MetLife(MET) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - MetLife reported adjusted earnings of $1.6 billion, or $2.37 per share, up 22% per share from the prior year period [5] - Adjusted earnings totaled $1.6 billion, or $2.34 per share, a 21% increase from a year ago, driven by strong investment margins and volume growth [5][20] - The adjusted return on equity, excluding notable items, was 16.7%, near the top of the target range of 15%-17% [6] - The direct expense ratio was 11.6%, ahead of schedule relative to the new frontier commitment [6][28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Group benefits adjusted earnings totaled $457 million, up 6% from a year ago, reflecting solid underwriting results [6][20] - Retirement and income solutions adjusted earnings totaled $423 million, up 15% from the prior year quarter, driven by higher variable investment income [8][22] - Asia adjusted earnings were $473 million, a 36% increase from the prior year quarter, with sales surging 34% on a constant currency basis [9][24] - Latin America adjusted earnings were $222 million, up 2%, with adjusted PFOs totaling $1.7 billion, up 11% [10][25] - EMEA adjusted earnings were $89 million, up 19% on a reported basis, primarily due to volume growth [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Japan, sales increased by 31% year over year, driven by new product launches and enhancements [9][35] - Other Asia markets saw sales up 39% year over year, led by Korea and China [10][24] - The U.S. statutory adjusted capital stood at approximately $17.1 billion, unchanged from the prior quarter [31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - MetLife's new frontier strategy is focused on capital management, expense discipline, and leveraging technology for productivity gains [12][16] - The company is working towards closing two strategic transactions: the acquisition of PineBridge and the sale of a legacy block of variable annuities [13] - The annual Value of New Business (VNB) results indicate a disciplined approach to capital allocation, with $3.4 billion deployed in 2024 [11][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the operating environment, highlighting strong investment margins and a positive outlook for the pension risk transfer (PRT) business [9][12] - The company anticipates continued momentum in Asia and expects to see strong sales guidance for 2025 [35] - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining a disciplined approach to underwriting and capital deployment [41][52] Other Important Information - MetLife returned approximately $875 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in the third quarter [12][31] - The company ended the quarter with cash and liquid assets of roughly $4.9 billion, exceeding its target cash buffer [13][31] - The effective tax rate on adjusted earnings was approximately 24%, at the bottom end of the guidance range [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide additional color on the strength seen in Asia sales? - Management noted a 34% increase in the overall Asia market, with Japan sales up 31% due to new product launches and enhancements [34][35] Question: What is the expected magnitude of expense seasonality in Q4? - Management expects Q4 expenses to be somewhat higher than the first three quarters but still below the 12.1% target [38][39] Question: Can you comment on the $12 billion of PRTs won in Q4? - Management indicated that the $12 billion consists of a few large deals, emphasizing their competitive advantages in the jumbo end of the market [40][41] Question: What is the outlook for the base spread in RIS? - Management expects steady spread levels from Q3, with potential temporary headwinds from large PRT mandates [56]