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Brighthouse Financial, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net loss larger than a year earlier: Net loss was $792 million, or $13.82 per diluted share, against a $294 million loss, or $5.04 per share, in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted earnings less notable items higher: Adjusted earnings, less notable items, were $251 million, or $4.35 per diluted share, against $245 million, or $4.17, a year earlier. Source
  • Annuities adjusted earnings rose: Annuities adjusted earnings were $324 million with no notable items, against $304 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Annuity sales down 20% sequentially: Annuity sales were $2.2 billion, down 4% from the first quarter of 2025 and 20% from the fourth quarter. Shield Level Annuities were $1.9 billion of sales. Source
  • Statutory combined capital declined: Statutory combined total adjusted capital was $5.0 billion, down from $5.3 billion at year-end 2025, mainly on non-trendable items including basis risk. Source
  • Closing expected in 2026: The company expects the transaction to close in 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and insurance regulatory approvals. Source
  • Hedge-driven net income volatility expected: Management anticipates net income volatility from differences between its hedge target and GAAP reserves, which are affected by market performance. Source

“The company anticipates volatility in net income (loss) given the differences between its hedge target and GAAP reserves, which are impacted by market performance.”

Brighthouse Financial, Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Combined RBC ratio SourceAs of March 31, 2026between 430% and 450%Lowered from 456%
Target combined RBC ratio rangeNormal market conditions400% to 450%Kept
Merger closing Source2026expected to close in 2026Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Beginning in 2026, certain pending-acquisition costs are no longer categorized as corporate expenses. Prior periods are presented excluding these costs. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Estimated combined RBC ratio moved from 456% at year-end 2025 to between 430% and 450% at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Guidance kept: Target combined RBC range of 400% to 450% in normal market conditions is the same as in the prior release.

Quarter results and adjusted earnings

  • Net loss larger than a year earlier: Net loss was $792 million, or $13.82 per diluted share, against a $294 million loss, or $5.04 per share, in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted earnings less notable items higher: Adjusted earnings, less notable items, were $251 million, or $4.35 per diluted share, against $245 million, or $4.17, a year earlier. Source
  • Actuarial refinements cost $12 million: Adjusted earnings include a $12 million unfavorable notable item from actuarial refinements, which the less-notable-items measure excludes. Source
  • Book value per share at quarter end: Book value was $3.9 billion, or $67.27 per common share. Book value excluding AOCI was $8.0 billion, or $139.63 per share, at March 31, 2026. Source

Segment results

  • Annuities adjusted earnings rose: Annuities adjusted earnings were $324 million with no notable items, against $304 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Life segment posted an adjusted loss: Life had an adjusted loss of $6 million, including a $5 million favorable notable item. Adjusted earnings were $18 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Lower underwriting margin in Life: Life adjusted earnings, less notable items, were reduced by a lower underwriting margin and lower net investment income, partly offset by lower expenses. Source
  • Run-off adjusted loss narrowed: Run-off adjusted loss was $48 million, including a $17 million unfavorable notable item for actuarial refinements. There were no notable items in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Corporate and Other loss increased: Corporate and Other adjusted loss was $31 million. Lower net investment income was partly offset by a higher tax benefit compared with the first quarter of 2025. Source

“which is at the upper-end of our target range of 400% to 450% in normal market conditions”

Brighthouse Financial, Inc., press release

Sales and products

  • Annuity sales down 20% sequentially: Annuity sales were $2.2 billion, down 4% from the first quarter of 2025 and 20% from the fourth quarter. Shield Level Annuities were $1.9 billion of sales. Source
  • Life sales down 11%: Life sales were $32 million, down 11% from the prior-year quarter and sequentially, primarily from Brighthouse SmartCare sales. Source
  • Fixed index annuity sales versus periods: Fixed index annuity product sales were $87 million, against $142 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $26 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Costs and expense drivers

  • Corporate expenses lower than a year ago: Corporate expenses were $227 million pre-tax, against $239 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $234 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Transaction costs excluded from prior periods: Excluding transaction-related costs in prior periods, corporate expenses fell $7 million year over year and rose $8 million sequentially. Source
  • Higher DAC amortization in Annuities: Annuities adjusted earnings, less notable items, reflected lower fees and higher DAC amortization versus the first quarter of 2025, partly offset by higher net investment income. Source

Investment income and yield

  • Adjusted investment income lower sequentially: Adjusted net investment income was $1,268 million, down $66 million sequentially on lower alternative investment income. Source
  • Institutional spread business smaller: Adjusted net investment income fell $23 million year over year, mainly from a reduced institutional spread margin business. Source
  • Adjusted investment yield 4.24%: Adjusted net investment income yield was 4.24%, compared with 4.44% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 4.25% in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Capital and RBC position

  • Statutory combined capital declined: Statutory combined total adjusted capital was $5.0 billion, down from $5.3 billion at year-end 2025, mainly on non-trendable items including basis risk. Source
  • Year-end RBC ratio was 456%: At year-end 2025 the combined RBC ratio was 456%, above the 400% to 450% target range. The March 31 estimate is between 430% and 450%.
  • Holding company liquid assets steady: Holding company liquid assets were $0.9 billion at year-end 2025 and at March 31, 2026. The year-end release tied the level to pending-acquisition costs.

Pending Aquarian merger

  • Aquarian to buy company at $70: Under a merger agreement announced November 6, 2025, an Aquarian Capital affiliate will pay $70.00 per share in cash, about $4.1 billion in total. Source
  • Stockholders adopted the merger agreement: Brighthouse Financial stockholders adopted the merger agreement at a special meeting held on February 12, 2026. Source
  • Closing expected in 2026: The company expects the transaction to close in 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and insurance regulatory approvals. Source

Hedging and reserve volatility

  • Hedge-driven net income volatility expected: Management anticipates net income volatility from differences between its hedge target and GAAP reserves, which are affected by market performance. Source
  • Net derivative losses versus prior periods: Net derivative losses were $509 million, against a $456 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2025 and a $311 million gain in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Change in market risk benefits swung: Change in market risk benefits was $748 million in the first quarter, against a $349 million benefit in the fourth quarter and $893 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Aquarian merger expected to close: The company expects the Aquarian transaction to close in 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and insurance regulatory approvals. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income SourceNet investment income $1,258 million; adjusted net investment income $1,268 million
Book value per share Source$67.27 including AOCI; $139.63 excluding AOCI

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net income may move with differences between the hedge target and GAAP reserves, which are affected by market performance. Source
  • Financial: Statutory combined total adjusted capital fell to $5.0 billion, with non-trendable items including basis risk that can fluctuate quarter to quarter. Source
  • Demand: Annuity sales were $2.2 billion, down 20% sequentially, and Life sales were $32 million, down 11% sequentially. Source
  • Regulatory: Closing of the Aquarian transaction is subject to insurance regulatory approvals. Source
  • External: Adjusted net investment income fell $66 million sequentially, driven by lower alternative investment income. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The release restates the expected 2026 closing for the Aquarian transaction, subject to insurance regulatory approvals. 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.