Key Takeaways BHF boosts life and annuity sales through new product launches and a wider network. Strong Shield Level, SecureKey annuity sales and fixed deferred annuities lifts overall annuity sales at BHF. Improving net investment income and capital flexibility support growth and share repurchases at BHF. Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF) hit a 52-week high of $78.27 on Dec. 19. Shares closed at $78.00, having gained 35.1% in the past year, outperforming the industry, the sector, and the Zacks S&P 500 com ...

Core Insights - Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF) has seen a share price increase of 37.7% over the past year, outperforming its industry, the Finance sector, and the Zacks S&P 500 composite, which grew by 17.3%, 19.6%, and 10.8% respectively [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $3.31 billion and an average trading volume of 0.8 million shares over the last three months [1] Valuation and Performance - BHF shares are trading at a forward price-to-book value of 0.63X, significantly lower than the industry average of 1.97X, the Finance sector's 4.16X, and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 8.09X, indicating attractive valuation [3] - The trailing 12-month return on equity for BHF is 25.6%, surpassing the industry average of 15.37%, reflecting effective utilization of shareholder equity [15] Market Position and Growth Drivers - BHF is positioned to benefit from a growing individual insurance market and an expanding distribution network, with a focus on enhancing its product portfolio through new offerings like Shield Level Pay Plus and SecureKey [8][16] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BHF's 2025 revenues is projected at $8.84 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.4%, with further growth expected in 2026 [9] Sales and Earnings Trends - Earnings for BHF have grown by 16.5% over the past five years, outperforming the industry average of 7.8%, with the company beating earnings estimates in two of the last four quarters [10] - Recent sales growth has been driven by strong performance in annuity products, particularly from the Shield Level Annuity and SecureKey offerings, alongside improved underwriting margins and net investment income [17][18] Analyst Sentiment and Price Targets - The average price target from analysts for BHF is $58.50 per share, suggesting a potential downside of 0.66% from the last closing price [11] - There has been a bearish sentiment among analysts, with three out of six lowering their estimates for 2025 and one for 2026 in the past 30 days [13] Financial Strategy and Capital Management - BHF maintains a well-diversified investment portfolio, which supports stable earnings and capital strength, and is committed to returning capital to shareholders through an opportunistic share repurchase program [20] - The company’s focus on enhancing its balance sheet strength and financial flexibility positions it well for future growth [21]