Aflac Incorporated Announces First Quarter 2026 Results
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COLUMBUS, Ga., April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) today reported its first quarter results.
For the Quarter
- Total revenues were $4.3 billion , which was a 27.9% increase year over year.
- Net earnings were $1.0 billion, or $1.98 per diluted share, compared with $29 million, or $0.05 per diluted share a year ago.
- Adjusted earnings* were $901 million, compared with $906 million a year ago, reflecting a decrease of 0.6%.
- Adjusted earnings per diluted share* increased 5.4% to $1.75.
- The annualized return on average shareholders’ equity was 13.7%.
- The annualized adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency remeasurement* was 16.4%.
- The company returned $1.3 billion to shareholders, consisting of $1.0 billion in share repurchase and $315 million in dividends.
Commenting on the company’s results, Aflac Incorporated Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Amos stated: “Aflac delivered solid earnings for the quarter. These results reflect our focused execution of our strategy and thus creating long-term value for shareholders. We have attracted new business through successful product initiatives, including Anshin Palette (medical insurance), Miraito (cancer insurance), and Tsumitasu (life insurance) in Japan and group voluntary benefits, network dental and vision, as well as group life and disability in the U.S.
“We remain focused on more profitable growth and the tactical, opportunistic deployment of capital. We treasure our 2025 milestone of 43 consecutive years of dividend increases, and the Board has set us on a path to extend this record when it increased the first quarter dividend 5.2% and declared the same dividend of $0.61 for the second quarter. We intend to continue our balanced approach of investing in growth and driving long-term value.”
AFLAC INCORPORATED CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
|
AFLAC INCORPORATED SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE QUARTER |
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(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT FOR PER-SHARE AMOUNTS) |
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|
1Q26 |
1Q25 |
% Change |
|||
|
Total revenues |
$ 4,346 |
$ 3,398 |
27.9 % |
||
|
Net earnings |
1,019 |
29 |
3,413.8 % |
||
|
Adjusted earnings* |
901 |
906 |
(0.6) % |
||
|
Net earnings per share (diluted) |
1.98 |
0.05 |
3,860.0 % |
||
|
Adjusted earnings per share (diluted)* |
1.75 |
1.66 |
5.4 % |
||
|
Total shareholders’ equity |
29,961 |
26,338 |
13.8 % |
||
|
Total liabilities & shareholders’ equity |
116,280 |
120,258 |
(3.3) % |
||
Total revenues were $4.3 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared with $3.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025. Net earnings were $1.0 billion, or $1.98 per diluted share, compared with $29 million, or $0.05 per diluted share a year ago. Net earnings in the first quarter of 2026 included net investment gains of $49 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared with net investment losses of $963 million, or $1.76 per diluted share a year ago. These net investment gains were driven by net gains of $164 million on certain derivatives and foreign currency activities offset by $61 million of current expected credit losses (CECL), impairments of $24 million; net losses from sales and redemptions of $16 million; and a $14 million loss from a decrease in the fair value of equity securities.
Adjusted earnings* in the first quarter were $901 million, compared with $906 million in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a decrease of 0.6%. Adjusted earnings per diluted share* increased 5.4% to $1.75 in the quarter. Variable investment income ran $14 million below the company’s long-term return expectations. The average yen/dollar exchange rate in the first quarter of 2026 was 156.87, or 2.8% weaker than the average rate of 152.40 in the first quarter of 2025. The weaker yen/dollar exchange rate had a negative $0.02 impact on adjusted earnings per share.
Shareholders’ equity was $30.0 billion, or $58.69 per share, at March 31, 2026, compared with $26.3 billion, or $48.55 per share, at March 31, 2025. Shareholders’ equity at the end of the first quarter included a cumulative increase of $9.5 billion for the effect of the change in discount rate assumptions on insurance reserves, compared with a corresponding cumulative increase of $3.9 billion at March 31, 2025 and a net unrealized loss on investment securities and derivatives of $2.7 billion, compared with a net unrealized loss of $1.3 billion at March 31, 2025. Shareholders’ equity at the end of the first quarter also included an unrealized foreign currency translation loss of $5.0 billion, compared with an unrealized foreign currency translation loss of $4.5 billion at March 31, 2025.
Shareholders’ equity excluding AOCI (or adjusted book value*) was $28.1 billion, or $54.96 per share at March 31, 2026, compared with $28.2 billion, or $51.98 per share, at March 31, 2025. Adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement* was $21.8 billion, or $42.71 per share at March 31, 2026, compared with $23.1 billion, or $42.61 per share, at March 31, 2025. The annualized adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency remeasurement* in the first quarter was 16.4%.
AFLAC JAPAN
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AFLAC JAPAN SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE QUARTER |
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(IN BILLIONS OF YEN AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS) |
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|
1Q26 |
1Q25 |
% Change |
1Q26 |
1Q25 |
% Change |
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|
Total net earned premiums |
¥ 247 |
¥ 256 |
(3.8) % |
$ 1,573 |
$ 1,681 |
(6.4) % |
|||||
|
Yen-denominated investment income |
31 |
34 |
(9.2) % |
197 |
224 |
(12.1) % |
|||||
|
U.S. dollar-denominated investment
income |
64 |
56 |
13.9 % |
409 |
369 |
10.8 % |
|||||
|
Adjusted net investment income |
93 |
89 |
4.0 % |
591 |
586 |
0.9 % |
|||||
|
Total adjusted revenues |
341 |
346 |
(1.7) % |
2,172 |
2,272 |
(4.4) % |
|||||
|
Total benefits and claims, net |
155 |
169 |
(7.9) % |
990 |
1,105 |
(10.4) % |
|||||
|
Total adjusted expenses |
66 |
68 |
(2.2) % |
423 |
445 |
(4.9) % |
|||||
|
Pretax adjusted earnings |
¥ 119 |
¥ 110 |
8.3 % |
759 |
722 |
5.1 % |
|||||
|
Change in bps |
|||||||||||
|
Premium persistency (12-mo. rolling) |
92.8 % |
93.8 % |
(100) |
||||||||
|
Total benefits and claims (net) / Net earned premiums |
62.9 % |
65.8 % |
(290) |
||||||||
|
Total adjusted expenses / Total adjusted revenues |
19.5 % |
19.6 % |
(10) |
||||||||
|
Pretax adjusted earnings / Total adjusted revenues |
35.0 % |
31.8 % |
320 |
||||||||
In yen terms, Aflac Japan’s net earned premiums were ¥246.7 billion for the quarter, or 3.8% lower than a year ago, mainly due to the impact of a new external reinsurance transaction for WAYS and Tsumitasu as well as limited pay products reaching paid-up status. Adjusted net investment income increased 4.0% to ¥92.8 billion, primarily due to higher dollar-denominated fixed-rate income resulting from higher volume and higher variable net investment income. This was partially offset by lower dollar-denominated floating rate income due to lower volume and rates as well as reduced call income. Total adjusted revenues in yen declined 1.7% to ¥340.7 billion. Pretax adjusted earnings in yen for the quarter increased 8.3% on a reported basis to ¥119.1 billion, primarily driven by favorable benefits. Pretax adjusted earnings also increased 6.6% on a currency-neutral basis. The pretax adjusted profit margin for the Japan segment was 35.0%, compared with 31.8% a year ago.
In dollar terms, net earned premiums decreased 6.4% to $1.6 billion in the first quarter. Adjusted net investment income increased 0.9% to $591 million. Total adjusted revenues declined by 4.4% to $2.2 billion. Pretax adjusted earnings increased 5.1% to $759 million.
For the quarter, total new annualized premium sales (sales) increased 25.5% to ¥17.7 billion, or $113 million, primarily reflecting strong sales of Anshin Palette, the new medical insurance product launched in December, as well as Miraito, the newest cancer insurance product, and Tsumitasu.
AFLAC U.S.
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AFLAC U.S. SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE QUARTER |
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(IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS) |
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|
1Q26 |
1Q25 |
% Change |
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|
Total net earned premiums |
$ 1,555 |
$ 1,502 |
3.5 % |
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|
Adjusted net investment income |
201 |
202 |
(0.5) % |
||
|
Total adjusted revenues |
1,779 |
1,721 |
3.4 % |
||
|
Total benefits and claims, net |
734 |
716 |
2.5 % |
||
|
Total adjusted expenses |
682 |
647 |
5.4 % |
||
|
Pretax adjusted earnings |
363 |
358 |
1.4 % |
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Change in bps |
|||||
|
Persistency rate (12-mo. rolling) |
79.3 % |
79.3 % |
— |
||
|
Total benefits and claims, net / Net earned premiums |
47.2 % |
47.7 % |
(50) |
||
|
Total adjusted expenses / Total adjusted revenues |
38.3 % |
37.6 % |
70 |
||
|
Pretax adjusted earnings / Total adjusted revenues |
20.4 % |
20.8 % |
(40) |
||
Aflac U.S. net earned premiums increased 3.5% to $1.6 billion in the first quarter compared to the prior year, reflecting improved sales and continued strong persistency. Adjusted net investment income decreased 0.5% to $201 million. Total adjusted revenues were up 3.4% to $1.8 billion. Pretax adjusted earnings were $363 million, 1.4% higher than a year ago. The pretax adjusted profit margin for the U.S. segment was 20.4%, compared with 20.8% a year ago.
Aflac U.S. sales increased 2.9% in the quarter to $318 million, primarily benefiting from sales of group products.
CORPORATE AND OTHER
|
CORPORATE AND OTHER SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS |
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|
(IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS) |
|||||
|
1Q26 |
1Q25 |
% Change |
|||
|
Total net earned premiums |
$ 182 |
$ 198 |
(8.1) % |
||
|
Adjusted net investment income |
109 |
126 |
(13.5) % |
||
|
Total adjusted revenues |
292 |
326 |
(10.4) % |
||
|
Total benefits and claims, net |
109 |
124 |
(12.1) % |
||
|
Interest expense |
58 |
45 |
28.9 % |
||
|
Other adjusted expenses |
125 |
114 |
9.6 % |
||
|
Total benefits and adjusted expenses |
292 |
283 |
3.2 % |
||
|
Pretax adjusted earnings |
— |
43 |
(100.0) % |
||
For the quarter, corporate and other reported breakeven pretax adjusted earnings, down from a $43 million gain last year, driven by lower net investment income from reduced hedge benefits, higher interest expense and operating costs, and runoff impacts from closed blocks of business.
*See Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures section for an explanation of foreign exchange and its impact on the financial statements and definitions of the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures used in this earnings release, as well as a reconciliation of such non-U.S. GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures.
ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for more than seven decades to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products.1 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force.2 The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 20 consecutive years (2026) and Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 25 years (2026). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn’t cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under “Sustainability.”
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1 LIMRA 2024 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report |
|
2 As of March 31, 2025, Aflac estimates based on company data |
A copy of Aflac’s financial supplement for the quarter can be found on the “Investors” page at aflac.com.
Aflac Incorporated will webcast its quarterly conference call via the “Investors” page of aflac.com at 8:00 a.m. (ET) on April 30, 2026.
Note: Tables within this document may not foot due to rounding.
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AFLAC INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED INCOME STATEMENT |
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(UNAUDITED – IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER-SHARE AMOUNTS) |
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THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, |
2026 |
2025 |
% Change |
|||
|
Total revenues |
$ 4,346 |
$ 3,398 |
27.9 % |
|||
|
Benefits and claims, net |
1,832 |
1,945 |
(5.8) |
|||
|
Total acquisition and operating expenses |
1,289 |
1,308 |
(1.5) |
|||
|
Earnings before income taxes |
1,225 |
145 |
744.8 |
|||
|
Income taxes |
206 |
116 |
||||
|
Net earnings |
$ 1,019 |
$ 29 |
3,413.8 % |
|||
|
Net earnings per share – basic |
$ 1.99 |
$ 0.05 |
3,880.0 % |
|||
|
Net earnings per share – diluted |
1.98 |
0.05 |
3,860.0 |
|||
|
Shares used to compute earnings per share (000): |
||||||
|
Basic |
513,071 |
544,707 |
(5.8) % |
|||
|
Diluted |
514,785 |
546,878 |
(5.9) |
|||
|
Dividends paid per share |
$ 0.61 |
$ 0.58 |
5.2 % |
|||
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AFLAC INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET |
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(UNAUDITED – IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AMOUNTS) |
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