MetLife is one of the largest life insurers in the US by assets and provides a variety of insurance and financial-services products. It is organized into five segments: US, Asia, Latin America, Europe/Middle East/Africa, and MetLife Holdings. The US business contributes around 50% of earnings and is broken into the group benefits segment and the retirement solutions segment. The Asia segment contributes around 22% of earnings and is mainly composed of the Japan business, with increasing contributions from India, China, and Bangladesh. The company also holds leading market positions in Mexico and Chile, with the Latin America segment contributing around 13% of earnings. The EMEA and MetLife Holdings segments contribute around 4% and 11% of earnings, respectively.

MetLife is one of the largest life insurers in the US by assets and provides a variety of insurance and financial-services products. It is organized into five segments: US, Asia, Latin America, Europe/Middle East/Africa, and MetLife Holdings. The US business contributes around 50% of earnings and is broken into the group benefits segment and the retirement solutions segment. The Asia segment contributes around 22% of earnings and is mainly composed of the Japan business, with increasing contributions from India, China, and Bangladesh. The company also holds leading market positions in Mexico and Chile, with the Latin America segment contributing around 13% of earnings. The EMEA and MetLife Holdings segments contribute around 4% and 11% of earnings, respectively.

MetLife, based in New York, is a leading provider of insurance, as well as of employee benefit plans and other financial services. The shares are a component of the S&P 500.

Insider buying tends to get more attention than insider selling. Indeed, Peter Lynch famously noted that 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.' Up until recently, 2024 was a very good year for equity investors, with all-time highs booked on a regular basis. So as insiders grew increasingly cautious over the past few months, it was easy to assume they were simply taking a little off the top. But about four weeks ago, the caution became more pronounced, and we noted in recent commentaries that 'insiders have increased their selling activity;' and then 'insiders continue to...cash in;' and then insider sentiment is 'deeply into bearish territory.' Finally, last week, we detailed that certain sell/buy ratios from Vickers Stock Research were at their most-bearish levels since February of 2023. So insider caution turned into a bearish stampede. More important (and keeping in mind the words of Peter Lynch) is the following: Are insiders starting to think that prices are again attractive? Not yet. Current insider-sentiment readings from Vickers remain very bearish for a third week, with the action on the NYSE especially bleak. Meanwhile, the Insider Index from Vickers now sits at its most-bearish reading since August of 2021. This will all turn eventually -- and we plan to call it out. But for now, playing defense remains the order of the day it seems. On a sector basis, selling by insiders last week was greatest in Information Technology, with shares valued at $114 million sold versus roughly $19 million bought. Buying outpaced selling in Communication Services. This week, analysts at Vickers highlighted insider transactions of interest at Appian Corp. (NGM: APPN) and The St. Joe Co. (NYSE: JOE)