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Metlife Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted earnings rose 15 percent: Adjusted earnings reached $1.6 billion, up 15 percent reported and 14 percent in constant currency. Management attributed the increase to favorable underwriting and broad-based volume growth. Source
  • Group Benefits earnings up 25 percent: Group Benefits adjusted earnings were $503 million, up 25 percent, reflecting favorable underwriting and volume growth. Adjusted premiums excluding participating contracts were $5.1 billion, up 4 percent. Source
  • Asia earnings up 21 percent: Asia adjusted earnings were $420 million, up 21 percent reported and 25 percent in constant currency, on stronger equity markets, higher variable investment income and volume growth. Source
  • Expense ratio rose to 21.7 percent: Other expenses net of capitalization of DAC were $2,964 million, against $2,522 million. The expense ratio was 21.7 percent, against 19.8 percent in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Net investment income up 18 percent: Net investment income was $6.7 billion, up 18 percent, mainly from higher estimated fair value of certain securities that do not qualify as separate accounts under GAAP. Source
  • Share repurchases of $700 million: Share repurchases were about $700 million in the second quarter, as stated in the footnotes to the earnings tables. Source
  • Holding company cash $3.4 billion: Holding company cash and liquid assets were $3.4 billion at quarter end, within the company's target range. Source
  • Book value per share up 8 percent: Book value per share was $38.59, up 8 percent. Adjusted book value per share was $57.71, up 3 percent. Source

“Our New Frontier strategy is working. Disciplined execution is driving balanced growth”

Michel Khalaf, President and Chief Executive Officer

Earnings and income results

  • Adjusted earnings rose 15 percent: Adjusted earnings reached $1.6 billion, up 15 percent reported and 14 percent in constant currency. Management attributed the increase to favorable underwriting and broad-based volume growth. Source
  • Net income up 1 percent: Net income available to common shareholders was $705 million, up 1 percent, or $1.09 per diluted share, up 6 percent. Higher adjusted earnings were partly offset by investment-related items. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 20 percent: Adjusted earnings per share were $2.43, up 20 percent from $2.02 in the prior-year quarter. Total notable items were zero in both quarters. Source
  • Premiums and fees rose 7 percent: Premiums, fees and other revenues were $13.7 billion, up 7 percent. Adjusted premiums excluding pension risk transfers were $13.0 billion, up 5 percent, with growth in every operating segment. Source

Segment adjusted earnings

  • Group Benefits earnings up 25 percent: Group Benefits adjusted earnings were $503 million, up 25 percent, reflecting favorable underwriting and volume growth. Adjusted premiums excluding participating contracts were $5.1 billion, up 4 percent. Source
  • RIS earnings up 2 percent: Retirement and Income Solutions adjusted earnings were $377 million, up 2 percent, driven by favorable recurring interest margins and volume growth. Source
  • Asia earnings up 21 percent: Asia adjusted earnings were $420 million, up 21 percent reported and 25 percent in constant currency, on stronger equity markets, higher variable investment income and volume growth. Source
  • Latin America earnings up 15 percent: Latin America adjusted earnings were $268 million, up 15 percent reported and 4 percent in constant currency. Volume growth and favorable market factors, including encaje returns and taxes, were partly offset by the Mexico value-added tax change. Source
  • EMEA earnings up 8 percent: EMEA adjusted earnings were $108 million, up 8 percent reported and 11 percent in constant currency, driven by volume growth, partly offset by higher expenses. Source
  • MIM earnings up 6 percent: MetLife Investment Management adjusted earnings were $57 million, up 6 percent, on business growth and expense management. Source

“Our scale, diversification and financial strength set MetLife apart, and this quarter further reinforces our ability to create value for shareholders across cycles, while keeping customers at the center of everything we do.”

Michel Khalaf, President and Chief Executive Officer

Sales and product growth

  • Asia sales up 17 percent: Asia sales were $794 million, up 17 percent in constant currency, with performance described as spanning the region. Source
  • Latin America sales through third parties: Latin America sales were $456 million, up 9 percent in constant currency, mainly from third-party distribution, particularly in Brazil, on the Xcelerator platform. Source
  • EMEA sales up 15 percent: EMEA sales were $346 million, up 15 percent in constant currency, which management described as continued broad-based growth. Source
  • RIS growth from longevity reinsurance: RIS adjusted PFOs excluding PRT were $1.3 billion, up 19 percent, mainly from U.K. longevity reinsurance and structured settlement sales. Total retained liability exposure grew 3 percent. Source

Expense ratios and corporate costs

  • Expense ratio rose to 21.7 percent: Other expenses net of capitalization of DAC were $2,964 million, against $2,522 million. The expense ratio was 21.7 percent, against 19.8 percent in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Corporate and Other loss widened: Corporate & Other adjusted loss was $160 million, compared with an adjusted loss of $142 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted expense ratio excluding PRT: The adjusted expense ratio, excluding notable items and PRT, was 20.8 percent, against 19.8 percent in the prior-year quarter. Source

Investment income and investment results

  • Net investment income up 18 percent: Net investment income was $6.7 billion, up 18 percent, mainly from higher estimated fair value of certain securities that do not qualify as separate accounts under GAAP. Source
  • Adjusted investment income up 7 percent: Adjusted net investment income was $5.6 billion, up 7 percent, reflecting asset growth and investing in a higher-rate environment. Source
  • Variable investment income up 18 percent: Variable investment income increased 18 percent to $231 million. Source
  • Net investment losses after tax: Net investment losses were $338 million after tax, reflecting normal trading activity and a stable credit environment. Source
  • Net derivative losses after tax: Net derivative losses were $610 million after tax, driven by stronger equity markets, higher long-term interest rates and a strengthening U.S. dollar. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Share repurchases of $700 million: Share repurchases were about $700 million in the second quarter, as stated in the footnotes to the earnings tables. Source
  • Year-to-date buybacks reach $1.7 billion: Year-to-date share repurchases total about $1.7 billion, including about $225 million in July 2026. Source
  • Common dividends about $400 million: Common stock dividends of about $400 million were paid in the three months ended June 30, 2026. Total returns to shareholders were over $1.1 billion. Source
  • Holding company cash $3.4 billion: Holding company cash and liquid assets were $3.4 billion at quarter end, within the company's target range. Source
  • Statutory adjusted capital about $16.4 billion: Total U.S. statutory adjusted capital on an NAIC basis is expected to be about $16.4 billion at June 30, 2026, up 1 percent from $16.2 billion at March 31, 2026. Source

Book value and return on equity

  • Book value per share up 8 percent: Book value per share was $38.59, up 8 percent. Adjusted book value per share was $57.71, up 3 percent. Source
  • Adjusted return on equity 17 percent: Return on equity was 11.5 percent, against 11.7 percent a year earlier. Adjusted return on equity was 17.0 percent, against 14.6 percent. Source
  • Common shares outstanding decline: Common shares outstanding were 637.8 million at June 30, 2026, against 666.8 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy, acquisitions and asset base

  • PineBridge lifts asset management revenue: MetLife Investment Management other revenues were $317 million, up 34 percent, mainly from the acquisition of PineBridge Investments and business growth. Source
  • Assets under management $748.1 billion: Total assets under management for MetLife Investment Management were $748.1 billion, up 20 percent. Source
  • Asia general account assets grow: Asia general account assets under management, at amortized cost, were $141.2 billion, up 6 percent in constant currency. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income Source$6.7 billion
Book value per share Source$38.59

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Latin America adjusted earnings were partly offset by the Mexico value-added tax change. Source
  • Financial: Lower variable investment income in RIS partly offset that segment's earnings growth. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the direct expense ratio, excluding notable items and PRT, is on track for the yearly target it set. 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.