Brighthouse Financial Q1 Earnings Miss Estimates on Higher Expenses

Core Viewpoint - Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF) reported a first-quarter 2025 adjusted net income of $4.17 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.6%, with a year-over-year decline of 1.8% in the bottom line, attributed to lower premiums and rising expenses, although offset by improved adjusted net investment income [1][2] Financial Performance - Total operating revenues reached $2.2 billion, reflecting a 6.1% increase year over year, driven by higher universal life and investment-type product policy fees and net investment income [1] - Premiums amounted to $186 million, down 7.9% year over year, compared to an estimate of $218.3 million [2] - Adjusted net investment income was $1.3 billion, up 2% year over year, primarily due to asset growth, with an investment income yield of 4.25% [2] - Total expenses were $2.7 billion, nearly four times higher year over year, exceeding the estimate of $995.5 million [2] Segment Performance - Annuities segment reported adjusted operating income of $314 million, a slight increase of 0.3% year over year, while annuity sales decreased by 21% to $2.3 billion, mainly due to lower fixed annuity sales [3] - Life insurance segment achieved adjusted operating earnings of $9 million, recovering from a loss of $36 million in the previous year, with life insurance sales increasing by 24% quarter over quarter to $36 million [4] - Run-off segment recorded an adjusted operating loss of $64 million, wider than the previous year's loss of $34 million, attributed to lower net investment income [4] - Corporate & Other segment incurred an adjusted operating loss of $24 million, an improvement from a loss of $34 million in the prior year [5] Financial Position - Cash and cash equivalents stood at $4.7 billion, a 22% increase year over year [6] - Shareholders' equity reached $5.2 billion, up 25% year over year [6] - Book value per share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income, was $141.87 as of March 31, 2025, reflecting a 12.3% increase year over year [6] - Statutory combined total adjusted capital was $5.5 billion, down 8.3% year over year, with an estimated combined risk-based capital ratio of 420-440% [6] Share Buyback Activity - Brighthouse Financial repurchased shares worth $59 million in the first quarter of 2025, with an additional $26 million on a trade date basis through May 6, 2025 [7]