BROOKFIELD, NEWS, Feb. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Wealth Solutions (NYSE, TSX: BNT) today announced financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2025. Sachin Shah, CEO of Brookfield Wealth Solutions, stated, “2025 was another strong year for our business. We actively invested in real asset strategies across Brookfield’s areas of expertise, expanded our product offerings, reached new geographies, and significantly grew our earnings. With the closing of the Just Group plc ac ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a core return on assets (ROA) of 1.62% for the quarter and an adjusted ROA of 1.35% with an adjusted efficiency ratio of 64.45% [3][4] - Net interest income increased by 4.7% over the prior quarter, while adjusted non-interest income rose by 8.3% [17] - The tangible common equity (TCE) ratio improved to 8.72%, up from 8.24% in the prior quarter [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The retirement division generated total revenue of $17.3 million, a 4.6% increase over the prior quarter, driven by growth in asset and transaction-based fees [22] - The wealth management business saw revenues increase by 13.4% to $7.4 million, with end-of-quarter assets under management rising by 0.8% [24] - Core revenues from fee income grew by 7% year-over-year, maintaining over 40% of total revenues [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a decline in loans by 1.3% over the previous quarter due to strategic downsizing of the loan portfolio [19] - Deposits decreased by 5%, primarily due to the calling in of broker deposits and other wholesale funding [20] - The loan-to-deposit ratio stood at 96.6%, with a deposit retention rate close to 95% since the acquisition of Home Federal [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for sustainable organic growth and a return to top-tier profitability, focusing on enhancing its commercial bank and improving returns [5][6] - A strategic entry into the mid-market commercial and industrial (C&I) space is expected to drive growth, with strong pipelines entering 2026 [7] - The company plans to double the number of wealth management advisors and invest in technology and AI to enhance scalability and improve margins [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strategic position and momentum as it enters 2026, highlighting strong core financial performance and successful execution of strategic initiatives [3][4] - The company anticipates loan growth in the mid-single digits and deposit growth in the low single digits for 2026, with a projected net interest margin of around 3.5% to 3.6% [26][27] - Management noted that the competitive environment for deposits is expected to remain strong, impacting net interest margin [79] Other Important Information - The company successfully converted its entire wealth business onto a new system, achieving 100% client retention [11] - The allowance for loan losses remained robust at 1.53% of total loans, with net recoveries reported [9] - The company has close to $2.8 billion in liquidity to support loan growth and other liquidity events [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Balancing dynamics for 2026 regarding loan and deposit growth - Management aims to maintain a loan-to-deposit ratio around 95% to 96%, acknowledging potential seasonal fluctuations [34] Question: Insights on expenses and technology investments - Guidance includes team additions and variable costs related to technology investments [36][37] Question: Loan growth expectations and credit trimming - A significant portion of loan runoff was intentional, focusing on reducing marginal credits and enhancing C&I relationships [42] Question: Non-performing loans and resolution expectations - An increase in non-performing loans was related to a multifamily loan, with expectations for resolution in the first half of the year [45] Question: Margin trajectory and expectations for 2026 - Management expects gradual improvement in net interest margin, influenced by deposit flows [46] Question: Update on capital and acquisition opportunities - The company continues to explore potential acquisitions in the retirement and HSA space while prioritizing organic growth [54] Question: Competition in deposit pricing - The deposit market remains competitive, with rational pricing generally observed [79]

Core Insights - Voya Financial, Inc. (VOYA) shares are trading at a discount compared to the Zacks Life Insurance industry, with a forward price-to-book value of 0.98X, lower than the industry average of 1.89X and the Finance sector's 4.24X [2] - The company has a market capitalization of $6.71 billion and an average trading volume of 0.7 million shares over the last three months [2] Valuation Comparison - Voya Financial is attractively valued compared to competitors such as Primerica, Inc. (PRI), Manulife Financial Corp. (MFC), and Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) [3] Earnings Growth - Earnings for Voya Financial grew by 12.2% over the last five years, surpassing the industry average of 7.8% [4] - The company has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with an average surprise of 42.92% over the last four quarters [4] - Year-to-date, Voya Financial shares have increased by 1.2%, while the industry has grown by 4.5% [4] Future Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Voya Financial's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 46.5%, with revenues expected to reach $1.34 billion, reflecting a 24.6% improvement [5] - Projections for 2026 show earnings per share and revenues increasing by 12.2% and 3.6%, respectively, from 2025 estimates [5] Growth Drivers - Voya's growth is supported by strong performance in its Retirement, Investment Management, and Employee Benefits segments [8] - The Retirement segment benefits from onboarded assets, favorable markets, and higher investment income [11] - The Investment Management segment is expected to gain from higher capital returns and fee revenues [12] - A strategic partnership with Allianz Global Investors is enhancing Voya's Investment Management capabilities [13] - The Employee Benefits segment is likely to improve due to lower claim developments and disciplined management of expenses [14] Financial Strength - Voya Financial generated over $0.2 billion of excess capital in Q3 2025, representing approximately 90% of after-tax adjusted operating earnings [15] - The company ended Q3 2025 with a strong balance sheet and approximately $350 million of excess capital, with an estimated combined RBC ratio of 407% [15] Capital Deployment - Voya plans to return between $100 million and $150 million in quarterly dividends and share repurchases throughout 2026, subject to market conditions [16] - The company has remaining share repurchase authorization of $661 million as of September 30, 2025 [16] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts have raised estimates for Voya Financial, with the consensus for 2025 and 2026 earnings moving up by 3% and 0.09%, respectively, in the last 60 days [9] Overall Positioning - Voya Financial is well-positioned for growth due to improved investment income, favorable market conditions, and strategic partnerships [19] - The company is expected to benefit from its strong dividend history, solid growth projections, and attractive valuations [20]

Core Insights - Three stocks are highlighted with strong income characteristics and a buy rank as of November 19th Group 1: First Hawaiian (FHB) - First Hawaiian offers a range of banking services including deposit products, lending services, and wealth management [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 4.9% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a dividend yield of 4.5%, surpassing the industry average of 3.1% [2] Group 2: OP Bancorp (OPBK) - OP Bancorp provides commercial banking services to both retail and institutional customers [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 4.7% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a dividend yield of 3.8%, compared to the industry average of 1.2% [2] Group 3: Jackson Financial (JXN) - Jackson Financial is a U.S. retirement services provider with a diverse portfolio of differentiated products [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 1.7% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a dividend yield of 3.5%, which is higher than the industry average of 1.6% [3]

Core Insights - Equitable Holdings, Inc. reported a revenue of $3.74 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, reflecting a 1% decrease year-over-year and a surprise of -6.01% compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.98 billion [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $1.48, down from $1.53 in the same quarter last year, with an EPS surprise of -6.92% against the consensus estimate of $1.59 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Retirement net flows were reported at $1.22 billion, below the two-analyst average estimate of $1.52 billion [4] - Wealth Management advisory net new assets reached $2.21 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $1.75 billion [4] - Asset Management's assets under management (AUM) at the end of the period were $860.10 billion, slightly below the average estimate of $866.77 billion [4] - Net long-term inflows in Asset Management were reported at -$2.30 billion, better than the average estimate of -$2.44 billion [4] - Revenue from Retirement policy charges, fee income, and premiums was $296 million, compared to the average estimate of $311.81 million [4] - Revenue from investment management, service fees, and other income was $1.68 billion, below the average estimate of $1.79 billion [4] - Net derivative gains (losses) reported were -$17 million, worse than the average estimate of -$3.07 million [4] - Net investment income was $1.35 billion, slightly above the average estimate of $1.31 billion [4] - Policy charges, fee income, and premiums revenue was $729 million, compared to the average estimate of $782.48 million [4] - Corporate and Other revenue was $741 million, below the average estimate of $1 billion [4] - Wealth Management revenue was $499 million, in line with the average estimate of $498.14 million [4] - Retirement net derivative gains (losses) were reported at -$2 million, better than the average estimate of -$5.4 million [4] Stock Performance - Equitable Holdings' shares have returned -4.2% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.1% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Viewpoint - American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has underperformed the broader market over the past year, with a 2.8% gain compared to the S&P 500's 17.7% increase [2]. Company Overview - AIG is a New York-based insurance company valued at $43.7 billion, offering property-casualty insurance, life insurance, and retirement services [1]. Stock Performance - AIG's stock has shown marginal gains compared to the Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF, which has also gained slightly over the past year [3]. - In 2025, AIG's stock rose 8.5%, while the S&P 500 increased by 16.3% year-to-date [2]. Financial Results - AIG reported Q2 results with an adjusted EPS of $1.81, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $1.58. However, shares fell over 3% in the following trading session [5]. - The company's general insurance net premiums written were $6.9 billion, showing a slight year-over-year decline [5]. Earnings Forecast - Analysts project AIG's EPS to grow by 30.9% to $6.48 for the current fiscal year ending in December [6]. - AIG has consistently beaten consensus estimates in the last four quarters, indicating strong earnings performance [6]. Analyst Ratings - Among 23 analysts covering AIG, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with nine "Strong Buy" ratings, two "Moderate Buys," and 12 "Holds" [6]. - BMO Capital analyst Michael Zaremski maintained a "Hold" rating with a price target of $83, suggesting a potential upside of 5.1% from current levels [7]. Challenges - AIG's underperformance is attributed to increased catastrophe losses, social inflation, tariffs affecting margins, and regulatory scrutiny on AI-driven investments [4].

Core Points - Brookfield Wealth Solutions Ltd. has completed a three-for-two stock split of its class A exchangeable limited voting shares, effective from October 10, 2025 [1] - Each shareholder received one-half of a class A share for each class A share held, resulting in one additional class A share for every two shares held [1] - Fractional shares will be compensated in cash based on the closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of the record date, October 3, 2025 [1] Company Overview - Brookfield Wealth Solutions Ltd. focuses on securing financial futures through retirement services, wealth protection products, and tailored capital solutions [2] - Each class A exchangeable limited voting share is exchangeable on a one-for-one basis with a class A limited voting share of Brookfield Corporation [2]

Core Insights - Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) focuses on stable, recurring revenue streams, particularly in retirement and long-term savings, driven by strong demand in both U.S. and international markets [1][3] - The company has a solid presence in group benefits and protection, alongside a growing global asset management franchise, which reduces dependence on interest rate fluctuations [2][3] - PFG is experiencing steady growth in retirement and benefits, especially within the U.S. small to midsize business segment, supported by strong employment trends and rising wages [3][4] Business Strategy - PFG has utilized select acquisitions to enhance its core businesses, including the purchase of Wells Fargo's Institutional Retirement and Trust business, which has expanded its scale and service capabilities [4] - The company emphasizes fee-based income and aims to expand assets under management, contributing to a more resilient earnings profile [2][3] Financial Performance - Over the past five years, PFG has raised its dividend 12 times, with payouts increasing nearly 6%, and the current payout ratio is about 40% of earnings [5] - Management anticipates capital deployment to remain high in the second half of 2025, targeting $1.4 billion to $1.7 billion, including $700 million to $1 billion in share repurchases [6] Challenges - PFG faces rising operating expenses and increased claims costs, which could pressure profitability [7] - The return on invested capital (ROIC) for the trailing 12 months was 0.5%, significantly lower than the industry average of 2%, indicating inefficiencies in utilizing shareholders' funds [8] - The company's earnings history shows disappointing results, lagging estimates in three of the last four quarters with an average negative earnings surprise of 1.5% [9] Industry Context - Other players in the Insurance - Multi line sector include Radian Group Inc., Everest Group, and EverQuote, with Radian Group showing strong earnings performance [10][11] - Everest Group's growth is supported by product diversification and a balanced insurance mix, while EverQuote is positioned for long-term growth through digital adoption and technology investments [13][15]

Core Insights - The Principal Financial Group is a global leader in investment management, offering a range of financial products and services including retirement services, insurance solutions, and asset management [1] - Founded in 1879, the company is a member of the FORTUNE 500 and manages $519.3 billion in assets [1] - The Principal serves approximately 19.7 million customers worldwide from various regions including Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States [1] - The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG [1] Company Overview - Principal Financial Group provides diverse financial services through its family of companies, catering to businesses, individuals, and institutional clients [1] - The company offers plan administrative services through Principal Life and distributes its funds via Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. [1] - Insurance products are issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Co [1]

Group 1: Technology Sector Overview - Technology stocks constitute approximately one-third of the S&P 500 index and are significantly outperforming the broader index this year [1] - The lack of dividends in many tech stocks is due to reinvestment of profits into scaling successful products, research, and AI infrastructure [2][4] Group 2: Cisco Systems - Cisco Systems reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 revenue of $14.1 billion, an 11% increase year-over-year, with earnings per share (EPS) of $0.62, up 35% from the previous year [5] - The company generated over $1 billion in AI-related revenue in 2024 and aims to double that in 2025, aided by the $28 billion acquisition of Splunk [6] - Cisco's stock has risen 15% in 2025 and offers a dividend yield of 2.3% [7] Group 3: International Business Machines (IBM) - IBM, known for its long history, is currently focused on cybersecurity, cloud computing, and consulting, with 81% of Fortune 500 companies using its mainframe computers [8] - The company has gained 30% in stock value this year, bolstered by its 2019 acquisition of Red Hat, which enhanced its hybrid cloud-computing capabilities [9] - Analysts project IBM's revenue to increase by 5.5% to $66.2 billion this year, with a further 4% growth expected in fiscal year 2026, alongside a 2.3% dividend yield [10] Group 4: Paychex - Paychex, a leader in payroll and human resources services, surpassed $5 billion in revenue in 2024 and serves over 745,000 clients [11][13] - The company experienced double-digit growth in its retirement services division, which now manages $52 billion in assets [13] - Paychex's revenue for fiscal Q4 2025 was $1.42 billion, a 10% increase year-over-year, despite an 11% drop in operating income due to a $4 billion acquisition of Paycor [13] - The company forecasts revenue growth of 16.5% to 18.5% and EPS growth of 8.5% to 10.5% for the next fiscal year [14] - Paychex stock has increased by 2% this year and offers a dividend yield of 3%, with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 26 [15]