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Equitable Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net loss from reinsurance transaction: Net loss attributable to Holdings was $(1.3) billion, or $(4.47) per share, against $(132) million a year earlier. The company attributed it primarily to a one-time impact from the life reinsurance transaction. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating EPS of $1.48: Non-GAAP operating earnings were $455 million, or $1.48 per share, against $517 million and $1.58 a year earlier. Excluding notable items of $55 million, they were $510 million, or $1.67 per share. Source
  • Retirement earnings declined on margin: Retirement operating earnings were $401 million, against $416 million a year earlier. Adjusted for notable items they went from $414 million to $399 million. Source
  • Assets under management reached $1.1 trillion: Total AUM/A was $1.1 trillion at September 30, up 7% year over year, driven by positive net flows and higher markets over the prior twelve months. Source
  • Asset Management net outflows of $2.3 billion: Asset Management had net outflows of $2.3 billion, partly offset by $1.2 billion of Private Wealth inflows. Retail outflows were $1.7 billion and Institutional outflows were $1.8 billion. Source
  • Mortality experience less favorable: Notable items of $36 million in the current period were an adjustment for July mortality experience and one-time expense items. Source
  • Shareholder returns of $757 million: The company returned $757 million to shareholders, including $676 million of share repurchases. Management said this was above the 60-70% payout ratio. Source
  • Stifel advisor firm acquisition announced: Holdings announced on October 27 the acquisition of Stifel Independent Advisors, with more than 110 advisors and about $9 billion of client assets. The company says it will help scale Wealth Management. No closing date is given. Source
  • 2027 strategic targets on track: Management said the company remains on track for 2027 strategic targets of $150 million of net expense savings and $110 million of incremental general account investment income. Source

“Our underlying organic growth momentum, in combination with favorable market conditions, drove assets under management to a record $1.1 trillion”

Mark Pearson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net expense savings (2027 strategic target) Source2027$150 millionKept
Incremental general account investment income (2027 strategic target) Source2027$110 millionKept
Payout ratio Source2027 target60-70%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Acquisition of Stifel Independent Advisors announced on October 27. Source
  • New: Net investment income segment reporting methodology updated in the third quarter, with prior periods revised. Source
  • Ended: Individual Retirement and Group Retirement are shown as one Retirement segment, where the prior release reported them separately. Source
  • Guidance kept: The 2027 strategic targets for net expense savings and incremental general account investment income are the same as in the prior release. Source
  • Guidance kept: The 60-70% payout ratio target is the same as in the prior release. Source

Results and earnings per share

  • Net loss from reinsurance transaction: Net loss attributable to Holdings was $(1.3) billion, or $(4.47) per share, against $(132) million a year earlier. The company attributed it primarily to a one-time impact from the life reinsurance transaction. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating EPS of $1.48: Non-GAAP operating earnings were $455 million, or $1.48 per share, against $517 million and $1.58 a year earlier. Excluding notable items of $55 million, they were $510 million, or $1.67 per share. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 2%, per management: Management said EPS excluding notable items of $1.67 was up 2% from the prior year quarter. Reported non-GAAP EPS of $1.48 compared with $1.58 a year earlier. Source
  • Annual actuarial review reduced net income: The annual actuarial assumption update reduced net income by $63 million after tax and added $1 million to Non-GAAP operating earnings. Source

Segment operating earnings

  • Retirement earnings declined on margin: Retirement operating earnings were $401 million, against $416 million a year earlier. Adjusted for notable items they went from $414 million to $399 million. Source
  • Asset Management earnings rose on ownership: Asset Management operating earnings were $154 million, against $111 million, primarily driven by AB ownership rising from 62% to 69%, higher base fees and improved margins. Source
  • Wealth Management earnings higher on fees: Wealth Management operating earnings were $59 million, against $49 million, primarily due to higher advisory and distribution fees. Adjusted for notable items they were $55 million against $49 million. Source
  • Corporate and Other loss widened: Corporate and Other operating loss was $159 million, against $59 million a year earlier. After notable items, the loss was $98 million against $37 million. Source

“We are pleased with the growth trends across our businesses. We are also deploying $1.5 billion of capital which includes using proceeds from the life reinsurance transaction for incremental share repurchases, debt repayment and strategic growth investments.”

Mark Pearson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Flows and assets under management

  • Assets under management reached $1.1 trillion: Total AUM/A was $1.1 trillion at September 30, up 7% year over year, driven by positive net flows and higher markets over the prior twelve months. Source
  • Retirement premiums up, inflows lower: Retirement first year premiums were $5.5 billion, up 3%. Net inflows of $1.1 billion were lower than the $1.7 billion of the prior year quarter. Source
  • Asset Management net outflows of $2.3 billion: Asset Management had net outflows of $2.3 billion, partly offset by $1.2 billion of Private Wealth inflows. Retail outflows were $1.7 billion and Institutional outflows were $1.8 billion. Source
  • Reinsurance drove institutional outflows: Institutional net outflows were primarily driven by a one-time impact from the RGA transaction. Asset Management net inflows were $1.7 billion excluding that impact. Source
  • Advisory inflows of $2.2 billion: Wealth Management advisory net inflows were $2.2 billion, with total assets under administration of $118 billion. Advisor productivity rose 8% year over year. Source

Costs, mortality and notable items

  • Mortality experience less favorable: Notable items of $36 million in the current period were an adjustment for July mortality experience and one-time expense items. Source
  • How notable items are defined: Notable items cover the annual actuarial assumption review, approximate effects of significant variances from management's expectations, and other items the company says may not indicate future performance. Source
  • Other operating costs rose: Other operating costs and expenses were $440 million in the quarter, against $329 million. Nine-month figures were $1,817 million and $1,309 million. Source
  • Net derivative losses rose: Net derivative losses were $1,117 million in the quarter, against $714 million. Nine-month net derivative losses were $1,692 million, against $2,298 million. Source

Capital and returns to shareholders

  • Shareholder returns of $757 million: The company returned $757 million to shareholders, including $676 million of share repurchases. Management said this was above the 60-70% payout ratio. Source
  • $500 million of debt repaid: The company used $500 million for debt repayment. Long-term debt was $3,833 million at September 30, 2025, against $4,332 million at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Total capital deployment of $1.5 billion: Total capital deployment was $1.5 billion, which the release says includes buybacks, dividends, debt repayment and about $200 million for growth investments. Source
  • Holdings cash above minimum target: Cash and liquid assets at Holdings were $0.8 billion at quarter end, above the $500 million minimum target. Source

Acquisitions, private markets and targets

  • Stifel advisor firm acquisition announced: Holdings announced on October 27 the acquisition of Stifel Independent Advisors, with more than 110 advisors and about $9 billion of client assets. The company says it will help scale Wealth Management. No closing date is given. Source
  • 2027 strategic targets on track: Management said the company remains on track for 2027 strategic targets of $150 million of net expense savings and $110 million of incremental general account investment income. Source
  • AB Private Markets assets about $80 billion: AB Private Markets business has about $80 billion of assets under management, up from $77 billion in the prior release. Source
  • Assets transferred to RGA: Investment gains (losses) included $1.1 billion of assets transferred under the RGA reinsurance transaction for the three months ended September 30, 2025. Source

Segment reporting and accounting changes

  • Net investment income method revised: Direct net investment income is now based on book yields of assets tied to segments. Indirect net investment income is allocated on general account values and reserves. Prior periods were revised. Source
  • Spread lending moved into Retirement: Spread lending revenues and expenses are now primarily recorded within the Retirement segment. Previously they were recorded in Corporate and Other. Source
  • Separate Retirement subsegments no longer shown: The third quarter tables show a single Retirement segment, whereas the prior release reported Individual Retirement and Group Retirement separately. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Book value per common share including AOCI Source$(3.18)
Book value per common share excluding AOCI Source$18.23
Book value per common share excluding AOCI, AB at fair market value Source$33.59
Net investment income Source$1,343 million in Q3 2025 vs $1,308 million in Q3 2024

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Corporate and Other operating loss was driven by less favorable mortality experience, adjusted for notable items. Source
  • Financial: Retirement operating earnings declined due to lower net interest margin and higher DAC and commission expense. Source
  • Demand: Institutional net outflows in Asset Management were primarily driven by a one-time impact from the RGA life reinsurance transaction. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the company remains on track for these 2027 strategic targets. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it remains confident in achieving each of its 2027 financial targets. The release gives no status beyond that statement. Source
  • Not stated: The company has deployed over $17 billion of its $20 billion capital commitment to AB. 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.