Summary of Corebridge Financial (CRBD) 2025 Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Corebridge Financial (CRBD) - **Industry**: Life Insurance and Retirement Solutions - **Key Executives**: Kevin Hogan (CEO), Elias Hebbeyeb (CFO) Key Points and Arguments Company Performance and Strategy - Corebridge has successfully executed its strategies since its IPO three years ago, achieving a 12-14% Return on Equity (ROE) in 2024, as initially targeted [3][4] - The company has maintained a payout ratio of 60-65% and a Risk-Based Capital (RBC) ratio of 400%, while growing its business [4] - Annual sales volume has increased by approximately 30% since the IPO [5] - Corebridge has returned $6 billion to shareholders since the IPO, demonstrating strong capital management [5] Variable Annuity Transaction - Corebridge exited its entire variable annuity business, which had been in decline for eight years, through a transaction with Venerable, generating $2.1 billion in proceeds [8][10] - The transaction was seen as a significant value creation opportunity, with a multiple of around seven times earnings [10] - Proceeds from the transaction will primarily be used for shareholder buybacks and further organic growth investments [11] Expense Management - The CoreBridge Forward program has successfully reduced annual expenses by $400 million through outsourcing, IT modernization, and improved procurement practices [15][16][17] - The company aims to continue driving down unit costs through further automation and digitization [18] Market Trends and Growth Opportunities - The aging population in the U.S. is a significant driver for the annuity market, with 4 million people turning 65 annually [22][23] - There is a growing awareness among individuals about the need for self-managed retirement planning, contributing to increased demand for annuities [23] - The adviser community is becoming more professionalized, further supporting the growth of fixed income investments [24] Competitive Environment - Corebridge is currently achieving targeted margins despite increased competition in the annuity space [27] - The company has a diverse product range and strong relationships with distribution partners, allowing it to navigate competitive cycles effectively [28][29] Group Retirement Business - There is a gradual shift from spread-based to fee-based income in the group retirement business, with fee income now representing a significant portion of earnings [34][36] - Corebridge is investing in its adviser base and digital tools to enhance productivity and efficiency [37] Pension Risk Transfer Market - The pipeline for U.S. pension risk transfer remains strong, despite some slowdowns due to external volatility [43][44] - Corebridge focuses on full plan terminations, which are more economically attractive [45] Life Insurance Business - Corebridge has outperformed the market in life insurance, driven by investments in automated underwriting and a focus on middle-market products [51] - The company has a competitive advantage due to its digital capabilities and disciplined risk management [52] Collaboration with Nippon Life - Corebridge is exploring mutual commercial opportunities with Nippon Life, focusing on product development, investments, and digital technologies [53][54] Capital Deployment and M&A - Corebridge is focused on shareholder value creation through dividends and buybacks, with no immediate M&A opportunities identified [59][60] Additional Important Insights - The company has simplified its structure by divesting international subsidiaries and focusing on U.S. retirement and life insurance [6] - Corebridge's automated underwriting process allows 80% of transactions to be processed without human intervention, enhancing efficiency [52] - The company is actively exploring in-plan annuity opportunities, recognizing the potential for growth in this area [40][42]

Financial Performance - GAAP earnings reached $168 million, translating to $234 per share[8,9,10,11] - Adjusted Operating Earnings, a non-GAAP measure, amounted to $350 million, or $487 per share[11] - Free cash flow stood at $290 million[11] - The company returned $216 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases[11] Capital & Liquidity - Jackson National Life Insurance Company (JNLIC) estimated risk-based capital (RBC) ratio was 566%[11] - Holding company cash and highly liquid securities exceeded $700 million[15] Sales & Flows - Retail annuity sales increased by 9% compared to the first quarter of 2025[12,13] - Fixed and fixed index annuity sales totaled $470 million[30] Investment Portfolio - The investment portfolio totaled $49 billion under U S GAAP[62] - The statutory investment portfolio totaled $48 billion[67]

Core Points - Corebridge Financial, Inc. (CRBG) shares increased by 7.6% following the release of first-quarter 2025 results, which showed better-than-expected earnings driven by higher investment income and reduced expenses, despite declines in Life Insurance and institutional market premiums and deposits [1][2] - The company reported operating earnings per share of $1.16, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.9%, and reflecting a 5.5% year-over-year increase [2] - Adjusted revenues fell 19% year over year to $4.7 billion, missing the consensus estimate by 9.2% [2] Operational Performance - Premiums and deposits totaled $9.3 billion, down 12% year over year, with a 6% decline when excluding transactional activity and international business sales, primarily due to lower fixed annuity deposits [3] - Net investment income rose by 10.6% year over year to $2.9 billion, attributed to increased base portfolio income and variable investment income [3] - Total benefits and expenses decreased by 7.6% year over year to $4.5 billion, driven by lower policyholder benefits and general operating expenses [4] Segment Performance - **Individual Retirement**: Premiums and deposits were $4.7 billion, down 3% year over year, while fee income increased by 0.3% to $308 million [5] - **Group Retirement**: Premiums and deposits fell 11% year over year to $1.8 billion, with fee income improving by 2.6% to $195 million [7] - **Life Insurance**: Premiums and deposits decreased by 22% year over year to $856 million, but adjusted pre-tax operating income doubled to $108 million due to improved underwriting margins [8] - **Institutional Markets**: Premiums and deposits dropped 25% year over year to $1.9 billion, with fee income declining by 6.3% to $15 million [9] Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, Corebridge had a cash balance of $393 million, down from $806 million at the end of 2024, while total investments increased to $250.2 billion from $243.8 billion [12] - Total assets rose to $390 billion from $389.4 billion at the end of 2024, with total equity increasing by 4.1% to $12.8 billion [13] Shareholder Returns - In the first quarter, Corebridge repurchased common shares worth $321 million and paid quarterly dividends totaling $133 million [14]