”
The configuration has been consistent over the past three months.
On Jul. 22, TD Cowen kept a “Buy” rating on MET and raised the price target to $105, implying a potential upside of 5.1% from current levels.
While MET currently trades above its mean price target of $98.94, the Street-high price target of $106 suggests an upside potential of 6.1%.
On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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