MetLife Q3 Profit Rises 17% on Revenue Gain
The insurer reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.78 and shares rose 2.2% following the November 4, 2026 results.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Corporate Finance
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MetLife reported third-quarter 2026 results on November 4, with total revenue up 18.2% year over year to $20.52 billion and adjusted EPS rising 17.3% to $2.78. Shares rose 2.2% following the report.
Why it matters
The results show growth across several business lines, with Group Benefits and Asia posting higher adjusted earnings while Retirement and Income Solutions declined. MetLife said it remains on track to meet its full-year targets for annual free cash flow and direct expense ratios.
MetLife's third-quarter total revenue rose 18.2% year over year to $20.52 billion, and adjusted EPS rose 17.3% to $2.78. Retirement and Income Solutions adjusted earnings fell 6.3% to $413 million, and the extraction does not detail the full impact of the actuarial review adjustments on future periods.
The players
MetLife, Inc.
MetLife is a New York-headquartered global provider of insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management, with operations across Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The details
MetLife returned approximately $1 billion to shareholders in the quarter, including $650 million in share repurchases and $380 million in common stock dividends. Group Benefits adjusted earnings rose 14.7% to $523 million and Asia adjusted earnings increased 11.5% to $602 million.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: MetLife reports third-quarter results and shares rise 2.2%.
November 13, 2026: J.P. Morgan maintains its Buy rating and raises its price target to $112.
December 2026: Fiscal year end for analysts' diluted EPS estimate of $9.91, up 11.5% year over year.
Market Dynamics
MetLife's 30% year-to-date share gain outpaces the 10.5% rise in the S&P 500 and the 12.5% rise in the iShares U.S. Insurance ETF. Analysts' mean price target of $112.41 implies only a 9.5% premium to the current share price, suggesting the rally has already priced in much of the earnings growth.
For shareholders, MetLife's roughly $1 billion in quarterly capital return, including $650 million in buybacks and $380 million in dividends, signals continued payouts. Investors holding MET or insurance sector funds should watch whether the company keeps meeting its free cash flow and expense ratio targets.
The takeaway
MetLife's double-digit revenue and earnings growth, combined with steady shareholder returns, shows the company generating cash while business lines diverge. Investors should weigh the strong year-to-date rally against the narrower gap to analyst price targets.
What happens next
Analysts expect MetLife's full-year 2026 diluted EPS to be reported in December 2026, with consensus at $9.91.
Further reading
For more on how insurers like MetLife manage capital and shareholder returns, explore Corporate Finance.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Barchart.
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