ZACKS·2026-03-11 17:56Industry Overview - The Zacks Life Insurance industry includes companies providing life insurance, annuities, and retirement products, with the global life insurance market projected to grow to $7.13 trillion by 2026 and $11 trillion by 2032, at a CAGR of 7.5% [3] - Emerging markets are expected to experience faster growth due to low insurance penetration, while developed markets may see slower growth due to market maturity [3] - The industry is witnessing accelerated technology adoption, but rising mortality or loss cost trends may impact profitability [3] Trends Impacting the Industry - The Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates, which may challenge life insurers as they invest premiums to meet guaranteed obligations, leading to muted investment returns [4][2] - Life insurers are increasingly combining insurance with wealth management and healthcare services to cater to customer preferences for "living" benefits [5] - The shift towards digital platforms and online sales is evident, with insurers leveraging AI and machine learning for customized coverages and premium calculations [6][7] Current Performance and Valuation - The Zacks Life Insurance industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 88, placing it in the top 36% of 255 Zacks industries, indicating strong near-term prospects [8] - Year-to-date, the Life Insurance industry has underperformed the S&P 500 and Finance sector, with a collective gain of 6% compared to 14.1% for the Finance sector and 24.2% for the S&P 500 [10] - The industry is trading at a trailing 12-month price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 1.81X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 7.96X and the Finance sector's 4.14X [13] Company Highlights - AIA Group Limited: Based in Hong Kong, AIA is expected to see earnings growth of 28.3% and 13.8% in 2026 and 2027, respectively [19] - Manulife Financial Corporation: Headquartered in Canada, MFC anticipates core EPS growth of 10% to 12% over the medium term, with earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 indicating increases of 9% and 8.5% [22][23] - Sun Life Financial: The third largest insurer in Canada, Sun Life aims for underlying growth of 8-10% and has earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 showing increases of 7.5% and 11.1% [26][27] - Reinsurance Group of America: A leading global provider of life and health reinsurance, RGA is expected to benefit from better pricing and has earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 indicating increases of 15.8% and 7.7% [28][29]