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Brighthouse Financial, Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 November 2025: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose on actuarial review: Net income available to shareholders was $453 million, or $7.89 per diluted share, against $150 million, or $2.47, a year earlier. The annual actuarial review contributed a net favorable $316 million. Source
  • Adjusted earnings include notable items: Adjusted earnings were $970 million, or $16.87 per diluted share. Net favorable notable items of $709 million, or $12.33 per share, leave adjusted earnings less notable items at $261 million, or $4.54. Source
  • Run-off drove the earnings increase: Run-off adjusted earnings were $641 million, against $463 million a year earlier and an adjusted loss of $83 million in the second quarter. The segment included a $705 million favorable notable item. Source
  • Annuity sales rose on record Shield: Annuity sales were $2,731 million, up 8% from a year earlier and 5% sequentially, driven by record Shield Level Annuity sales and higher fixed annuity sales. Source
  • RBC ratio at upper end of range: The estimated combined RBC ratio was between 435% and 455%, at the upper end of the 400% to 450% target range in normal market conditions. Source
  • Merger with Aquarian Capital announced: An affiliate of Aquarian Capital agreed to acquire the company for $70.00 per share in cash, a transaction valued at approximately $4.1 billion. Source

“Brighthouse Financial delivered solid results in the quarter as we continued to execute our strategy”

Eric Steigerwalt, president and CEO, Brighthouse Financial

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Combined RBC ratio Sourceyear-end 2025within 400% to 450% target range in normal market conditions, without contributing capital to insurance subsidiaries

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Entered a definitive merger agreement under which an affiliate of Aquarian Capital will acquire the company for cash. Source
  • Ended: The earnings conference call and audio webcast scheduled for the third quarter results were canceled.
  • New: Completed the separation of the legacy VA and first-generation Shield business. Source
  • New: Long-term mean reversion rate for the 10-year U.S. Treasury raised to 4.50% from 4.00%, with updated policyholder behavior assumptions. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income rose on actuarial review: Net income available to shareholders was $453 million, or $7.89 per diluted share, against $150 million, or $2.47, a year earlier. The annual actuarial review contributed a net favorable $316 million. Source
  • Adjusted earnings include notable items: Adjusted earnings were $970 million, or $16.87 per diluted share. Net favorable notable items of $709 million, or $12.33 per share, leave adjusted earnings less notable items at $261 million, or $4.54. Source
  • Actuarial review changed rate assumption: The annual actuarial review raised the long-term mean reversion rate for the 10-year U.S. Treasury to 4.50% from 4.00% and updated policyholder behavior assumptions. Source

Segment results

  • Run-off drove the earnings increase: Run-off adjusted earnings were $641 million, against $463 million a year earlier and an adjusted loss of $83 million in the second quarter. The segment included a $705 million favorable notable item. Source
  • Annuities earnings lower year over year: Annuities adjusted earnings were $304 million, against $327 million a year earlier and $332 million in the second quarter. The segment included a $7 million unfavorable notable item. Source
  • Life swung to positive adjusted earnings: Life adjusted earnings were $40 million, against an adjusted loss of $25 million a year earlier and a $26 million loss in the second quarter. The segment included an $11 million favorable notable item. Source
  • Corporate & Other posted adjusted loss: Corporate & Other had an adjusted loss of $15 million, compared with adjusted earnings of $2 million a year earlier. Lower net investment income and a lower tax benefit drove the change, partly offset by lower expenses. Source

“We believe the transaction with Aquarian Capital that we announced today will deliver clear and compelling value to our stockholders”

Eric Steigerwalt, president and CEO, Brighthouse Financial

Products and customers

  • Annuity sales rose on record Shield: Annuity sales were $2,731 million, up 8% from a year earlier and 5% sequentially, driven by record Shield Level Annuity sales and higher fixed annuity sales. Source
  • Year-to-date annuity sales declined: Year-to-date total annuity sales were down 3% from the same period in 2024, while Shield Level Annuity sales were up 3% over the same span. Source
  • Life sales grew in every period: Life sales were $38 million, up 27% from a year earlier and 15% sequentially, with the quarter primarily driven by Brighthouse SmartCare. Year-to-date Life sales rose 23%. Source
  • Fixed index annuity sales rose sequentially: The fixed index annuity product sold $126 million in the third quarter, up from $89 million in the second quarter and below $141 million in the third quarter of 2024. Source

Expenses and corporate costs

  • Corporate expenses edged higher: Corporate expenses were $205 million on a pre-tax basis, up from $203 million a year earlier and $202 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Life expenses rose quarter over quarter: Life adjusted earnings less notable items reflected higher expenses and a lower underwriting margin against a year earlier. Sequentially, higher expenses were partly offset by a higher underwriting margin. Source
  • Run-off expenses lower year over year: Compared with a year earlier, Run-off adjusted earnings less notable items reflected a higher underwriting margin, higher net investment income and lower expenses. Source

Margins and investment income

  • Annuities underwriting margin lower: Against a year earlier, Annuities adjusted earnings less notable items reflected higher net investment income, partly offset by lower fees and a lower underwriting margin. Source
  • Investment income rose on alternatives: Adjusted net investment income rose $33 million from a year earlier and $35 million sequentially. The increases were primarily driven by higher alternative investment income. Source
  • Run-off underwriting margin rose sequentially: Sequentially, Run-off adjusted earnings less notable items reflected a higher underwriting margin and higher net investment income, partly offset by higher expenses. Source

Capital, liquidity and book value

  • RBC ratio at upper end of range: The estimated combined RBC ratio was between 435% and 455%, at the upper end of the 400% to 450% target range in normal market conditions. Source
  • Risk charges fell after separation: The RBC ratio benefited from lower risk charges tied to completing the separation of the legacy VA and first-generation Shield business, including product-specific hedge targets and a risk neutral framework. Source
  • Statutory capital below prior periods: Statutory combined total adjusted capital was $5.4 billion, compared with $5.6 billion at June 30, 2025 and $5.7 billion a year earlier. The figures are preliminary. Source
  • Holding company liquidity at $1.0 billion: Holding company liquid assets were $1.0 billion at the end of the quarter. Source
  • Book value per common share rose: Book value was $4,664 million, or $81.60 per common share, against $63.94 a year earlier. Book value excluding AOCI was $8,684 million, or $151.94 per share. Source
  • Ending shares outstanding declined: Ending common shares outstanding were 57,153,571, compared with 59,838,034 a year earlier. Source

Strategy and pending merger

  • Merger with Aquarian Capital announced: An affiliate of Aquarian Capital agreed to acquire the company for $70.00 per share in cash, a transaction valued at approximately $4.1 billion. Source
  • Separation of legacy VA and Shield completed: Management said it completed the separation of its legacy VA and first-generation Shield business during the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 November 2025

  • Statutory annual actuarial review underway: Management said the 2025 statutory annual actuarial review is in process and it anticipates an increase to statutory reserves. Source
  • Proxy statement planned for merger: The company said it will file a proxy statement with the SEC for the proposed transaction, to be mailed to common stockholders when completed.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net investment income Source$1,334 million
Adjusted net investment income yield Source4.40%
Book value per common share Source$81.60
Book value per common share, excluding AOCI Source$151.94

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management expects net income volatility because of differences between the hedge target and GAAP reserves, which market performance affects. Source
  • Financial: Statutory reserves are expected to increase from the 2025 annual actuarial review, which is in process. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it continued to execute its strategy during the quarter. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to the target range and said the quarter-end RBC ratio sat at the upper end of it. Source
  • Not stated: A call on November 7, 2025 had been scheduled and was canceled.

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.