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Aflac Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net earnings declined 81.5%: The third-quarter figure was $303 million, against $1,639 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted earnings declined 8.5%: Adjusted earnings came to $1,214 million against $1,327 million a year earlier. Source
  • Reserve remeasurement gains aided results: Reserve remeasurement gains are tied to unlocking actuarial assumptions, according to the segment discussion. Source
  • Japan pretax earnings fell 15.2%: On a currency-neutral basis the Japan decline was 17.9%. Source
  • U.S. pretax earnings rose 31.5%: The U.S. pretax adjusted profit margin was 27.7%, against 21.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Capital returned $1.1 billion: Share repurchases were the larger part of the total; dividends were $305 million. Source
  • Reinsurance strategy shows in Corporate: Management said the reinsurance strategy affects Japan's reported results, which are included in Corporate and Other. Source

“Aflac delivered solid adjusted earnings for the quarter and for the first nine months.”

Daniel P. Amos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Dividend SourceFourth quarter 2026 dividend$0.61 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Aflac Japan ceded about ¥500 billion of FSA-basis reserves on cancer policies to Aflac Re Bermuda. Source

Results and earnings drivers

  • Net earnings declined 81.5%: The third-quarter figure was $303 million, against $1,639 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted earnings declined 8.5%: Adjusted earnings came to $1,214 million against $1,327 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS declined 2.4%: The prior-year quarter was $2.49; excluding current-period currency impact, the figure is $2.46. Source
  • Reserve remeasurement gains aided results: Reserve remeasurement gains are tied to unlocking actuarial assumptions, according to the segment discussion. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted EPS unchanged: Excluding a $0.10 per share currency impact, nine-month adjusted EPS rose 1.7% to $6.02. Source

Segments and regions

  • Japan pretax earnings fell 15.2%: On a currency-neutral basis the Japan decline was 17.9%. Source
  • Japan margin down to 44.4%: Pretax adjusted earnings divided by total adjusted revenues, compared with the same quarter last year. Source
  • Japan premiums cut by reinsurance: Net earned premiums in yen were ¥240.3 billion, 2.0% lower; limited-pay products reaching paid-up status also contributed. Source
  • U.S. pretax earnings rose 31.5%: The U.S. pretax adjusted profit margin was 27.7%, against 21.7% a year earlier. Source
  • U.S. premiums rose 3.3%: Premiums rose on improved sales and persistency, per the company's description. Source
  • Corporate and Other pretax rose 4.3%: The cited drivers were higher reserve remeasurement gains and new reinsurance transactions. Source

“These results demonstrate our drive to execute our strategy and create long-term value for our shareholders.”

Daniel P. Amos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Products and sales

  • Japan sales fell 4.0%: Nine-month Japan sales rose 3.0% to ¥56.1 billion, or $354 million; Tsumitasu and Anshin Palette grew in the quarter. Source
  • U.S. sales rose 3.5%: Nine-month U.S. sales were $1.1 billion, up 3.1%. Source
  • Japan products span life stages: Management listed Anshin Palette, Miraito and Tsumitasu as Japan products addressing customers at different life stages. Source

Investment income

  • Japan yen investment income rose 3.7%: Lower floating-rate income and higher expenses offset part of the increase. Source
  • U.S. investment income declined 0.9%: Total adjusted revenues for the U.S. segment rose 3.1% over the same period. Source
  • Corporate investment income lower: Corporate and Other income from investments fell, with lower short-term balances and a smaller hedge program cited. Source

“We continue to deploy our balanced approach of investing in growth and driving long-term value while being there for our policyholders when they need us most.”

Daniel P. Amos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and benefits

  • Corporate expenses rose: Other adjusted expenses rose 23.3% to $148 million; interest expense rose 21.8% to $67 million. Source
  • Corporate nine-month earnings lower: Corporate and Other nine-month pretax adjusted earnings were $62 million, against $132 million. Source
  • Japan benefits rose on lower gains: The Japan pretax decline reflected higher benefits, as reserve remeasurement gains were lower than a year earlier. Source

Capital, strategy and returns

  • Capital returned $1.1 billion: Share repurchases were the larger part of the total; dividends were $305 million. Source
  • Adjusted book value excluding FX lower: The measure excludes accumulated other comprehensive income and cumulative currency remeasurement gains and losses. Source
  • Adjusted return on equity 23.7%: Annualized, excluding foreign currency remeasurement; the U.S. GAAP return figure is reported separately and is lower. Source
  • Reinsurance strategy shows in Corporate: Management said the reinsurance strategy affects Japan's reported results, which are included in Corporate and Other. Source
  • Focus on profitable growth: Management said its focus remains on profitable growth and capital deployment. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Dividend payment and record dates: The fourth quarter dividend is payable December 1, 2026 to holders of record at the close of business on November 18, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income Source$957 million adjusted net investment income, third quarter (down 5.1%)
Book value per share Source$59.08 per share at September 30, 2026

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Investment losses of $1.1 billion, including $842 million from sales and redemptions, reduced third-quarter net earnings. Source
  • Financial: A $51 million tax capital loss valuation allowance was set against part of the deferred tax assets. Source
  • External: Weaker yen cut adjusted earnings per share by $0.03 in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Japan sales were lower against a high prior-year sales base for Miraito cancer insurance. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The Board aimed to extend the dividend increase record in 2026; the third quarter release reports 44 consecutive years reached.

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.