MetLife options activity jumps on September puts, shares steady near recent range

By Thomas Klein, Operations & Strategy desk. Reviewed prior to publication on 2026-06-26, 11:04.

MetLife Inc. (US59156R1086) drew heightened derivatives interest on the NYSE on Thursday. The insurer saw a marked build-up in options trading centered on out-of-the-money September 2026 put contracts, while the underlying shares traded in a narrow band around the mid-80 dollar mark, according to Bloomberg data cited by Investing.com.

What Bloomberg data shows

According to an Investing.com summary of exchange figures, total options volume on MetLife reached 4,594 contracts by 3:20 p.m. New York time on Thursday, based on Bloomberg calculations. Put options accounted for 3,382 contracts, while 1,212 call contracts changed hands in the same session.

The most actively traded line was the September 18, 2026 put with a strike price of 77.50 dollars, where 2,000 contracts traded versus prior open interest of 275 contracts as of Tuesday, suggesting fresh positioning. A second September 18, 2026 put at the 80 dollar strike recorded 1,001 contracts with existing open interest of 824 contracts, indicating both new and rolling activity into that line.

How the MetLife shares trade

During the options-heavy session, MetLife shares ticked up 0.17 percent to trade at 84.74 dollars on the NYSE by late afternoon, as reported by Investing.com. That level keeps the stock within a relatively tight corridor near recent closing prices, with MarketBeat data showing a prior close at 84.51 dollars on June 25, 2026.

The derivatives backdrop moved more noticeably than the cash price. Three-month implied volatility on MetLife increased by 0.08 percentage points to 25.26 percent, while the three-month 90/110 skew dropped 2.37 percentage points to 4.67 percentage points, according to the same Investing.com report, pointing to a slightly cheaper pricing of out-of-the-money calls relative to protective puts.

The insurance business behind MetLife

MetLife generates revenue primarily from life insurance, retirement and employee benefits products in the United States and international markets, serving both individual and institutional customers. The group also offers annuities and asset-management services that complement its core protection lines, positioning it alongside peers such as Prudential Financial and AIG in the US insurance sector.

Where the MetLife shares trade today

The MetLife shares (US59156R1086) last traded on the NYSE at 84.74 dollars as of 2026-06-25, 15:59 New York time, based on MarketBeat and Investing.com price data.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell securities. Historical data and third-party estimates are no guarantee of future performance.