MetLife, Inc. (MET)
MetLife is a global giant that provides insurance, annuities, and employee benefit programmes to millions of people and businesses.
Is MetLife, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: MetLife is a global giant that provides insurance, annuities, and employee benefit programmes to millions of people and businesses.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Successful expansion into new international markets.
Long-term shift in how businesses provide employee benefits.
What does MetLife, Inc. do?
MetLife makes its money by collecting premiums from customers for life, accident, and health insurance, then investing those funds to pay out future claims. It acts as a massive financial safety net, helping individuals and companies manage risk. Their profitability rests on the returns they earn on the money held for policyholders, so how well they manage that vast investment portfolio is central.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and value, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 2.5% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 3% over the year
- !Carries a lot of debt - roughly 1.8x its equity
- Value screens high (77/100)
- Momentum screens high (85/100)
- Established brand with a massive global customer base
- Strong recent growth in earnings
- Lower volatility compared to the broader market
- Quality screens low (27/100)
- Large-scale natural disasters leading to a spike in claims
- Economic downturns reducing demand for insurance
- Changes in government regulations affecting insurance capital requirements
What do MetLife, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does MetLife, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does MetLife, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - MetLife, Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 2.5% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does MetLife, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
MetLife, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-08-05 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-06 | $2.27 | $2.42 | Beat +7% |
| 2026-02-04 | $2.34 | $2.49 | Beat +6% |
| 2025-11-05 | $2.32 | $2.37 | Beat +2% |
| 2025-08-06 | $2.16 | $2.02 | Missed -7% |
| 2025-04-30 | $2.01 | $1.96 | Missed -2% |
| 2025-02-05 | $2.09 | $2.09 | In line |
Across the last 6 quarters here, MetLife, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 3 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Financial Services
What are the scenarios for MetLife, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of MetLife, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Established brand with a massive global customer base
- Strong recent growth in earnings
- Lower volatility compared to the broader market
- Profit margins are relatively thin
- Highly sensitive to changes in interest rates
- Complex business model that is hard to predict
- Large-scale natural disasters leading to a spike in claims
- Economic downturns reducing demand for insurance
- Changes in government regulations affecting insurance capital requirements
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained period of falling interest rates
- A significant decline in the number of corporate clients
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.