MetLife (MET) Stock Buyback History
TTM buyback yield 4.83% · Shareholder yield (TTM) 4.83%.
MET
TTM buyback yield
4.83%
Shareholder yield (TTM)
4.83%
5Y share count change
-27.2%
TTM buyback spend
$2.23B
SBC coverage (TTM)
N/A
YoY change in spend
+21.1%
5Y CAGR of spend
+12.5%
Peak year (2021)
$4.80B
Cumulative spend
$44.39B
TTM metrics calculated from the four most recent reported quarters, ending (reported ).
Key takeaways
- MetLife (MET) repurchased about $2.23B of stock over the trailing twelve months.
- Diluted share count is down 27.2% over the last ~5 fiscal years — buybacks are net-shrinking the share base.
- Cash buyback spend has compounded at +12.5% per year over the latest 5-year window.
- TTM repurchases used about 15% of free cash flow remaining after dividends.
Buyback context per fiscal year
Annual repurchases alongside stock-based compensation, diluted share count and the year-over-year change — useful for SBC-coverage and dilution-offset reading at a glance.
| Year | Buybacks | SBC | Net | Shares (dil.) | YoY shares | Buyback yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.88B | $0.00 | $3.88B | 0.66B | -6.5% | 7.40% |
| 2024 | $3.21B | $0.00 | $3.21B | 0.71B | -6.7% | 5.63% |
| 2023 | $3.10B | $0.00 | $3.10B | 0.76B | -5.7% | 6.29% |
| 2022 | $3.33B | $0.00 | $3.33B | 0.81B | -7.0% | 5.90% |
| 2021 | $4.80B | $0.00 | $4.80B | 0.87B | -4.8% | 9.17% |
| 2020 | $2.15B | $0.00 | $2.15B | 0.91B | -3.3% | 5.10% |
| 2019 | $2.29B | $0.00 | $2.29B | 0.94B | -6.9% | 4.88% |
| 2018 | $3.99B | $0.00 | $3.99B | 1.01B | -2.8% | 9.92% |
| 2017 | $2.93B | $0.00 | $2.93B | 1.04B | -4.7% | 5.50% |
| 2016 | $372.00M | $0.00 | $372.00M | 1.10B | -2.9% | 0.70% |
| 2015 | $3.43B | $0.00 | $3.43B | 1.13B | -0.3% | 7.19% |
| 2014 | $1.00B | $0.00 | $1.00B | 1.13B | 0.9% | 1.83% |
| 2013 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 1.12B | 2.8% | — |
| 2012 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 1.09B | 3.2% | — |
| 2011 | $2.95B | $0.00 | $2.95B | 1.06B | 7.3% | — |
| 2010 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.99B | 20.5% | — |
| 2009 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.82B | 9.9% | — |
| 2008 | $1.25B | $0.00 | $1.25B | 0.74B | -2.3% | — |
| 2007 | $1.71B | $0.00 | $1.71B | 0.76B | -1.1% | — |
| 2006 | $500.00M | $0.00 | $500.00M | 0.77B | 2.1% | — |
| 2005 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.76B | 0.0% | — |
| 2004 | $1.00B | $0.00 | $1.00B | 0.75B | 1.1% | — |
| 2003 | $97.00M | $0.00 | $97.00M | 0.75B | 2.4% | — |
| 2002 | $471.00M | $0.00 | $471.00M | 0.73B | -4.4% | — |
| 2001 | $1.32B | $0.00 | $1.32B | 0.76B | 19.3% | — |
| 2000 | $613.00M | $0.00 | $613.00M | 0.64B | -18.3% | — |
| 1999 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.78B | 0.0% | — |
| 1998 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.78B | 5.0% | — |
| 1997 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.74B | — | — |
Cash buyback spend (USD) — annual & quarterly history
Trailing-twelve-month and per-period cash repurchases for MetLife (MET) from the consolidated cash flow statement (line: common stock repurchased), in USD as filed.
Cash buyback spend over time for MetLife (MET)
Per-period cash repurchases
Cash buyback spend annual + quarterly history for MetLife (MET)
| Fiscal year | Period ended | Reported | Buyback Spend | YoY | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.88B | +21.1% | +$676.00M | ||
| 2024 | $3.21B | +3.4% | +$104.00M | ||
| 2023 | $3.10B | -6.7% | -$223.00M | ||
| 2022 | $3.33B | -30.8% | -$1.48B | ||
| 2021 | $4.80B | +123.0% | +$2.65B | ||
| 2020 | $2.15B | -5.7% | -$131.00M | ||
| 2019 | $2.29B | -42.8% | -$1.71B | ||
| 2018 | $3.99B | +36.4% | +$1.06B | ||
| 2017 | $2.93B | +686.8% | +$2.56B | ||
| 2016 | $372.00M | -89.2% | -$3.06B | ||
| 2015 | $3.43B | +243.2% | +$2.43B | ||
| 2014 | $1.00B | — | +$1.00B | ||
| 2013 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2012 | $0 | -100.0% | -$2.95B | ||
| 2011 | $2.95B | — | +$2.95B | ||
| 2010 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2009 | $0 | -100.0% | -$1.25B | ||
| 2008 | $1.25B | -26.7% | -$455.00M | ||
| 2007 | $1.71B | +241.0% | +$1.21B | ||
| 2006 | $500.00M | — | +$500.00M | ||
| 2005 | $0 | -100.0% | -$1.00B | ||
| 2004 | $1.00B | +930.9% | +$903.00M | ||
| 2003 | $97.00M | -79.4% | -$374.00M | ||
| 2002 | $471.00M | -64.3% | -$850.00M | ||
| 2001 | $1.32B | +115.5% | +$708.00M | ||
| 2000 | $613.00M | — | +$613.00M | ||
| 1999 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1998 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1997 | $0 | — | — |
In 2025, MetLife (MET) buyback spend totalled $3.88B – grew 21.1% year-over-year.
Looking at the 2020–2025 (5 years) stretch, MetLife buyback spend compounded at +12.5% per year, sustaining 2 straight years of year-over-year growth.
MetLife buyback spend peaked at $4.80B in 2021; the latest annual figure is $3.88B in 2025 (19.2% below peak).
Across the available history, buyback spend reached its high of $4.80B in 2021 and its low of $0 in 1997.
Within Financial Services, MetLife (MET) ranks 8th among 8 peers we track. The peer median for buyback spend is $12.87B.
MetLife Buyback Spend 2025: $3.88B
MetLife buyback spend in 2025 was $3.88B, grew 21.1% from 2024.
MetLife Buyback Spend 2024: $3.21B
MetLife buyback spend in 2024 was $3.21B, edged up 3.4% from 2023.
MetLife Buyback Spend 2023: $3.10B
MetLife buyback spend in 2023 was $3.10B, declined 6.7% below 2022.
MetLife Buyback Spend 2022: $3.33B
MetLife buyback spend in 2022 was $3.33B, plunged 30.8% below 2021.
MetLife Buyback Spend 2021: $4.80B
MetLife buyback spend in 2021 was $4.80B.
See more financial history for MetLife (MET).
Sector peers by buyback spend
Companies in the same sector as MetLife, ranked by their latest buyback spend.
| Company | Buyback Spend | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase (JPM) | $34.59B | Financial Services |
| Bank of America (BAC) | $21.43B | Financial Services |
| Wells Fargo (WFC) | $19.52B | Financial Services |
| Visa (V) | $13.39B | Financial Services |
| Goldman Sachs (GS) | $12.36B | Financial Services |
| Mastercard (MA) | $11.73B | Financial Services |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | $5.83B | Financial Services |
| Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B) | $0 | Financial Services |
Share count history
Diluted weighted-average shares drive the EPS denominator and per-share capital-return maths. A falling diluted share count means buybacks are outpacing dilution from stock-based compensation and option exercises.
Diluted vs basic shares (annual)
Year-over-year change in diluted shares
Green is fewer shares vs the prior fiscal year (net repurchase); red is growth (dilution). The earliest year shown has no prior year to compare.
Dividend & buyback yield over time
Stacked annual yields — buyback yield (TTM cash repurchases ÷ market cap) plus dividend yield from the same fiscal-year-end key-metrics period — show how total cash return per dollar of equity has evolved.
Buybacks vs stock-based compensation
Annual cash repurchases set against stock-based compensation. Coverage above 1× means buybacks fully offset the equity dilution from SBC. TTM coverage: N/A.
Capital allocation mix
How MetLife splits cash returned to shareholders between dividends and buybacks, plus the headroom on free cash flow that's still available for additional repurchases.
Buybacks vs dividends (share of cash returned)
Buyback capacity (TTM)
Free cash flow minus dividends paid versus actual TTM repurchases — the headroom bar shows how much of post-dividend FCF is still being deployed elsewhere.
Headroom $15.02B (TTM FCF − TTM dividends, clamped at zero).
Data & methodology
Where do buyback, dividend and compensation figures come from?
Cash buyback spend (common stock repurchased), dividends paid and stock-based compensation come from MetLife's consolidated cash flow statements — quarterly 10-Q and annual 10-K SEC filings, in USD as reported.
How are diluted shares and yields calculated?
Diluted weighted-average share counts come from the income statement (EPS denominator). Trailing twelve-month (TTM) aggregates sum the four most recent reported quarters. Buyback and dividend yields divide TTM cash flows by market capitalisation at the latest quarter-end.
How is buyback capacity defined?
Capacity compares TTM repurchases to free cash flow after dividends: operating cash flow minus capital expenditure, minus dividends paid, versus actual buybacks over the same trailing window.
Is this investment advice?
No. Figures are for informational and educational use only. Past buybacks and dividends do not predict future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Does MetLife buy back its own stock?
Yes, MetLife (MET) has repurchased shares in recent periods. See the history table and charts on this page for amounts and trends.
How much does MetLife spend on share buybacks?
Trailing twelve months (TTM) buyback spend is about $2.23B (sum of the last four quarterly cash-flow periods in our data). Figures are illustrative; verify in filings.
What is MetLife's buyback yield?
TTM buyback yield is about 4.83% (TTM buyback spend divided by market cap at the latest quarter-end in our data).
What is MetLife's shareholder yield?
Shareholder yield combines dividend yield and buyback yield. For the latest period we show approximately 4.83% combined (TTM-based where available).
Is MetLife diluting shareholders?
Compare stock-based compensation (SBC) to buybacks in the chart above. Net effect varies by year; see annual buyback vs SBC bars and the history table.
How has MetLife's share count changed?
Diluted weighted average shares changed by about -27.2% over roughly five fiscal years (annual income statement data).
What is MetLife's buyback spend?
Latest reported buyback spend for MetLife (MET) is $2.23B (period ending March 31, 2026).
How has MetLife buyback spend changed year-over-year?
MetLife (MET) buyback spend changed +21.1% year-over-year on the latest annual filing.
What is the long-term growth rate of MetLife buyback spend?
MetLife (MET) buyback spend compound annual growth rate is +12.5% over the most recent 5 years available.
When did MetLife buyback spend hit its highest annual value?
MetLife buyback spend reached its highest annual value of $4.80B in 2021.
What was MetLife buyback spend in 2024?
MetLife (MET) buyback spend in 2024 was $3.21B.
What was MetLife buyback spend in 2025?
MetLife (MET) buyback spend in 2025 was $3.88B.
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