greeksoup/ stock research

Aflac Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net earnings fell on lower investment gains: Q4 net earnings were $1.4 billion, or $2.64 per diluted share, against $1.9 billion, or $3.42, a year earlier. Net investment gains were $537 million, against $1.0 billion. Source
  • Adjusted earnings per share edged up: Adjusted earnings were $818 million, down 5.4% from $865 million. Adjusted earnings per diluted share rose 0.6% to $1.57. Source
  • Japan margin dipped to 31.3%: Japan pretax adjusted earnings were ¥109.8 billion, down 3.5% reported and 4.4% currency-neutral. The Japan pretax adjusted profit margin was 31.3%, against 31.6% a year earlier. Source
  • U.S. pretax margin fell to 17.4%: U.S. pretax adjusted earnings were $300 million, down 9.1%, on higher benefits and expenses, partly offset by higher premiums. The U.S. pretax adjusted profit margin was 17.4%, against 19.7%. Source
  • Japan sales rose 15.7% on Miraito: Japan new annualized premium sales rose 15.7% to ¥19.9 billion, or $129 million, mainly reflecting sales of the Miraito cancer insurance product. Source
  • Book value per share rose to $56.85: Shareholders' equity was $29.5 billion, or $56.85 per share, at December 31, 2025, up from $26.1 billion, or $47.45 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Fourth-quarter buybacks totaled $800 million: The company used $800 million to repurchase 7.2 million common shares in the fourth quarter, and $3.5 billion for the year. Source

“Aflac delivered solid earnings for the quarter and the year. These results reflect our focused efforts to execute on our strategy of creating long-term value for shareholders.”

Daniel P. Amos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend Sourcefirst quarter 2026 (payable March 2, 2026)$0.61 per shareRaised from $0.58

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Quarterly dividend raised to $0.61 per share from $0.58 declared in the prior quarter. Source
  • New: Anshin Palette, a new medical policy for Japan, launched in late December 2025. Source

Results and earnings drivers

  • Net earnings fell on lower investment gains: Q4 net earnings were $1.4 billion, or $2.64 per diluted share, against $1.9 billion, or $3.42, a year earlier. Net investment gains were $537 million, against $1.0 billion. Source
  • Adjusted earnings per share edged up: Adjusted earnings were $818 million, down 5.4% from $865 million. Adjusted earnings per diluted share rose 0.6% to $1.57. Source
  • Investment gains came from derivatives and currency: Net investment gains of $537 million came from $588 million on derivatives and currency activities, less $51 million of sales and redemption losses, plus a $25 million equity gain, less $25 million of CECL, with no impairments. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS rose 3.5% ex-currency: For 2025, net earnings were $3.6 billion, or $6.82 per diluted share. Adjusted earnings per diluted share were $7.49, up from $7.21; excluding a $0.04 currency benefit, $7.46, up 3.5%. Source
  • Full-year revenue fell 9.3%: Total revenues for 2025 were $17.2 billion, down 9.3% from $18.9 billion in 2024. Source

Aflac Japan results

  • Japan premiums fell as limited-pay policies matured: Japan net earned premiums were ¥252.6 billion, down 1.9%, mainly because limited pay products reached paid-up status. In dollars, net earned premiums fell 3.0% to $1.6 billion. Source
  • Japan margin dipped to 31.3%: Japan pretax adjusted earnings were ¥109.8 billion, down 3.5% reported and 4.4% currency-neutral. The Japan pretax adjusted profit margin was 31.3%, against 31.6% a year earlier. Source
  • Japan full-year margin rose to 36.7%: For 2025, Japan pretax adjusted earnings were ¥513.7 billion, down 2.7%. Net earned premiums were ¥1.0 trillion, down 3.9%, and the margin was 36.7%, against 36.0%. Source

“Overall, I believe we are advancing the right strategy focused on sales of third sector products to new and younger customers to provide them with integrated financial protection and services throughout their different stages of life.”

Daniel P. Amos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Aflac U.S. results

  • U.S. premiums rose on improved sales: Aflac U.S. net earned premiums rose 4.0% to $1.5 billion, and total adjusted revenues rose 3.3% to $1.7 billion. Management attributed the premium growth to improved sales. Source
  • U.S. pretax margin fell to 17.4%: U.S. pretax adjusted earnings were $300 million, down 9.1%, on higher benefits and expenses, partly offset by higher premiums. The U.S. pretax adjusted profit margin was 17.4%, against 19.7%. Source
  • U.S. full-year premiums up 2.9%: For 2025, U.S. net earned premiums rose 2.9% to $6.0 billion. Pretax adjusted earnings were $1.4 billion, essentially unchanged, and the margin was 20.6%, against 21.1%. Source

Sales, persistency and products

  • Japan sales rose 15.7% on Miraito: Japan new annualized premium sales rose 15.7% to ¥19.9 billion, or $129 million, mainly reflecting sales of the Miraito cancer insurance product. Source
  • U.S. sales rose 3.1% on group voluntary: Aflac U.S. sales rose 3.1% to $551 million in the quarter, mainly from group voluntary products. Source
  • U.S. persistency held at 79.2%: Chairman and CEO Daniel P. Amos cited U.S. persistency of 79.2% alongside $1.6 billion of new sales for the year. Source
  • Japan full-year sales rose 16.0%: For 2025, Japan new annualized premium sales rose 16.0% to ¥74.4 billion, or $498 million. Source

“We continue to generate strong capital and cash flows while maintaining our commitment to prudent liquidity and capital management.”

Daniel P. Amos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Investment income and currency

  • Weaker yen did not affect adjusted EPS: The average yen/dollar rate was 154.20 in the fourth quarter, 1.2% weaker than a year earlier. Management said the weaker rate did not affect adjusted earnings per share. Source
  • Japan investment income fell 3.9%: Japan adjusted net investment income fell 3.9% to ¥97.4 billion, mainly on lower floating rate income on the dollar portfolio and lower variable income, partly offset by higher fixed income volume. Source
  • U.S. investment income fell 2.8%: Aflac U.S. adjusted net investment income fell 2.8% to $207 million, mainly from a reduction in floating rate assets and corresponding rates. Source

Book value and equity

  • Book value per share rose to $56.85: Shareholders' equity was $29.5 billion, or $56.85 per share, at December 31, 2025, up from $26.1 billion, or $47.45 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Discount rate effect added $8.0 billion: Equity included a cumulative increase of $8.0 billion from the change in discount rate assumptions on insurance reserves, against $2.0 billion a year earlier. The net unrealized loss on securities and derivatives was $1.8 billion. Source
  • Adjusted book value ex-currency $42.66: Adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement was $22.1 billion, or $42.66 per share, against $23.4 billion, or $42.46 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted return on equity 14.5% in quarter: The annualized adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency remeasurement was 14.5% in the fourth quarter. The annualized U.S. GAAP return on average equity was 19.0%. Source
  • Prior-period adjusted book value corrected: A calculation error had overstated adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement for June 30 and September 30, 2025. Corrected figures were $23.0 billion and $22.9 billion. Source

Capital and cash returns

  • Fourth-quarter buybacks totaled $800 million: The company used $800 million to repurchase 7.2 million common shares in the fourth quarter, and $3.5 billion for the year. Source
  • Investments fund Japan, U.S. and Bermuda: Management said the investment portfolio keeps producing net investment income matched to the needs of operations in Japan, the U.S. and Bermuda. Source
  • Remaining buyback authorization 114.3 million shares: At December 31, 2025, 114.3 million shares remained authorized for repurchase. Source

Corporate and other

  • Corporate and other posted pretax loss: Corporate and other pretax adjusted earnings were a loss of $31 million in the fourth quarter, against a loss of $4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year Corporate and other revenue up 26.8%: For 2025, Corporate and other adjusted revenues rose 26.8% to $1.3 billion, and pretax adjusted earnings were $101 million, against $32 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • Japan products promoted through 2026: Management said it will promote all three Japan products during 2026, following the late-December Anshin Palette launch. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Book value per share Source$56.85
Adjusted book value per share Source$54.06
Investment income Source$631 million (Japan, fourth quarter)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said variable investment income ran $12 million below its long-term return expectations in the quarter. Source
  • External: Management said yen weakening reduces dollar-reported results compared with the prior period, since the Japan business is translated from yen. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to extending the 43-year record of dividend increases, supported by financial strength. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it intends to continue balancing investment in growth with long-term operating efficiencies. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it expects to continue its prudent approach to expense management while maintaining the pretax margin. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.