MetLife Q3 2026 earnings call: adjusted profit hits $1.8bn. MetLife's Q3 2026 earnings call touted record adjusted profit of $1.8bn, but the comparable GAAP figures tell a different story. * Published - 6 Nov 2026, 00:21 GMT * Read - 3 min MetLife (NYSE: MET) held its Q3 2026 earnings call on 5 November 2026, with executives telling analysts the insurer had just posted its highest adjusted earnings per share quarter ever. The company's own materials, filed with the regulator a day earlier, put adjusted earnings at $1.8bn, or $2.78 per diluted share, for the three months to 30 September 2026, according to the Motley Fool's transcript of the call. The call itself is confirmed beyond doubt: MetLife's own 8-K filing shows the earnings release, financial supplement, assets-under-management fact sheet and presentation materials were all issued on 4 November 2026, ahead of a 9am Eastern call the following morning - a cadence Seeking Alpha's transcript corroborates. What's worth unpacking is not whether the call happened, but what sits behind the headline number management chose to lead with. Adjusted earnings versus the numbers filed with regulators. The $1.8bn figure is what's known as "adjusted earnings" - a non-GAAP measure, meaning it's calculated using the company's own adjustments (typically stripping out items like net investment gains and losses, certain derivative movements, and one-off charges) rather than the standardised accounting rules that govern the net income figure in MetLife's statutory filings. Insurers lean on adjusted earnings because insurance accounting under GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) can swing sharply quarter to quarter on mark-to-market investment movements that have little to do with underlying business performance. That's a reasonable argument - but it also means the number splashed across the earnings call isn't directly comparable to the net income line investors will eventually see in MetLife's 10-Q. That GAAP line has been genuinely volatile. MetLife's reported net income ran from $867m in the first quarter of 2024 up to $1.34bn by the third quarter of that year, before dropping back to $729m in the second quarter of 2025 and recovering to $1.19bn in the first quarter of 2026, according to filings with the SEC. The most recent GAAP figure on record, for the second quarter of 2026, was $736m in net income on diluted earnings per share of $1.09 - a fraction of the $2.78 adjusted figure management highlighted for the following quarter, as shown in MetLife's second-quarter 10-Q. The company's GAAP net income for the September quarter itself has not yet appeared in a filing; investors wanting the like-for-like comparison will need to wait for the 10-Q. A steepening yield curve and what it means for the spread. The macro backdrop MetLife reported into is a gently easing but still elevated rate environment. The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 4.90% on 4 November 2026, edging down from 4.95% a day earlier, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. More notable for a life insurer that earns much of its profit from the spread between what it pays policyholders and what it earns reinvesting premiums, the gap between 10-year and 2-year yields widened to 0.38 percentage points on the day of the call, up from 0.32 previously. A steeper curve generally helps insurers reinvesting maturing bonds at better long-term rates, which is the kind of detail analysts typically probe for on calls like this one. September's unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1%, a modest softening in the labour backdrop that bears on both group-benefits demand and underwriting assumptions. The market's reaction looked more cautious than the headline. Whatever the framing on the call, MetLife shares closed 2.31% lower on 5 November, at $100.00, having traded in a 20-day range between $98.50 and $104.92. Trading volume ran about 23% above the 20-day average, suggesting the print drew more active positioning than a typical session. FINRA's short-sale data - which tracks the share of daily trading volume executed as short sales, a rough proxy for bearish positioning - showed the short ratio on MET climbing from 0.503 on 4 November to 0.611 on the day of the call itself, the highest reading in the fortnight before results, per FINRA's daily short sale volume data. None of that proves a view on the quarter either way, but it's a reminder that not everyone in the market took the record-adjusted-earnings framing entirely at face value. The real test comes when MetLife's 10-Q for the quarter lands with the SEC, giving investors the GAAP net income and diluted EPS figures to set against the adjusted numbers management chose to headline on the call. Until then, the $1.8bn figure should be read as what the company wants to emphasise - not the full accounting picture. This article is for information only and is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Markets move quickly; figures are correct as sourced at the time of writing. Always do your own research before making financial decisions.

MetLife reports 187% increase in third-quarter net income to $2.4bn. MetLife reported a 187% increase in net income to $2.4bn, or $3.67 per share, for the third quarter of 2026. Adjusted earnings rose 12% to $1.8bn, driven by higher variable investment income, broad-based volume growth and favourable underwriting. Adjusted earnings per share increased 22% to $2.85, excluding notable items, marking the highest quarterly figure in the company's history. Adjusted return on equity stood at 19.6%, excluding notable items. Premiums, fees and other revenues increased 12% to $14.1bn, while adjusted premiums, fees and other revenues, excluding pension risk transfers, rose 8% to $13.5bn, with growth across all six business segments. Book value per share declined 22% to $30.73, while adjusted book value per share increased 5% to $59.41. MetLife returned approximately $1bn to shareholders through share repurchases and common stock dividends. Its holding company cash and liquid assets totalled $3.4bn at the end of the quarter, within its target range. The company also remained on track to meet its full-year free cash flow ratio and direct expense ratio targets. MetLife President and CEO Michel Khalaf said the record quarterly adjusted earnings per share demonstrated the strength of the company's New Frontier strategy and disciplined execution. He added that revenue growth across all business segments, supported by solid underwriting, higher volumes and investment returns, had strengthened earnings. Khalaf said the company was converting its performance into strong free cash flow, reinvesting for responsible growth and returning capital to shareholders, adding that MetLife remained confident in its strategy as it entered its second year.

MetLife (NYSE:MET) sets new 52-week high after strong earnings. MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock traded as high as $104.00 and last traded at $105.7040, with a volume of 2,037 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $102.89. The financial services provider reported $2.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.77 by $0.01. MetLife had a return on equity of 23.39% and a net margin of 4.57%. The business had revenue of $20.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.86 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.34 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 18.2% compared to the same quarter last year. MetLife dividend announcement. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 3rd will be paid a $0.5925 dividend. This represents a $2.37 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 3rd. MetLife's payout ratio is 45.40%. Discover more Track Investments Plan Finances MetLife declared that its board has approved a share buyback program on Wednesday, August 5th that permits the company to repurchase $3 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to purchase up to 4.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued. MetLife news summary. Here are the key news stories impacting MetLife this week: * MetLife reported Q3 EPS of $2.78, slightly above the $2.77 consensus, and revenue of $20.52 billion versus expectations of $19.86 billion. Revenue increased 18.2% year over year, providing a strong top-line signal. * The company posted record adjusted EPS, with group benefits underwriting running ahead of target - evidence of strong operating performance in that business. * MetLife Asia earnings rose 17%, supported by investment returns and volume growth, helping offset weaker sales. * Asia's sales dip is a sign of uneven regional demand, even though investment returns and volume growth lifted earnings. Wall street analyst weigh in. Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Evercore restated a "mixed" rating on shares of MetLife in a report on Monday, August 24th. Piper Sandler raised MetLife from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and raised their target price for the stock from $99.00 to $110.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on MetLife from $105.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. UBS Group increased their price target on MetLife from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on MetLife from $108.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, MetLife presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $105.44. Institutional trading of MetLife. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in MET. Nvwm LLC boosted its holdings in shares of MetLife by 655.3% in the third quarter. Nvwm LLC now owns 287 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 249 shares during the period. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in MetLife during the second quarter worth about $26,000. Burk Holdings LLC acquired a new position in MetLife during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Highland Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MetLife during the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Elevation Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in MetLife by 123.5% in the third quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 362 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.99% of the company's stock. MetLife price performance. The company has a current ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The firm has a market cap of $68.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.37, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.79. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $98.05 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $86.03. MetLife company profile. MetLife, Inc (NYSE: MET) is a global financial services company that provides insurance, retirement, and employee benefits solutions to individuals, employers, and institutions. Its offerings include life insurance, dental and vision coverage, accident and disability insurance, annuities, retirement savings products, and related financial services. Through its institutional and workplace businesses, MetLife helps employers provide benefits and retirement programs to their employees. The company also serves individual customers with protection and income products. Receive News & Ratings for MetLife Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MetLife and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.