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Corebridge Financial, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net income fell to $814 million: Fourth-quarter net income was $814 million, against $2.2 billion a year earlier. The company attributed the variance largely to lower net realized gains and related derivative and benefit reserve changes. Source
  • Full-year net loss of $366 million: Full-year net loss was $366 million, or $0.68 per share, compared with net income of $2.2 billion in the prior year. Source
  • Assumption review cut pre-tax income: The annual actuarial assumption review reduced full-year pre-tax income by $167 million, against $79 million a year earlier. It reduced APTOI by $98 million. Source
  • Full-year premiums and deposits $41.7 billion: Full-year premiums and deposits were $41.7 billion, up 4%. Excluding pension risk transfer, GICs and Group Retirement plan acquisitions, they rose 1%, mainly on higher RILA deposits. Source
  • Full-year payout ratio of 110%: Full-year returns were $2.6 billion, a 110% payout ratio, including $2.1 billion of share repurchases and $511 million of dividends. Source
  • Fortitude Re and market risk drove variance: Management attributed the variance largely to realized losses on the Fortitude Re embedded derivative and changes in the fair value of market risk benefits. Source

“Customer needs for financial security have never been greater, and with our diverse product suite, powerhouse distribution network, and commitment to achieving industry-leading customer service, Corebridge is uniquely positioned to win.”

Marc Costantini, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Common stock dividend Sourcequarterly dividend payable March 31, 2026$0.25 per shareRaised from $0.24 per share

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Board approved a 4% increase in the common dividend, to $0.25 per share from $0.24 per share. Source
  • New: Marc Costantini is named President and Chief Executive Officer; the prior release named Kevin Hogan in that role. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter earnings

  • Fourth-quarter net income fell to $814 million: Fourth-quarter net income was $814 million, against $2.2 billion a year earlier. The company attributed the variance largely to lower net realized gains and related derivative and benefit reserve changes. Source
  • Full-year net loss of $366 million: Full-year net loss was $366 million, or $0.68 per share, compared with net income of $2.2 billion in the prior year. Source
  • Operating EPS rose for the year: Operating EPS was $1.22 in the fourth quarter, up from $1.06, and $4.42 for the full year, up from $4.25. Adjusted after-tax operating income was $2.4 billion for 2025. Source
  • Fourth-quarter APTOI flat year over year: Adjusted pre-tax operating income was $760 million, flat with the prior-year quarter. Excluding variable investment income and notable items, it decreased 5% from the same period. Source

Segment results

  • Individual Retirement deposits fell 5%: Individual Retirement premiums and deposits were $4.3 billion, down $217 million, on lower fixed and fixed index annuity deposits, partly offset by RILA deposits. APTOI was $455 million, down 1%. Source
  • Institutional Markets premiums up 28%: Institutional Markets premiums and deposits were $3.0 billion, up 28%, on new PRT and assumed reinsurance premiums, partly offset by lower GIC deposits. APTOI rose 8% to $143 million. Source
  • Life Insurance APTOI down 6%: Life Insurance APTOI was $147 million, down $9 million, mainly on less favorable mortality, partly offset by a one-time $40 million notable item. Source
  • Group Retirement premiums up 13%: Group Retirement premiums and deposits were $1.8 billion, up 13%, on RILA growth in the out-of-plan offering. APTOI rose 1% to $162 million. Source

“Year over year, all of our key metrics were higher - operating earnings per share, return on equity, and capital returned to shareholders.”

Marc Costantini, President and Chief Executive Officer

Core income, spread and fees

  • Fourth-quarter core income rose 4%: Core sources of income were $1.6 billion, up 4%, mainly on higher spread and fee income and a favorable one-time notable item. Source
  • Full-year core income flat ex-notable items: Full-year core sources of income were $6.1 billion, down 1%. Excluding notable items they were flat, as higher spread and fee income offset lower underwriting margin. Source
  • Spread and fee growth offset rate actions: Individual Retirement core sources of income rose 6%, mainly on higher base spread and fee income despite Federal Reserve rate actions. Company fee income was $311 million in the quarter. Source

Actuarial review and expenses

  • Assumption review cut pre-tax income: The annual actuarial assumption review reduced full-year pre-tax income by $167 million, against $79 million a year earlier. It reduced APTOI by $98 million. Source
  • DAC and commissions rose with sales: Full-year APTOI was $3.0 billion, down 6%, mainly on higher DAC and commission expenses tied to sales growth, partly offset by net investment income affected by rate cuts. Source
  • Notable item lifted Life underwriting margin: Life Insurance underwriting margin excluding variable investment income rose 1%, largely on a one-time $40 million notable item, against more favorable Universal Life mortality a year earlier. Source

“I couldn’t be more excited about the future of this great franchise.”

Marc Costantini, President and Chief Executive Officer

Premiums, deposits and demand

  • Full-year premiums and deposits $41.7 billion: Full-year premiums and deposits were $41.7 billion, up 4%. Excluding pension risk transfer, GICs and Group Retirement plan acquisitions, they rose 1%, mainly on higher RILA deposits. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales ex-transactions fell 2%: Fourth-quarter premiums and deposits were $10.1 billion, up 7%. Excluding transactional activity they fell 2%, mainly on lower annuity sales in Individual Retirement. Source
  • Management cites market tailwinds and advantages: Management pointed to market tailwinds, hard-to-replicate competitive advantages and a world-class team ready to show what they can do. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Fourth-quarter returns of $1.2 billion: Returned $1.2 billion to shareholders in the fourth quarter: $1.1 billion of share repurchases and $119 million of dividends. Source
  • Full-year payout ratio of 110%: Full-year returns were $2.6 billion, a 110% payout ratio, including $2.1 billion of share repurchases and $511 million of dividends. Source
  • Liquidity and leverage reported: Holding company liquidity was $2.3 billion at year-end, and the financial leverage ratio was 30.8%. Source

Fortitude Re and market-driven losses

  • Fortitude Re and market risk drove variance: Management attributed the variance largely to realized losses on the Fortitude Re embedded derivative and changes in the fair value of market risk benefits. Source
  • Fortitude Re derivative loss of $1,673 million: The full-year reconciliation shows a pre-tax loss of $1,673 million on the Fortitude Re funds withheld embedded derivative, compared with $518 million in 2024. Source
  • Fortitude Re investment income excluded: Net investment income on Fortitude Re funds withheld assets of $1,332 million pre-tax for 2025 is excluded from APTOI, as the economics transfer to Fortitude Re. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 February 2026

  • Supplemental data and investor presentation: Supplemental financial data and the investor presentation are available in the Investors section of the company website. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income Source$13,124 million for 2025; $3,277 million in the fourth quarter
Book value per share Source$25.60 at December 31, 2025
Adjusted book value per share Source$39.83 at December 31, 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Less favorable mortality in the current quarter reduced core sources of income and Life Insurance results. Source
  • Operational: The annual actuarial assumption review reduced full-year pre-tax income by $167 million. Source
  • Financial: Realized losses on the Fortitude Re funds withheld embedded derivative drove the net loss and quarterly variance. Source
  • Financial: Changes in the fair value of market risk benefits added to realized losses in the year and quarter. Source
  • External: Federal Reserve rate cuts reduced net investment income, which offset part of the spread growth. Source
  • Demand: Lower annuity sales in Individual Retirement reduced premiums and deposits excluding transactional activity. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: The Life Fleet RBC ratio of 430-440% was described as well above target. Source
  • Met: The prior release said the company had delivered on every target it set at the time of the IPO.

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.