Brighthouse Financial price target raised to $52 from $51 at Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley raised the firm’s price target on Brighthouse Financial (BHF) to $52 from $51 and keeps an Underweight rating on the shares. Life insurers are in a better operating environment, which has “been unrecognized,” says the analyst, who is upgrading the firm’s industry view to Attractive. Life insurers generally are in a much better capital position, have more favorable quality product offerings, and have stronger earnings power today than before the 2008 financial crisis, the analyst tells investors.