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Jackson Financial Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record adjusted earnings per share: Adjusted operating earnings were $513 million, or a record $7.30 per diluted share, against $350 million, or $4.87, a year earlier. Excluding notable items, the figure was $7.68 against $4.97. Source
  • Record RILA sales of $2.3 billion: Management described RILA sales as a record, up from $1.4 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Retail Annuities earnings increased: Retail Annuities pretax adjusted operating earnings were $621 million, up from $417 million, on higher spread income from RILA and FIA AUM and higher VA fee income. Source
  • PPM assets grew 21%: PPM assets under management reached $101.1 billion, up from $83.5 billion, with growth in Jackson's general account and third-party AUM. Source
  • Statutory capital rose to $5.8 billion: Statutory total adjusted capital at JNL was $5.8 billion, up from $5.5 billion, supported by in-force earnings and offset by a $325 million distribution to the parent. Source
  • Returned $290 million to shareholders: Common returns were $290 million, up 34%, through $227 million of repurchases and $63 million of dividends. Source

“We delivered record earnings per share and 34% growth in retail annuity sales compared to the same period last year.”

Laura Prieskorn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jackson

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Holding company minimum liquidity buffer SourceAs of June 30, 2026$325 millionRaised from $250 million
Effective tax rate (adjusted earnings reconciliation) SourceNot stated15%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Management raised its targeted minimum liquidity buffer at the holding company to $325 million, from $250 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • New: Management reported a $750 million senior debt issuance in the second quarter, with proceeds held in holding company liquidity. Source

Earnings and growth drivers

  • Record adjusted earnings per share: Adjusted operating earnings were $513 million, or a record $7.30 per diluted share, against $350 million, or $4.87, a year earlier. Excluding notable items, the figure was $7.68 against $4.97. Source
  • Net income rose to $644 million: Net income attributable to common shareholders was $644 million, or $9.16 per diluted share, against $168 million, or $2.34, in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Spread and fee income drove results: Management attributed the higher per-share figure to spread income on growth in average RILA, FIA and Institutional AUM, fee income on VA AUM, and a lower share count. Source
  • Six-month adjusted return on equity rose: Adjusted operating return on equity attributable to common shareholders was 16.5% for the six months, up from 13.1% in the first half of 2025. Source

Retail annuity sales mix

  • Record RILA sales of $2.3 billion: Management described RILA sales as a record, up from $1.4 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Variable annuity sales up 8%: Variable annuity sales were $2.7 billion, up from $2.5 billion, reflecting higher sales of products without lifetime benefits. Source
  • Fixed and fixed index sales rose 73%: Fixed and fixed index annuity sales were $812 million, up 73%, driven by the Jackson Income Assurance FIA. Source

“We believe we are well positioned for the second half of 2026 and remain committed to helping Americans achieve financial freedom for life.”

Laura Prieskorn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jackson

Segment results

  • Retail Annuities earnings increased: Retail Annuities pretax adjusted operating earnings were $621 million, up from $417 million, on higher spread income from RILA and FIA AUM and higher VA fee income. Source
  • Institutional sales reached $1.4 billion: Institutional Products sales were $1.4 billion, up from $930 million; pretax adjusted operating earnings were $29 million, against $19 million. Source
  • Closed blocks moved to a loss: Closed Life and Annuity Blocks posted a $(10) million pretax adjusted operating loss, against $22 million of income a year earlier, mainly on lower limited partnership income. Source
  • Corporate and Other loss narrowed: Corporate and Other recorded a pretax adjusted operating loss of $(22) million, against $(52) million, on higher net investment income and lower G&A expenses. Source
  • Total pretax earnings rose to $618 million: Total pretax adjusted operating earnings were $618 million, against $406 million a year earlier. Source

Spread assets and PPM growth

  • PPM assets grew 21%: PPM assets under management reached $101.1 billion, up from $83.5 billion, with growth in Jackson's general account and third-party AUM. Source
  • Higher-yield sourcing supports spread sales: Management tied spread product sales to PPM capabilities for sourcing higher-yielding assets and to its strategic partnership with TPG. Source
  • Robust demand for spread lending: Management said Institutional Products growth reflects its ability to capitalize on robust demand for spread lending. Source
  • Investment income excluding funds withheld rose: Net investment income excluding funds withheld assets was $727 million, up from $491 million a year earlier. Source

“Our robust in-force book of business drove strong progress toward our financial targets”

Laura Prieskorn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jackson

Costs, hedging and pretax items

  • Operating costs rose slightly: Operating costs and other expenses, net of deferrals, were $687 million, against $681 million a year earlier. Source
  • Non-operating adjustments removed income: Non-operating adjustments removed $42 million of net income in the second quarter, against $223 million of net losses added back a year earlier. Source
  • Pretax income reached $665 million: GAAP pretax income was $665 million, against $189 million, and income tax expense was $5 million, against $4 million. Source

Capital and liquidity

  • Statutory capital rose to $5.8 billion: Statutory total adjusted capital at JNL was $5.8 billion, up from $5.5 billion, supported by in-force earnings and offset by a $325 million distribution to the parent. Source
  • Operating company RBC ratio at 538%: JNL's estimated RBC ratio was 538% at June 30, 2026, alongside total adjusted capital of $5.8 billion. Source
  • Holding company cash near $1.4 billion: Holding company cash and highly liquid securities were nearly $1.4 billion, up from about $650 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Parent free cash flow of $287 million: Parent company operating cash use was $(27) million, against $(24) million; free cash flow was $287 million, against $290 million. Source

Shareholder returns and book value

  • Returned $290 million to shareholders: Common returns were $290 million, up 34%, through $227 million of repurchases and $63 million of dividends. Source
  • Book value per diluted share $136.10: Total common shareholders' equity was $9.4 billion, or $136.10 per diluted share, against $138.17 at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Adjusted book value rose to $156.12: Adjusted book value per diluted share was $156.12, up from $155.78 at December 31; management cited year-to-date adjusted operating earnings as the main driver. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Weighted average diluted shares were 70,292,020, against 71,938,152 a year earlier, reflecting repurchases. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 August 2026

  • Holding company proceeds may retire notes: Proceeds of the $750 million senior debt issuance can be used to retire the $400 million 2027 senior notes and the $250 million 2027 JNL surplus notes at or before maturity. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income (total net investment income) Source$928 million in the second quarter of 2026
Book value per share Source$136.10 per diluted share at June 30, 2026
Adjusted book value per share Source$156.12 per diluted share at June 30, 2026

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: The RBC ratio declined because estimated company action level required capital increased. Source
  • Financial: Higher market-related expenses partly offset the Retail Annuities earnings gain. Source
  • External: Net hedging results depend on market volatility, which management said was lower this quarter than a year earlier. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: In the prior quarter, management said it expected to build on that momentum throughout 2026.
  • Not stated: In the prior quarter, management said it had made progress toward its financial targets, citing free capital generation.

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.