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Aflac Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted earnings fell 7.7%: Adjusted earnings were $883 million against $957 million a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $1.75, down 1.7%. Excluding currency impact, adjusted EPS was $1.80, up 1.1%. Source
  • Japan pretax earnings rose on benefits: Japan pretax adjusted earnings were ¥118.2 billion, up 3.4% reported and down 2.1% currency-neutral. The Japan pretax adjusted margin was 34.3%, against 32.0%. Source
  • U.S. pretax earnings fell 4.6%: Aflac U.S. pretax adjusted earnings were $370 million. The U.S. pretax adjusted margin was 20.9%, against 22.5%. Net earned premiums rose 2.3% to $1.5 billion. Source
  • Japan sales fell on high baseline: Japan new annualized premium sales were ¥19.6 billion, or $123 million. The company attributed the decline to the high prior-year baseline for Miraito after its March 2025 launch. Source
  • $1.3 billion returned in quarter: Share repurchases were $983 million and dividends were $309 million. Shares outstanding at June 30 were 502.3 million, against 534.8 million, down 6.1%. Source
  • Book value per share rose: Shareholders' equity was $30.3 billion, or $60.35 per share. Equity included a $10.4 billion cumulative increase from the change in discount rate assumptions on insurance reserves. Source

“Aflac delivered solid earnings for the quarter and for the first six months. These results reflect execution of our strategy, driving long-term value for shareholders.”

Daniel P. Amos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Shareholder dividend Sourcethird quarter of 2026$0.61 per shareKept

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted earnings fell 7.7%: Adjusted earnings were $883 million against $957 million a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $1.75, down 1.7%. Excluding currency impact, adjusted EPS was $1.80, up 1.1%. Source
  • Net earnings rose 37.7%: Net earnings were $825 million, or $1.63 per diluted share, up from $599 million, or $1.11 per diluted share. Smaller net investment losses than a year earlier were a factor. Source
  • Yen weaker against the dollar: The yen averaged 159.45 per dollar in the quarter, 9.3% below the 144.60 average of a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Japan pretax earnings rose on benefits: Japan pretax adjusted earnings were ¥118.2 billion, up 3.4% reported and down 2.1% currency-neutral. The Japan pretax adjusted margin was 34.3%, against 32.0%. Source
  • Japan premiums fell on reinsurance: Japan net earned premiums were ¥245.1 billion, down 3.7%, or $1.5 billion in dollar terms, down 12.7%. Limited pay products reaching paid-up status also reduced premiums. Source
  • U.S. pretax earnings fell 4.6%: Aflac U.S. pretax adjusted earnings were $370 million. The U.S. pretax adjusted margin was 20.9%, against 22.5%. Net earned premiums rose 2.3% to $1.5 billion. Source
  • Corporate and other posted a loss: Corporate and other reported a pretax adjusted loss of $10 million, against a $20 million gain a year earlier. Adjusted revenues fell 13.4% to $291 million. Source

“We intend to continue our balanced approach of investing in growth and driving long-term value.”

Daniel P. Amos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Japan sales fell on high baseline: Japan new annualized premium sales were ¥19.6 billion, or $123 million. The company attributed the decline to the high prior-year baseline for Miraito after its March 2025 launch. Source
  • Tsumitasu and Anshin Palette grew: Refreshed Tsumitasu savings-type life insurance and Anshin Palette, the medical insurance product launched in December 2025, grew and partly offset the Miraito comparison. Source
  • Japan first-half sales rose 7%: Japan sales for the first six months were ¥37.3 billion, or $235 million, up 7.0%. Source
  • U.S. sales rose on group benefits: Aflac U.S. quarterly sales were $349 million, up 2.6%, mainly from group voluntary benefits and network dental and vision products. First-half U.S. sales were $667 million, up 2.8%. Source

Costs, benefits and margins

  • Japan benefit ratio fell: Japan benefits and claims were 64.0% of net earned premiums, against 66.5% a year earlier, down 250 basis points. Japan adjusted expenses were 20.2% of adjusted revenues, against 20.6%. Source
  • U.S. benefit ratio rose: U.S. benefits and claims were 49.5% of net earned premiums, against 47.3%, up 220 basis points. U.S. adjusted expenses were 36.1% of adjusted revenues, against 36.3%. Source
  • Corporate interest expense rose: Corporate and other interest expense was $62 million, up 21.6% from $51 million, with runoff from closed blocks of business also weighing on results. Source

Investment income

  • Adjusted investment income declined: Consolidated adjusted net investment income was $937 million, against $1,036 million. In Japan, adjusted investment income in yen fell 2.9% on reduced call income and lower floating-rate income. Source
  • Reported investment income declined: Reported net investment income was $984 million, against $1,081 million, down 9.0%. Source
  • Japan dollar-denominated income rose: Higher income on dollar-denominated assets in Japan partly offset the lower floating-rate and call income, reflecting the weaker yen and higher fixed-rate income. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • $1.3 billion returned in quarter: Share repurchases were $983 million and dividends were $309 million. Shares outstanding at June 30 were 502.3 million, against 534.8 million, down 6.1%. Source
  • Book value per share rose: Shareholders' equity was $30.3 billion, or $60.35 per share. Equity included a $10.4 billion cumulative increase from the change in discount rate assumptions on insurance reserves. Source
  • Adjusted book value per share fell: Adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement was $20.7 billion, or $41.22 per share. The adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency remeasurement was 16.6%. Source

Strategy and product focus

  • Japan product initiatives cited: Management said Anshin Palette, Miraito and Tsumitasu were product initiatives that secured new business in Japan. Source
  • U.S. focus on employer needs: In the U.S., management said the focus is on meeting employers' and employees' needs with supplemental health products and related benefits. Source
  • Profitable growth and capital deployment: Management said it continues to pursue more profitable growth and tactical, opportunistic deployment of capital. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Book value per share Source$60.35 U.S. GAAP; $41.22 adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement
Investment income SourceNet investment income $984 million; adjusted net investment income $937 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Yen depreciation against the dollar reduced adjusted EPS by $0.05 in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Net investment losses included $238 million from sales and redemptions, $77 million of expected credit losses, and $11 million of impairments. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the Board set a path to extend the dividend increase record in 2026, following the 43 consecutive years of increases in 2025. 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.