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MetLife (MET) Q3 Earnings, Revenues Top Estimates; Up Y/Y

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MetLife, Inc.’s (MET - Free Report) third-quarter 2016 earnings of $1.28 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.14. Earnings were up from 62 cents per share reported in the year-ago quarter.

MetLife generated operating revenues of $18.1 billion. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $16.93 billion and increased 1% year over year.

MetLife’s premiums, fees and other revenues slipped 1% year over year to $13.1 billion.

During the reported quarter, MetLife’s total expenses increased 8.2% year over year to $17.2 billion.

Segment Details

U.S.

Operating earnings in this segment increased 8% year over year to $552 million. Operating return on allocated equity was 20.4% and operating premiums, fees & other revenues declined  1% to $6.4 billion.

Asia

Operating earnings were down 4% (or 11% on constant currency basis) year over year to $324 million. Operating return on allocated equity was 11.7%. Operating premiums, fees & other revenues in Asia increased 4% (down 9% on a constant currency basis) to $2.2 billion.

LATIN AMERICA

Operating earnings were $133 million, down 27% (23% on a constant currency basis), mainly due to the effects on the year-over-year comparison of a one-time tax benefit of $60 million in the third quarter of 2015.  Operating return on allocated equity was 17.3%. Operating premiums, fees & other revenues were $891 million, up 4% (12% on a constant currency basis).

EMEA

Operating earnings from EMEA increased 12% (or 19% on constant currency basis) year over year to $74 million.

In the reported quarter, operating return on allocated equity was 9.2%. Operating premiums, fees & other revenues were $621 million, almost unchanged from the prior-year period and up 3% a constant currency basis, driven by growth in employee benefits and accident & health.

Investment & Financial Update

In the reported quarter, net investment income increased 6% year over year to $5.2 billion. Variable investment income was $409 million, up 53.2% year over year. This increase was driven by the strong performance of private equity and the sale of a real estate joint venture interest.
Operating return on equity increased 11.8% from 6.1% in the year-ago quarter.

METLIFE INC Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Zacks Rank

Currently, MetLife carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Performance of Other Multi Line Insurers

The bottom line at Lincoln National Corp. (LNC - Free Report)   and CNO Financial Group (CNO - Free Report) beat the respective Zack Consensus Estimate but American International Group Inc. (AIG - Free Report) earnings missed the same for the third quarter.

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