MetLife Inc. announced first-quarter earnings that surpassed Wall Street's expectations, largely attributed to higher gains from its private equity portfolio. Variable investment income, which encompasses returns from private equity holdings, saw a substantial increase of 58% to reach $518 million in the three months ending in March. The insurer had previously set a target of approximately $1.6 billion in variable investment income for the year.
Looking ahead, MetLife is anticipated to release its Q2 2026 results after the market closes on Wednesday, August 5th, with analysts forecasting earnings of $2.30 per share. For Q1 2026, the company reported $2.42 earnings per share, beating the consensus estimate of $2.27 by $0.15. Revenue for the quarter was $14.18 billion, compared to an estimated $19.49 billion, but represented a 2.7% year-over-year increase.
Analysts generally hold a "Moderate Buy" rating for MetLife, with a consensus target price of $100.50. The stock has seen several target price adjustments recently, including Atlantic Securities setting a target of $103.00, Mizuho boosting theirs to $102.00, and Bank of America cutting theirs to $99.00. The company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.64 per share with an ex-dividend date of Tuesday, August 4th.
