Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: BHF) is a leading entity in the financial services industry, with a focus on life insurance and annuities. Competing against giants like MetLife and Prudential Financial, Brighthouse Financial strives to offer innovative financial security solutions.On February 23, 2026, Brighthouse Financial disclosed its earnings, revealing an EPS of $3.93, which did not meet the expected $5.19. This underachievement is significant, particularly when juxtaposed with the fourth quarter ...

Core Viewpoint - Brighthouse Financial Inc. is positioned as an undervalued investment opportunity in the financial services sector, particularly in life insurance and annuities, with strong projected earnings and financial health indicators [1][2][4]. Financial Performance - The anticipated earnings per share (EPS) for Brighthouse Financial is $5.19, with projected revenue of approximately $2.24 billion [1][5]. - Analysts have revised their forecasts, expecting higher earnings for the fourth quarter, indicating positive market sentiment [2]. Valuation Metrics - The company's low price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 3.77 suggests it is undervalued compared to its earnings, making it attractive for value investors [2][5]. - Brighthouse Financial's price-to-sales ratio of 0.62 indicates that the stock is trading at a low price relative to its sales, further supporting the notion of undervaluation [3]. - The enterprise value to sales ratio of 0.03 reflects a modest valuation, suggesting a potential buying opportunity for investors [3]. Financial Health - The strong earnings yield of 26.55% highlights a solid return on investment, underscoring the company's financial health [4][5]. - The enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio of 1.22 indicates efficient cash flow generation, which is crucial for maintaining operations and supporting future growth [4]. - The debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50 suggests a moderate level of debt, manageable given the company's strong liquidity position, positioning it well for future growth and investment opportunities [4].

Investor Update Winter 2025 Disclaimer This presentation contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Because such statements are based on expectatio ...

Despite what traditional financial advice might dictate, the average retiree isn’t sitting on a million-dollar nest egg. A recent report from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies found that only 17% of current retirees have total household savings of $1 million or more, excluding home equity. Here’s how much the average retiree actually has saved, plus where they’re keeping their money. Average Retirement Savings: Just $126K The report found that the estimated median total household savings f ...

Free cash flow for 2025 totaled EUR 829 million , consistent with the company’s target. Aegon proposed a final dividend of EUR 0.21 per common share, bringing the full-year dividend to EUR 0.40 per share, up 14% from 2024 and in line with its stated target. Management also pointed to EUR 400 million of share buybacks executed in the second half of 2025 and said it has begun the first half of a new EUR 400 million buyback program for 2026 that was announced at its 2025 Capital Markets Day.CEO Lard Friese sai ...

Aegon (NYSE:AEG) H2 2025 Earnings call February 19, 2026 03:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsDavid Barma - Executive Director of Equity ResearchDuncan Russell - CFOFarooq Hanif - Head of European Insurance Equity ResearchIain Pearce - Executive Director of Insurance Equity ResearchJason Kalamboussis - Executive DirectorLard Friese - CEOYves Cormier - Head of Investor RelationsConference Call ParticipantsFarquhar Murray - Senior AnalystMichael Huttner - Insurance Equity Research AnalystNasib Ahmed - European Ins ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of proactive financial management to navigate unexpected hardships and maintain financial stability Group 1: Retirement Savings - It is recommended to automate savings by contributing at least 10% (preferably 20%) of each paycheck into retirement plans to avoid human error and temptation [2] - Auto-increasing 401(k) contributions annually can help individuals maximize their retirement savings, even if they do not have access to a workplace plan [3] Group 2: Longevity and Income Sources - Individuals should consider their life expectancy when planning for retirement, as having a guaranteed lifetime income source is crucial for financial resilience [4] - Investing in annuities can be a viable option to ensure that individuals do not outlive their nest egg, with options available both within workplace plans and externally [5] Group 3: Emergency Funds - Maintaining an emergency fund with three to six months' worth of expenses is essential for gracefully navigating financial crises [6]

Core Insights - Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of $2.21, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 18.7% and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 15.7% [1][9] - Adjusted operating revenues rose 5.7% year over year to $4.9 billion, surpassing the consensus mark by 1% [1][9] Financial Performance - The increase in quarterly results was driven by higher insurance premiums, strong annuity deposits, and solid Life Insurance performance, alongside higher net investment income and improved mortality results [2] - Insurance premiums increased by 5.4% year over year to $1.7 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1% [3] - Net investment income grew 11% year over year to $1.6 billion, exceeding the consensus mark by 6.7% [3] - Total expenses rose 35.2% year over year to $4 billion, while net income was reported at $754 million, down from $1.7 billion in the prior-year quarter [4] Segment Performance - The Annuities segment's operating income was $311 million, up 2.6% year over year, with operating revenues increasing by 7% to $1.3 billion [6] - The Life Insurance unit recorded an operating income of $77 million, improving from a loss of $15 million in the prior year, with operating revenues growing 2.2% to $1.6 billion [7] - The Group Protection segment's operating income increased 1.9% year over year to $109 million, with operating revenues totaling $1.5 billion, an 8.3% year-over-year improvement [8] - The Retirement Plan Services segment reported an operating income of $46 million, rising 7% year over year, with operating revenues increasing 4.5% to $352 million [10] Financial Position - As of December 31, 2025, Lincoln National had cash and invested cash of $9.5 billion, up from $5.8 billion at the end of 2024, and total assets of $417.2 billion, an increase from $390.8 billion [12] - Long-term debt remained stable at $5.9 billion, while total stockholders' equity rose to $10.9 billion from $8.3 billion at the end of 2024 [12] - Book value per share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income, was $73.10, up from $72.06 at the end of 2024 [13] Full-Year Update - For the full year 2025, Lincoln National reported adjusted earnings per share of $8.23, a 16.4% increase year over year, with adjusted operating revenues improving 4.1% to $19.1 billion [15] - The operating revenues in the Annuities, Life Insurance, Group Protection, and Retirement Plan Services segments saw year-over-year improvements of 1.9%, 3.1%, 6.7%, and 2.4%, respectively [15] 2026 Outlook - In 2026, the Annuities, Life Insurance, Group Protection, and Retirement Plan Services units are projected to account for 58-60%, 8-9%, 24-25%, and 8-9% of the company's total operating income earnings, respectively [16] - Management aims to maintain an RBC ratio of over 420% in both 2026 and the long term [16]

Core Viewpoint - Chesnara is set to acquire Scottish Widows Europe from Lloyds Banking Group, which is expected to enhance the company's cash generation and maintain strong solvency ratios post-transaction [1][3][4]. Financial Metrics - The pro forma solvency coverage ratio for Chesnara is projected at 173%, exceeding the company's operational range [1]. - The acquisition is anticipated to add approximately EUR 250 million in lifetime cash generation, with around EUR 100 million expected in the first five years [3][5]. - The agreed consideration for the acquisition is EUR 110 million, representing about 64% of Scottish Widows Europe's eligible own funds [3]. Strategic Rationale - Chesnara views the acquisition as a continuation of its M&A momentum, following the HSBC Life U.K. acquisition completed in January [4]. - The company aims to leverage its experience and local management team to integrate Scottish Widows Europe into its existing operations [2][8]. Market Context - Chesnara identifies Luxembourg as an attractive market due to its stable regulatory environment and significant life insurance liabilities [7]. - The market is characterized as fragmented, with opportunities for consolidation, which Chesnara aims to capitalize on [8]. Cash Flow and Dividend Implications - The acquisition is expected to increase the group's cash flow profile by about 20% on average over the first five years [5]. - The long-term cash generation from this acquisition is expected to support the sustainability of dividends, with plans to increase dividends by 6% by full-year 2025 [14]. Regulatory and Operational Considerations - The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals, with Chesnara already in discussions with the Luxembourg regulator [2]. - The transaction will be fully funded from available cash resources, including proceeds from a previous issuance [2].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, the company achieved record financial results with Distributable Earnings before realizations of $5.4 billion, representing an 11% increase over the prior year, and total Distributable Earnings of $6 billion [7][15] - The total net income for the year was $3.2 billion, with Distributable Earnings per share of $2.27 before realizations and $2.54 including realizations [15] - The company raised $112 billion of capital during the year, with fee-bearing capital increasing by 12% to over $600 billion, driving a 22% increase in Fee-Related Earnings to $3 billion [15][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Asset Management business generated $2.8 billion of Distributable Earnings, or $1.17 per share, reflecting strong investor demand for fund offerings [15] - The Wealth Solutions business delivered $1.7 billion of Distributable Earnings, a 24% increase over the prior year, driven by $20 billion of annuity sales and improved profitability in the P&C business [16][24] - Operating businesses generated Distributable Earnings of $1.6 billion, supported by strong fundamentals across the platform, with Renewable Power and Transition and Infrastructure businesses seeing a 14% increase in Operating Funds from Operations [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The market environment showed strong business fundamentals, with improved capital markets and increased transaction activity, leading to expectations that real assets will continue to outperform [8][11] - In the real estate sector, nearly 17 million square feet of office leases were signed globally, with net rents averaging 18% higher than expiring leases [18] - The company’s Super Core and Core Plus portfolios finished the year with over 95% occupancy, poised for robust NOI growth in 2026 [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on streamlining and consolidating its market capitalizations, with plans to merge Brookfield Corporation with its sister insurance entity, BNT, to enhance growth potential [12][13] - The strategic initiatives advanced in 2025 are expected to fuel meaningful momentum, with a strong capital base of $180 billion and significant access to capital [22][14] - The company aims to maintain a long-term focus on value creation, emphasizing the importance of avoiding disruption to the compounding process [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to deliver financial results and compound value for shareholders, anticipating 2026 to be another strong year [14] - The company highlighted the importance of maintaining excess capital to navigate market cycles and capitalize on investment opportunities [10] - Management noted that the current market sentiment is beginning to realign with strong underlying fundamentals, particularly in real estate [11] Other Important Information - The company returned $1.6 billion to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share buybacks, repurchasing over $1 billion of Class A shares at a significant discount to intrinsic value [21] - A 17% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.07 per share was declared, reflecting a commitment to returning capital to shareholders while maintaining a low payout ratio [23][66] Q&A Session Summary Question: Scaling the P&C business and its profitability - Management discussed the repositioning of the P&C business to generate strong profits and the potential for M&A opportunities as markets soften, with a target of $20 billion-$25 billion of float by the end of the decade [32][35] Question: Decision to simplify the structure and collapse BNT - Management explained that the decision to streamline and simplify the structure is based on the evolution of public markets and the growth potential of the insurance business, aiming to fully benefit from the broader capital base [38][41] Question: Outlook for the Carry into 2026 - Management indicated a strong pipeline for monetizations and expects an increase in Carry realizations in the second half of the year, with good valuations for assets being brought to market [62][63] Question: Dividend increase and its implications - Management clarified that the 17% dividend increase is not a shift in strategy but a result of share splits and a low payout ratio, maintaining a focus on reinvesting capital back into the business [66][67]