MetLife Inc (MET): Today's Featured Insurance Winner

MetLife (MET) pushed the Insurance industry higher today making it today's featured insurance winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.8%. By the end of trading, MetLife rose 79 cents (2.7%) to $29.96 on average volume. Throughout the day, 10 million shares of MetLife exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 9.4 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $29.22-$29.98 after having opened the day at $29.49 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $29.17. Other companies within the Insurance industry that increased today were: MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG), up 9.8%, Phoenix Companies (PNX), up 6.4%, AEGON (AEG), up 6.1%, and ING Groep N.V (ING), up 6.1%.

MetLife, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides insurance, annuities, and employee benefit programs in the United States, Japan, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. MetLife has a market cap of $31.14 billion and is part of the financial sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 5.4, equal to the average insurance industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 8.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 16 analysts that rate MetLife a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and three rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates MetLife as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, reasonable valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including unimpressive growth in net income, poor profit margins and a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full MetLife Ratings Report.

On the negative front, American Independence Corporation (AMIC), down 6.9%, Imperial Holdings (IFT), down 2.5%, WR Berkley (WRB), down 1.8%, and Kingsway Financial Services (KFS), down 1.6%, were all losers within the insurance industry with Everest Re Group (RE) being today's insurance industry loser.

• Use our insurance section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the insurance industry could consider KBW Insurance ETF (KIE) while those bearish on the insurance industry could consider Proshares Short Financials (SEF).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on MetLife Inc click any of the following:

• MetLife Inc Stock Price

• MetLife Inc Analyst Ratings

• MetLife Inc Key Stats & Profile

• MetLife Inc Earnings

• MetLife Inc Ratio Comparison

• MetLife Inc Growth Rates

• MetLife Inc Balance Sheet

• MetLife Inc Cash Flow

• MetLife Inc Income Statement