Core Insights - Equitable reported mixed Q2 2025 earnings, with adjusted non-GAAP EPS of $1.41 exceeding estimates but revenue falling short significantly [1][2] - Year-over-year comparisons show a sharp decline in both reported revenue and EPS, with revenue down nearly 33% and non-GAAP EPS down 23% [1][2] - A major life reinsurance deal with RGA completed on July 31, 2025, significantly reduced mortality risk and enhanced capital flexibility [1][5] Financial Performance - Q2 2025 non-GAAP EPS was $1.10, below the $1.28 estimate and down 23.1% from Q2 2024's $1.43 [2] - Revenue for Q2 2025 was $2.36 billion, a decline of 32.8% from the previous year [2] - Non-GAAP operating earnings were $352 million, down 28.9% from $495 million in Q2 2024 [2] - Total assets under management/administration increased to $1.07 trillion, up 8.4% year-over-year [2] Business Segments Overview - Equitable operates across three main business lines: retirement, asset management, and affiliated distribution, structured into six segments [3] - The Retirement segment saw net inflows of $1.7 billion, with first-year premiums up 7% [6] - Wealth Management achieved advisory net inflows of $2.0 billion and a 16% increase in assets under administration to $110 billion [6][11] - The Asset Management segment ended with $829.1 billion in AUM, but faced significant net outflows totaling $6.7 billion [7] Strategic Developments - The completion of the RGA reinsurance deal reduced mortality risk exposure by 75% and unlocked over $2 billion in value [5] - Equitable plans to utilize freed capital for share buybacks, debt reduction, and to strengthen core businesses [5] - The company returned $318 million to shareholders, exceeding its payout target range [9] Future Outlook - Management reaffirmed multi-year targets, including $2 billion in annual cash generation and 12-15% compound annual earnings growth through fiscal 2027 [12] - Expected growth and earnings acceleration in the second half of fiscal 2025, contingent on normalized capital markets [12] - Investors should monitor trends in net flows within the Asset Management segment and the impact of mortality volatility [13]

Lincoln National (LNC 11.43%), a major provider of insurance, annuities, and retirement plan services, released its second quarter results on July 31, 2025. The standout headline was non-GAAP earnings per share of $2.36 in Q2 2025, exceeding analyst expectations by 25.5%. However, non-GAAP revenue was $4.308 billion, falling short of the $4.66 billion consensus estimate by 7.6%. The report showed clear improvement in operating margins and segment performance, especially in Group Protection, where operating ...