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CNO Financial Group, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating earnings per share rose 33%: Net operating income was $101.3 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, against $81.1 million, or $0.79, in 1Q25. Management attributed the growth to sales momentum. Source
  • New annualized premiums up 11%: Total new annualized premiums rose 11% in the quarter. Management described this as consistent, sustained growth following 2025. Source
  • Annuity fair value changes reduced earnings: Changes in fair value of embedded derivatives and market risk benefits reduced earnings by $42.4 million, against $69.6 million in 1Q25. Management tied these to interest rate and equity impacts. Source
  • TechMod expense of $13.7 million: TechMod expense was $13.7 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, reported in non-operating items. The 1Q25 comparable has no TechMod expense. Source
  • Repurchased $60.0 million of shares: The company repurchased $60.0 million of common stock in 1Q26, or 1.4 million shares at an average cost of $41.79 per share. Source
  • Book value per share fell to $26.64: Book value per share was $26.64 at March 31, 2026, against $27.92 at December 31, 2025. Book value per diluted share excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss was $38.98. Source
  • Debt-to-capital ratio rose to 34.8%: The debt-to-capital ratio was 34.8% at March 31, 2026, against 33.6% at December 31, 2025. Excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss, the ratio was 26.4%, against 26.2%. Source
  • Statutory risk-based capital ratio 375%: The consolidated statutory risk-based capital ratio of the U.S. insurance subsidiaries was estimated at 375 percent, reflecting a 1Q26 statutory operating gain of $23.0 million. Source

“With 15 consecutive quarters of sales growth, we’re pleased with the consistent results we’re generating as we continue to grow earnings, improve profitability and reinvest in the business.”

Gary C. Bhojwani, chief executive officer

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The independent partner agent count is described as more than 7,500, against more than 7,000 in the prior release. Source

Results and earnings growth

  • Operating earnings per share rose 33%: Net operating income was $101.3 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, against $81.1 million, or $0.79, in 1Q25. Management attributed the growth to sales momentum. Source
  • Net income rose to $37.7 million: Net income was $37.7 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, against $21.5 million, or $0.21, in 1Q25. Net operating income excludes non-operating items such as market-driven accounting effects. Source
  • Trailing return on equity lower: Trailing four-quarter return on equity was 9.5%, against 13.1% a year earlier. Operating return on equity excluding significant items was 12.2%, against 11.9%. Source

Insurance product margin and fee income

  • Insurance product income rose 11%: Income from insurance products was $97.0 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, against $87.7 million, or $0.85. Management listed insurance product margin among the areas supporting earnings growth. Source
  • Fee income turned positive: Fee income was $10.6 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, against a $0.8 million loss in 1Q25. Management named fee income among the areas supporting operating earnings growth. Source
  • Investment income not allocated rose: Investment income not allocated to product lines was $41.7 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, against $38.0 million in 1Q25. Expenses not allocated to product lines were $19.4 million, against $20.3 million. Source

“Disciplined execution will continue to drive our growth and create meaningful value for customers, associates and shareholders.”

Gary C. Bhojwani, chief executive officer

Sales and distribution

  • New annualized premiums up 11%: Total new annualized premiums rose 11% in the quarter. Management described this as consistent, sustained growth following 2025. Source
  • Medicare policies sold up 24%: Total Medicare policies sold rose 24%. Management said these products are expanding the company's household reach. Source
  • Producing agent counts keep growing: Consumer and Worksite producing agent counts extended their growth streaks to 13 and 15 consecutive quarters, respectively. Source

Non-operating items and investments

  • Annuity fair value changes reduced earnings: Changes in fair value of embedded derivatives and market risk benefits reduced earnings by $42.4 million, against $69.6 million in 1Q25. Management tied these to interest rate and equity impacts. Source
  • Net investment losses of $15.2 million: Net investment losses were $15.2 million, including a $9.4 million unfavorable change in the allowance for credit losses. The 1Q25 figure was $13.2 million. Source
  • Market value change reduced earnings: The net change in market value of investments recognized in earnings reduced earnings by $7.5 million, compared with an increase of $6.4 million in 1Q25. Source
  • Unrealized losses on fixed maturities: Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale fixed maturities were tied to gross unrealized losses exceeding gross unrealized gains at March 31, 2026. Source

Costs, TechMod and Worksite exit

  • TechMod expense of $13.7 million: TechMod expense was $13.7 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, reported in non-operating items. The 1Q25 comparable has no TechMod expense. Source
  • Worksite fee services exit loss: The company recognized a $1.9 million non-operating loss tied to its previously announced exit from the fee services side of the Worksite business. Source
  • Worksite operating losses moved to non-operating: From 4Q25, operating losses from the Worksite business, including exit costs, are reported in non-operating income rather than as part of fee income. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Repurchased $60.0 million of shares: The company repurchased $60.0 million of common stock in 1Q26, or 1.4 million shares at an average cost of $41.79 per share. Source
  • $360.4 million buyback authority remains: At March 31, 2026, 93.8 million shares were outstanding and $360.4 million of repurchase authority remained. Source
  • Dividends paid $17.1 million: Dividends paid on common stock totaled $17.1 million in 1Q26. Source
  • No insurance subsidiary dividends paid: No dividends from the insurance companies, net of capital contributions, were paid to the holding company during 1Q26. Source
  • Holding company cash declined: Unrestricted cash and investments held by the holding company were $280.1 million at March 31, 2026, down from $351.4 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Book value and leverage

  • Book value per share fell to $26.64: Book value per share was $26.64 at March 31, 2026, against $27.92 at December 31, 2025. Book value per diluted share excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss was $38.98. Source
  • Debt-to-capital ratio rose to 34.8%: The debt-to-capital ratio was 34.8% at March 31, 2026, against 33.6% at December 31, 2025. Excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss, the ratio was 26.4%, against 26.2%. Source
  • Statutory risk-based capital ratio 375%: The consolidated statutory risk-based capital ratio of the U.S. insurance subsidiaries was estimated at 375 percent, reflecting a 1Q26 statutory operating gain of $23.0 million. Source

Strategy and management view

  • Disciplined execution credited: Management said first quarter performance reflected disciplined execution and the strength of its diversified products and distribution. Source
  • Focus on middle-income market: Management described the results as reflecting the strength and resilience of the business model and its focus on the middle-income market. Source
  • Scale of policies and assets: The release describes 3.3 million policies and $39.0 billion in total assets, up from 3.2 million policies and $38.8 billion in the prior release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Book value per share Source$26.64 at March 31, 2026; $27.92 at December 31, 2025
Investment income Source$41.7 million not allocated to product lines in 1Q26; $38.0 million in 1Q25
Prior-year reserve development Source$6.8 million favorable out-of-period adjustment, shown in the 1Q25 comparative

Risks management discussed

  • External: Market volatility produced non-economic accounting impacts that reduced net income in both 1Q26 and 1Q25. Source
  • Financial: Credit losses and structured securities rated below investment grade were reported, including a $9.4 million unfavorable change in the credit loss allowance. Source
  • Operational: TechMod and Worksite exit costs were recorded as non-operating expenses in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The company described TechMod as a three-year project that began in the second quarter of 2025. The release does not state progress against it. Source
  • Not stated: The company refers to the Worksite fee services exit as previously announced. The release does not state progress against it. 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.