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Jackson Financial Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted operating EPS rose to $7.55: Adjusted operating earnings were $517 million, or $7.55 per diluted share, against $433 million, or $6.16, a year earlier. Source
  • Retail Annuities earnings rose to $638M: Retail Annuities pretax adjusted operating earnings were $638 million, against $494 million. Management cited higher spread income from growth in average RILA and FIA AUM. Source
  • RILA sales set a record: RILA sales were $3.0 billion, up from $2.1 billion a year earlier. The second-quarter release reported RILA sales of $2.3 billion. Source
  • Free capital generation of $281M: Free capital generation was $281 million after the increased capital requirement supporting new sales growth. Source
  • Capital returned to shareholders rose 39%: Returned $291 million to common shareholders, up 39%: $230 million of repurchases and $61 million of common dividends. Source
  • Repurchase authorization raised by $1B: The Board approved a $1 billion increase to the existing common share repurchase authorization. Source
  • AARP exclusive annuity provider: Jackson was named exclusive provider of annuities for AARP members, through which a distinct set of annuities will be offered to millions of members. Source

“Our third quarter results reflect the strength of our business and consistent execution against our strategy.”

Don Cummings, Chief Executive Officer and President of Jackson

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Holding company minimum liquidity buffer Sourcenot stated$325 millionKept
Share repurchase authorization Sourcenot stated$1 billion increaseNew
Effective tax rate reference in non-GAAP reconciliation Sourcethird quarter of 202615%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Jackson was named exclusive provider of annuities for AARP members through the AARP Annuity Program; the prior release did not mention it. Source
  • New: The Board approved a $1 billion increase to the common share repurchase authorization; the prior release did not mention it. Source
  • New: The release names Don Cummings as Chief Executive Officer and President; the prior release named Laura Prieskorn in that role. Source
  • Guidance kept: The 15% tax rate reference appears in both the current release and the prior release. Source
  • Guidance kept: The holding company minimum liquidity buffer stays at $325 million, the same figure as in the prior release. Source

Earnings and per-share results

  • Adjusted operating EPS rose to $7.55: Adjusted operating earnings were $517 million, or $7.55 per diluted share, against $433 million, or $6.16, a year earlier. Source
  • Net income rose on hedging results: Net income to common shareholders was $847 million, or $12.37 per diluted share, against $65 million, or $0.92, a year earlier. Management pointed to a more favorable net hedging result. Source
  • Reinsured business gain of $337 million: The gain from business reinsured to third parties was $337 million, against a $176 million loss in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted book value per share rose: Adjusted book value per diluted share was $164.47 at September 30, 2026, up from $155.78 at December 31, 2025. Management attributed the increase to year-to-date adjusted operating earnings, partly offset by capital return. Source
  • Return on equity measures for nine months: Adjusted operating return on equity was 17.3% for the nine months, up from 14.0%. Return on equity attributable to common shareholders was 15.7%, up from 2.7%. Source

Segments and PPM

  • Retail Annuities earnings rose to $638M: Retail Annuities pretax adjusted operating earnings were $638 million, against $494 million. Management cited higher spread income from growth in average RILA and FIA AUM. Source
  • Closed blocks swung to a loss: Closed Life and Annuity Blocks recorded $(3) million pretax, against $15 million a year earlier. Management cited lower limited partnership income, partly offset by reserve decreases from runoff. Source
  • Corporate and Other loss widened: Corporate and Other recorded a pretax adjusted operating loss of $(46) million, against $(35) million, primarily reflecting higher interest expense. Source
  • PPM assets under management rose 13%: PPM AUM was $101.8 billion, up from $90.1 billion a year earlier, driven by growth in Jackson's general account and third-party AUM. Source

“Our robust in-force book of business delivered substantial progress toward our financial targets, with $281 million of free capital generation in the third quarter,”

Don Cummings, Chief Executive Officer and President of Jackson

Annuity sales by product

  • Total retail annuity sales hit record: Retail annuity sales were $6.5 billion, up 22% from the third quarter of 2025, excluding certain internal exchanges. Source
  • RILA sales set a record: RILA sales were $3.0 billion, up from $2.1 billion a year earlier. The second-quarter release reported RILA sales of $2.3 billion. Source
  • Variable annuity sales slipped slightly: VA sales were $2.8 billion, down slightly from $2.9 billion a year earlier. The second-quarter release reported VA sales of $2.7 billion. Source
  • Fixed and fixed index sales up 79%: FA and FIA sales were $796 million, up from $444 million, which management linked to the Jackson Income Assurance Suite. Second-quarter sales were $812 million. Source

Spread income and expenses

  • Spread income drove per-share gain: Management attributed the per-share increase to higher spread income from growth in average spread block AUM and a lower share count from repurchases. Source
  • Operating costs roughly flat: Operating costs and other expenses, net of deferrals, were $712 million, against $714 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net investment income rose: Total net investment income was $886 million, against $856 million. Income excluding funds withheld assets was $715 million, up from $653 million. Source
  • Market risk benefit gain of $1,071M: Market risk benefits produced a net gain of $1,071 million, against a $226 million gain a year earlier. Adjusted operating earnings exclude such market-linked changes. Source

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

Don Cummings, Chief Executive Officer and President of Jackson

Institutional sales and flows

  • Institutional earnings fell on lower spread income: Institutional Products pretax adjusted operating earnings were $23 million, against $31 million, reflecting lower spread income. Source
  • Institutional sales fell from second quarter: Institutional sales were $755 million, against $1.0 billion a year earlier and $1.4 billion in the second quarter. Management tied the level to continued demand for spread lending. Source
  • Institutional net flows reversed to $648M: Net flows were $648 million, against $(13) million in the second quarter. Total account value was $11.4 billion, up from $10.9 billion a year earlier. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Statutory capital at JNL rose: Statutory total adjusted capital at JNL was $5.9 billion at September 30, 2026, up from $5.8 billion at June 30, 2026. The RBC ratio was 524%, down from 538%. Source
  • Free capital generation of $281M: Free capital generation was $281 million after the increased capital requirement supporting new sales growth. Source
  • Holding company free cash flow was $275M: Holding company free cash flow was $275 million, reflecting a $325 million distribution from the operating company. Parent-only operating cash flow was $6 million. Source
  • Capital returned to shareholders rose 39%: Returned $291 million to common shareholders, up 39%: $230 million of repurchases and $61 million of common dividends. Source
  • Repurchase authorization raised by $1B: The Board approved a $1 billion increase to the existing common share repurchase authorization. Source

Distribution, partnerships and leadership

  • AARP exclusive annuity provider: Jackson was named exclusive provider of annuities for AARP members, through which a distinct set of annuities will be offered to millions of members. Source
  • PPM capabilities broaden sourced assets: Capabilities added at PPM, the asset management subsidiary, broaden the range of assets the company can source for spread products. Source
  • TPG partnership supports spread sales: Management said spread product sales are also supported by the strategic partnership with TPG Inc. Source
  • New CEO named in release: The release names Don Cummings as Chief Executive Officer and President; the prior release named Laura Prieskorn in that role. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • AARP annuities to become available: A distinct set of Jackson annuities will be available directly to AARP members through the program; no start date is given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total net investment income Source$886 million in the third quarter of 2026, against $856 million in the third quarter of 2025
Book value per share SourceAdjusted book value attributed to common shareholders of $164.47 per diluted share at September 30, 2026

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Results on reinsured business can vary widely from quarter to quarter; management said they do not impact statutory capital or free cash flow. Source
  • Financial: The RBC ratio at JNL fell to 524% from 538% because estimated required capital rose, which management linked to new business levels. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the in-force book made substantial progress toward financial targets; the documents do not state the targets. Source
  • Not stated: Holding company cash was described as well above the targeted minimum liquidity buffer. 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.