MetLife Profit Beats Estimates, Aided by U.S. Tax-Law Revamp

MetLife Inc. has tax-code changes and a deal with FedEx Corp. to thank for second-quarter profit that beat analysts’ expectations. Earnings at the U.S. business surged 36 percent from a year earlier, fueled by a reduced corporate-tax rate and a pension-risk transfer contract won from FedEx, the New York-based life insurer said Wednesday in a statement. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.30, beating the $1.17 estimate from 17 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Chief Executive Officer Steven Kandarian has been...