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Corebridge Financial, Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income of $144 million: Net income attributable to common shareholders was $144 million, against a $1.2 billion loss a year earlier. The variance largely reflected lower realized losses on the Fortitude Re embedded derivative and foreign exchange gains. Source
  • Operating EPS fell to $0.96: Operating EPS was $0.96 against $1.23 a year earlier, on adjusted after-tax operating income of $520 million versus $724 million. Source
  • Actuarial update reduced income: The annual actuarial assumption update cut pre-tax income by $167 million, against a $79 million cut a year earlier. APTOI was reduced by $98 million. Source
  • Premiums and deposits up 34%: Total premiums and deposits were $12.3 billion, against $9.2 billion a year earlier. The release describes this as the highest in recent history. Source
  • Sales excluding transactions up 10%: Excluding pension risk transfer, GIC and Group Retirement plan acquisition activity, premiums and deposits rose 10%, driven by fixed index annuity and RILA deposits. Source
  • Core sources of income down 4%: Core sources of income were $1.5 billion, down 4%. The release attributes this largely to underwriting margin changes that reflect prior-year one-time items, partly offset by higher fee income. Source
  • Returned $509 million to shareholders: Shareholder returns comprised $381 million of share repurchases and $128 million of dividends, a year-to-date payout ratio of 80%. Source
  • VA transaction described as de-risking: Management said the VA reinsurance transaction enhanced the company's position, leaving it a simpler company with a lower risk profile and higher quality of earnings. Source

“Corebridge delivered another quarter of solid performance, with our diversified businesses generating $12.3 billion of sales.”

Kevin Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend SourcePayable December 31, 2025$0.24 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Completion of the VA reinsurance transaction. The prior release said the AGL portion had closed and the remaining portions were expected to close in the fourth quarter. Source
  • New: Bermuda strategy launched, with $18.0 billion of reserves ceded. The prior release did not mention this. Source
  • New: Management referred to a next CEO. The prior release named Kevin Hogan as CEO and gave no successor. Source

Quarter results and drivers

  • Net income of $144 million: Net income attributable to common shareholders was $144 million, against a $1.2 billion loss a year earlier. The variance largely reflected lower realized losses on the Fortitude Re embedded derivative and foreign exchange gains. Source
  • Operating EPS fell to $0.96: Operating EPS was $0.96 against $1.23 a year earlier, on adjusted after-tax operating income of $520 million versus $724 million. Source
  • Adjusted pre-tax income down 29%: APTOI was $654 million against $921 million, a 29% decrease. Excluding variable investment income, the decline was 28%, according to the release. Source
  • Actuarial update reduced income: The annual actuarial assumption update cut pre-tax income by $167 million, against a $79 million cut a year earlier. APTOI was reduced by $98 million. Source

Segment results

  • Individual Retirement APTOI down 18%: Segment APTOI was $451 million against $547 million, on lower spread income tied to lower variable investment income and higher commissions and DAC amortization on growth. Source
  • Group Retirement deposits down 10%: Premiums and deposits were $1.76 billion, down $201 million on lower out-of-plan annuity deposits. Core sources of income rose 1% on fee income growth. Source
  • Life Insurance APTOI down 84%: Segment APTOI was $25 million against $156 million. Excluding variable investment income, the assumption update and prior-year recaptures, APTOI fell 8% on higher one-time expenses. Source
  • Institutional Markets sales up 230%: Premiums and deposits were $4.2 billion, driven by new GIC issuances and PRT transactions. APTOI was $134 million against $154 million, on lower underwriting margin. Source

“Our track record of disciplined execution speaks for itself”

Kevin Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer

Premiums and deposits

  • Premiums and deposits up 34%: Total premiums and deposits were $12.3 billion, against $9.2 billion a year earlier. The release describes this as the highest in recent history. Source
  • Sales excluding transactions up 10%: Excluding pension risk transfer, GIC and Group Retirement plan acquisition activity, premiums and deposits rose 10%, driven by fixed index annuity and RILA deposits. Source

Costs and margins

  • Compensation and medical accrual added cost: Management noted higher compensation-related expenses across all segments and a one-time medical accrual, both in the current quarter. Source
  • Core sources of income down 4%: Core sources of income were $1.5 billion, down 4%. The release attributes this largely to underwriting margin changes that reflect prior-year one-time items, partly offset by higher fee income. Source
  • Spread income flat despite rate cuts: Spread income was essentially flat year over year, according to the release, even with the impact of the 2024 Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Source

“The VA reinsurance transaction has enhanced our position, and we are now a simpler company with a lower risk profile, higher quality of earnings, and greater growth potential.”

Kevin Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Holding company liquidity $1.8 billion: Holding company liquidity was $1.8 billion at September 30, 2025, and the release says it includes partial proceeds from the VA transaction. It was $1.3 billion at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Returned $509 million to shareholders: Shareholder returns comprised $381 million of share repurchases and $128 million of dividends, a year-to-date payout ratio of 80%. Source
  • Common shares outstanding fell: Shares outstanding at quarter end were 532.1 million, down from 543.2 million at the start of the quarter, after 11.1 million shares were repurchased. Source
  • Book value per share $25.45: Book value per common share was $25.45, against $22.65 at June 30, 2025 and $23.69 a year earlier. Adjusted book value per share was $38.03. Source

Strategy and leadership

  • Three income sources described: Management said its businesses contribute three different sources of income that generate sustainable and growing cash flows through market cycles. Source
  • VA transaction described as de-risking: Management said the VA reinsurance transaction enhanced the company's position, leaving it a simpler company with a lower risk profile and higher quality of earnings. Source
  • Successor CEO to be welcomed: Kevin Hogan, President and CEO, said he looked forward to welcoming the next CEO. The documents name no successor and give no appointment date. Source
  • Continued profitable growth sought: Management said it remains excited about the future prospects for continued profitable growth. Source

In management's words

“I look forward to welcoming our next CEO”

Kevin Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Book value per common share Source$25.45
Adjusted book value per common share Source$38.03
Investment income (net income basis) Source$3,320 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Alternative investment returns fell $74 million short of long-term return expectations in the quarter, against an $18 million shortfall a year earlier. Source
  • External: Core sources of income were held back by the 2024 Federal Reserve rate actions, partly offset by general account growth, asset optimization and higher fee income. Source
  • Operational: Compensation-related expenses rose across all segments, and a one-time medical accrual was recorded in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the company operated as an independent company while delivering on every target it set at the time of the IPO. Source
  • Met: Management said the capital ratios of its insurance companies continue to exceed their targets. 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.