greeksoup/ stock research

Brighthouse Financial, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income turned to $956 million: Net income available to shareholders was $956 million, or $16.53 per diluted share, against $60 million a year earlier and a $792 million loss in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Adjusted earnings rose from prior year: Adjusted earnings were $258 million, or $4.45 per diluted share, against $198 million a year earlier. No notable items were recorded, while the first quarter had a $12 million unfavorable item. Source
  • Annuities earned $349 million: Annuities adjusted earnings were $349 million, against $332 million a year earlier and $324 million in the first quarter. Higher net investment income was partly offset by lower income annuity underwriting margin and higher DAC amortization. Source
  • Annuity sales up 11% sequentially: Annuity sales were $2.4 billion, up 11% sequentially and 7% below the second quarter of 2025, which the release labels quarter-over-quarter. Shield Level Annuity sales exceeded $2.1 billion; first-half Shield sales were about $4.0 billion. Source
  • Adjusted investment income fell year on year: Adjusted net investment income was $1,239 million, down $53 million from a year earlier and $29 million sequentially, on lower alternative investment income partly offset by higher yields. Source
  • Statutory capital flat from March: Statutory combined total adjusted capital was $4.9 billion, relatively flat from March 31, 2026 and below $5.6 billion a year earlier. Figures are preliminary statutory results as of June 30, 2026. Source
  • RBC ratio held at upper end: Estimated combined RBC ratio was between 430% and 450%, consistent with the first quarter and at the upper end of the 400% to 450% target. Holding company liquid assets were $0.9 billion. Source
  • Aquarian deal at $70.00 per share: An affiliate of Aquarian Capital will acquire Brighthouse for $70.00 per share in cash, a transaction valued at about $4.1 billion. Source

“Annuity sales decreased 7% quarter-over-quarter and 5% year-to-date, driven by lower fixed annuity sales, partially offset by record sales of Shield Level Annuities, which exceeded $2.1 billion in the quarter”

Brighthouse Financial, Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Combined risk-based capital ratio target Sourcenormal market conditions400% to 450%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Closing conditions other than insurance regulatory approvals are reported as satisfied or waived. The first-quarter release listed customary closing conditions, including insurance approvals. Source

Results and net income

  • Net income turned to $956 million: Net income available to shareholders was $956 million, or $16.53 per diluted share, against $60 million a year earlier and a $792 million loss in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Adjusted earnings rose from prior year: Adjusted earnings were $258 million, or $4.45 per diluted share, against $198 million a year earlier. No notable items were recorded, while the first quarter had a $12 million unfavorable item. Source
  • Market risk benefit change excluded from adjusted earnings: The reconciliation shows change in market risk benefits of $1,370 million in the second quarter and $(748) million in the first quarter, both excluded from adjusted earnings. Source

Segment adjusted earnings

  • Annuities earned $349 million: Annuities adjusted earnings were $349 million, against $332 million a year earlier and $324 million in the first quarter. Higher net investment income was partly offset by lower income annuity underwriting margin and higher DAC amortization. Source
  • Life loss narrowed on underwriting: Life adjusted loss was $4 million, against $26 million a year earlier and $6 million in the first quarter. The company cited a higher underwriting margin, partly offset by lower net investment income. Source
  • Run-off loss narrowed from prior year: Run-off adjusted loss was $56 million, against $83 million a year earlier and $48 million in the first quarter. The company cited a higher underwriting margin and lower expenses, partly offset by lower net investment income. Source
  • Corporate and Other loss flat sequentially: Corporate & Other adjusted loss was $31 million, against $25 million a year earlier and flat on the first quarter. The year-over-year change reflects lower net investment income, partly offset by higher interest credited. Source

“Estimated combined RBC ratio (1) was between 430% and 450%, consistent with the first quarter of 2026 and at the upper end of our target combined RBC range of 400% to 450% in normal markets”

Brighthouse Financial, Inc., press release

Annuity and life sales

  • Annuity sales up 11% sequentially: Annuity sales were $2.4 billion, up 11% sequentially and 7% below the second quarter of 2025, which the release labels quarter-over-quarter. Shield Level Annuity sales exceeded $2.1 billion; first-half Shield sales were about $4.0 billion. Source
  • Fixed index product sales declined: Fixed index annuity sales were $67 million, against $87 million in the first quarter and $89 million a year earlier. The release attributed the total annuity decline to lower fixed annuity sales. Source
  • Life sales rose on SmartCare: Life sales were $39 million, up 22% sequentially and 18% from the second quarter of 2025, primarily driven by SmartCare. Year-to-date life sales were up 3%. Source

Expenses and corporate costs

  • Corporate expenses fell from first quarter: Corporate expenses were $204 million pre-tax, against $202 million a year earlier and $227 million in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Policy benefits and interest credited: Policyholder benefits and claims were $591 million, against $637 million in the first quarter. Interest credited to policyholder account balances was $531 million, against $493 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Other expenses held near prior level: Other expenses were $449 million, against $439 million in the first quarter and $444 million a year earlier. Source

Investment income and yield

  • Adjusted investment income fell year on year: Adjusted net investment income was $1,239 million, down $53 million from a year earlier and $29 million sequentially, on lower alternative investment income partly offset by higher yields. Source
  • Reported investment income below prior quarter: Reported net investment income was $1,241 million, against $1,258 million in the first quarter and $1,285 million a year earlier. The adjusted figure excludes a $2 million trading securities gain. Source
  • Yield after investment fees: Investment income yield was 4.32%, less fees and expenses of 0.15%, giving an adjusted net investment income yield of 4.17%, against 4.24% in the first quarter and 4.28% a year earlier. Source

Capital and book value

  • Statutory capital flat from March: Statutory combined total adjusted capital was $4.9 billion, relatively flat from March 31, 2026 and below $5.6 billion a year earlier. Figures are preliminary statutory results as of June 30, 2026. Source
  • RBC ratio held at upper end: Estimated combined RBC ratio was between 430% and 450%, consistent with the first quarter and at the upper end of the 400% to 450% target. Holding company liquid assets were $0.9 billion. Source
  • Book value per share rose: Book value was $4.9 billion, or $84.35 per common share, against $3.9 billion, or $67.27, at March 31, 2026. Book value excluding AOCI was $9.0 billion, or $156.10 per share; ending shares outstanding were 57,508,193. Source

Pending merger with Aquarian Capital

  • Aquarian deal at $70.00 per share: An affiliate of Aquarian Capital will acquire Brighthouse for $70.00 per share in cash, a transaction valued at about $4.1 billion. Source
  • Merger announced November 6, 2025: The agreement was announced November 6, 2025, with Aquarian Capital, described as a diversified global holding company with insurance and asset management businesses. Source
  • Acquisition costs excluded from corporate expenses: From 2026, certain costs tied to the pending acquisition are not categorized as corporate expenses. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Merger expected to close in 2026: The company expects the merger to close in 2026, subject to the remaining insurance regulatory approvals. Source
  • Automatic extension date of December 6: If the merger has not closed by September 6, 2026, the merger agreement extends automatically to December 6, 2026, because remaining approvals have not been obtained. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income SourceNet investment income $1,241 million; adjusted net investment income $1,239 million
Book value per share Source$84.35; $156.10 excluding AOCI

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net income may vary because of differences between the hedge target and GAAP reserves, which market performance affects. Source
  • Regulatory: Closing depends on insurance regulatory approvals in Delaware, New York and Massachusetts that remain outstanding. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The June 30, 2026 combined RBC estimate sits at the upper end of the target range that the company describes for normal markets. 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.