MetLife (MET) is a Top Dividend Stock Right Now: Should You Buy?

In terms of dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $2.18 is up 1.2% from last year. Over the last 5 years, MetLife has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 4.31%. Any future dividend growth will depend on both earnings growth and the company's payout ratio; a payout ratio is the proportion of a firm's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. MetLife's current payout ratio is 27%. This means it paid out 27% of its t ...