greeksoup/ stock research

Ameriprise Financial Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted earnings per share up 14 percent: Adjusted operating earnings per diluted share were $11.26, against $9.87 a year earlier. Year-to-date adjusted operating EPS was $33.60, up 18 percent. Source
  • Assets reached $1.8 trillion: Assets under management, administration and advisement were $1.8 trillion, up 8 percent. Adjusted operating net revenues rose 10 percent to $5.1 billion, which the company attributed to asset growth and client engagement. Source
  • Advice and wealth earnings up 12 percent: Advice & Wealth Management pretax adjusted operating earnings were $989 million, a 29.3 percent margin, down 20 basis points. Core distribution earnings rose more than 20 percent and were most of segment earnings. Source
  • Advisor productivity reached a new high: Adjusted operating net revenue per advisor, on a trailing 12-month basis, was $1.2 million, up 13 percent. The company added 79 experienced advisors in the quarter. Source
  • Asset Management net outflows $9.3 billion: Asset Management net outflows were $9.3 billion, up from $6.5 billion in the prior quarter. Source
  • Unlocking review reduced earnings: The annual unlocking review cost $72 million after tax, or $0.79 per share, on a GAAP basis, and $74 million, or $0.81 per share, adjusted operating. Management linked it to modest policyholder behavior updates. Source
  • Returns equal 93 percent of operating earnings: The company returned over $1.0 billion in the quarter, which it put at 93 percent of operating earnings. Source

“Ameriprise delivered another strong quarter, reflecting the quality of our business, deep client relationships and focus on profitable growth.”

Jim Cracchiolo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Operating effective tax rate Sourcefull year 202620 to 22 percentKept
Asset Management general and administrative expense Sourcefull year 2026flat excluding Seligman and other performance fee compensationKept
Share repurchases Sourcethrough September 30, 2028$5.5 billionNew
Huntington asset transition Sourcethrough mid-2027approximately $32 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Huntington advisor transition completed: 258 advisors moved to Ameriprise, with $28 billion of client assets transferring through early 2027. The prior release did not report this transition. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted earnings per share up 14 percent: Adjusted operating earnings per diluted share were $11.26, against $9.87 a year earlier. Year-to-date adjusted operating EPS was $33.60, up 18 percent. Source
  • Excluding unlocking, adjusted EPS rose 22 percent: Adjusted EPS excluding unlocking was $12.07, against $9.92 a year earlier. GAAP net income per diluted share was $12.32, against $9.33. Source
  • Assets reached $1.8 trillion: Assets under management, administration and advisement were $1.8 trillion, up 8 percent. Adjusted operating net revenues rose 10 percent to $5.1 billion, which the company attributed to asset growth and client engagement. Source
  • Market gains lifted GAAP results: GAAP results included favorable market impacts on derivatives and market risk benefits, compared with unfavorable impacts a year earlier. The S&P 500 daily average was 7,620, up 19 percent. Source
  • Return on equity near 55 percent: Return on equity excluding AOCI was 55.2 percent on a GAAP basis and 55.3 percent adjusted operating, or 56.2 percent excluding unlocking, on a trailing 12-month basis. Source

Segments and regions

  • Advice and wealth earnings up 12 percent: Advice & Wealth Management pretax adjusted operating earnings were $989 million, a 29.3 percent margin, down 20 basis points. Core distribution earnings rose more than 20 percent and were most of segment earnings. Source
  • Asset Management earnings up 18 percent: Asset Management pretax adjusted operating earnings were $308 million. Assets under management and advisement reached $743 billion, up 4 percent. Source
  • Retirement and protection earnings down 39 percent: Pretax adjusted operating earnings were $132 million, down 39 percent, or $198 million excluding unlocking, down 1 percent. Adjusted operating net revenues fell 10 percent to $997 million. Source
  • Corporate loss excluding closed blocks: Corporate & Other pretax adjusted operating loss was $126 million including closed blocks, and $92 million excluding them. Source

“Ameriprise generates significant free cash flow, supported by the strength of our balance sheet and capital generation.”

Jim Cracchiolo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Client and wrap assets grew: Total client assets were $1.2 trillion, up 8 percent, and wrap assets were $729 billion, up 12 percent. The company attributed the growth to organic growth and market appreciation. Source
  • Advisor productivity reached a new high: Adjusted operating net revenue per advisor, on a trailing 12-month basis, was $1.2 million, up 13 percent. The company added 79 experienced advisors in the quarter. Source
  • Cash sweep balances declined: Cash sweep balances were $27.0 billion, down from $28.8 billion in the prior quarter. The company attributed $1.5 billion of the decline to the Comerica transition. Source
  • Transactional activity rose six percent: Transactional activity grew 6 percent, which the company tied to its planning model. Bank assets rose 2 percent to $24.7 billion, and bank earnings rose in the mid-single-digit percent range. Source
  • Fund ratings and performance ranks: 78 percent of retail funds ranked above median on an asset-weighted basis over three years, 74 percent over five years and 87 percent over ten. Four- or five-star Morningstar funds number 92, down from 97. Source

Demand, flows and the order book

  • Asset Management net outflows $9.3 billion: Asset Management net outflows were $9.3 billion, up from $6.5 billion in the prior quarter. Source
  • Institutional outflows on allocation shifts: Institutional net outflows were $5.5 billion, which the company said mainly related to client asset allocation decisions. Source
  • Retail outflows include closed-block funds: Retail net outflows were $2.9 billion. About $0.8 billion came from VP/VIT funds tied to the closed block of variable annuities with living benefit riders. Source
  • Inflows into ETFs, SMAs and technology: Net inflows were $1.3 billion into technology and healthcare strategies and $2.4 billion into ETFs, SMAs and Model Delivery offerings, which management named as areas of strategic focus. Source
  • Client flows positive excluding Comerica: Total client net flows were negative $8.5 billion. Excluding Comerica, client net inflows rose 56 percent to $5.3 billion, and wrap net inflows rose 38 percent to $6.6 billion. Source
  • Retirement and protection sales up: Retirement & Protection Solutions sales rose 24 percent to $1.8 billion. The company cited client demand for structured variable annuities, variable annuities without living benefit riders and variable universal life. Source

“We continue to invest for the long term and are well-positioned to navigate as conditions evolve.”

Jim Cracchiolo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Advice expenses rose with advisor revenue: Advice & Wealth Management adjusted operating expenses rose 13 percent to $2.4 billion, mainly distribution expenses that grew with advisor-driven revenues. Source
  • Advice general and administrative costs up four percent: Advice segment general and administrative expenses rose 4 percent to $455 million, on volume-related expenses and investments for growth. Consolidated general and administrative expense rose 3 percent to $982 million. Source
  • Asset Management costs tied to Seligman: Asset Management general and administrative expenses rose 2 percent, mainly on higher Seligman compensation tied to AUM growth and performance. Performance fees were $10 million, against $2 million. Source
  • Asset Management margin up 360 basis points: Net pretax adjusted operating margin was 45.7 percent. The company said the underlying fee rate remained stable, and pretax adjusted operating margin was 31.1 percent. Source
  • Consolidated pretax margin below prior year: Pretax adjusted operating margin was 25.7 percent, or 27.5 percent excluding unlocking, against 26.2 and 27.1 percent a year earlier. The highlights section states 28 percent. Source

Unlocking and insurance books

  • Unlocking review reduced earnings: The annual unlocking review cost $72 million after tax, or $0.79 per share, on a GAAP basis, and $74 million, or $0.81 per share, adjusted operating. Management linked it to modest policyholder behavior updates. Source
  • Prior-year unlocking had a one-time benefit: The prior-year quarter included a one-time favorable model enhancement that largely offset policyholder behavior changes. Pretax unlocking was $94 million this quarter, against $6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Unlocking by segment: Retirement & Protection Solutions unlocking was a $66 million charge, against a $17 million benefit a year earlier. Corporate & Other unlocking was a $28 million charge. Source
  • Variable annuity balances and flows: Variable annuity net flows were negative $1.3 billion, from $1.6 billion of deposits and $2.9 billion of withdrawals and terminations. Contract accumulation values were $92.8 billion, up 2 percent. Source
  • Long Term Care and Fixed Annuities results: Long Term Care pretax adjusted operating earnings excluding unlocking were $4 million. Fixed Annuities pretax adjusted operating loss excluding unlocking was $10 million. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Returns equal 93 percent of operating earnings: The company returned over $1.0 billion in the quarter, which it put at 93 percent of operating earnings. Source
  • Repurchases up and share count down: Share repurchases were $871 million, up 27 percent from $687 million, and dividends paid were $155 million, flat. Common shares outstanding fell 7 percent to 87.0 million. Source
  • Debt to capital ratio rose: Long-term debt was 39.4 percent of total capital, up from 32.3 percent a year earlier and 37.5 percent at June 30. Senior notes were $3,350 million, down from $3,850 million at June 30. Source
  • Debt raised ahead of a maturity: Debt issued before June 30 prefunds an upcoming $500 million maturity. The company did not date that maturity in this release. Source
  • Equity and accumulated other comprehensive loss: Total equity was $5,110 million at September 30, against $6,455 million a year earlier. Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, was $2,642 million, against $892 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy, technology and recognition

  • Investment in client and advisor experience: Management said ongoing investments in client and advisor experience, including integrating AI, are driving engagement, practice growth and underlying flows. Source
  • Broad product range and alternatives: The company said it is focused on a broad range of investment capabilities and product structures, while further expanding its alternative strategies. Source
  • Continued marketplace recognition: The company said it continues to be recognized in the marketplace, including on the Forbes 2027 Most Trusted Companies in America list. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2026

  • 29 advisors join platform in mid-2027: The company said 29 advisors managing nearly $4 billion of client assets will come onto its platform in mid-2027, having joined Huntington through the Cadence Bank acquisition. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Assets under management, administration and advisement Source$1.8 trillion, up 8 percent
Total client assets Source$1.2 trillion, up 8 percent
Wrap assets Source$729 billion, up 12 percent
Experienced advisors added in the quarter Source79
Adjusted operating net revenue per advisor, trailing 12 months Source$1.2 million, up 13 percent
Financial advisors in network SourceMore than 10,000

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said remaining retail flows reflect industry pressure on active managers. Source
  • Financial: Variable annuity outflows with living benefit riders weighed on Retirement & Protection Solutions earnings excluding unlocking. Source
  • Financial: Management tied the unlocking charge to updates in policyholder behavior assumptions, a change from the prior year. Source
  • Operational: The Comerica transition reduced cash sweep balances by $1.5 billion in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said these businesses continue to perform in line with expectations after the unlocking review. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it continues to demonstrate expense discipline, with the full-year expense plan described as flat excluding Seligman and performance fee compensation. 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.