The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how Aflac (NYSE: AFL) and the rest of the life insurance stocks fared in Q4.

Life insurance companies collect premiums from policyholders in exchange for providing a future death benefit or retirement income stream. Interest rates matter for the sector (and make it cyclical), with higher rates allowing insurers to reinvest their fixed-income portfolios at more attractive yields and vice versa. Additionally, favorable demographic shifts, such as an aging population, are driving strong demand for retirement products while AI and data analytics offer significant opportunities to improve underwriting accuracy and operational efficiency. Conversely, the industry faces headwinds from persistent competition from agile insurtechs that threaten traditional distribution models.

The 13 life insurance stocks we track reported a slower Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.7%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5.6% since the latest earnings results.

Aflac (NYSE: AFL)

Known for its iconic duck mascot that has quacked "Aflac!" in commercials since 2000, Aflac (NYSE: AFL) provides supplemental health and life insurance policies that pay cash benefits directly to policyholders for expenses not covered by their primary insurance.

Aflac reported revenues of $4.28 billion, flat year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 2.9%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Commenting on the company's results, Aflac Incorporated Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Amos stated: "Aflac delivered solid earnings for the quarter and the year. These results reflect our focused efforts to execute on our strategy of creating long-term value for shareholders.

The market was likely pricing in the results, and the stock is flat since reporting. It currently trades at $112.80.

Read our full report on Aflac here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Corebridge Financial (NYSE: CRBG)

Spun off from insurance giant AIG in 2022 to focus on the growing retirement market, Corebridge Financial (NYSE: CRBG) provides retirement solutions, annuities, life insurance, and institutional risk management products in the United States.

Corebridge Financial reported revenues of $6.34 billion, up 35.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 47.3%. The business had a very strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Corebridge Financial delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 11.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $27.54.

Is now the time to buy Corebridge Financial? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: Unum Group (NYSE: UNM)

Tracing its roots back to 1848 when financial security for workers was virtually non-existent, Unum Group (NYSE: UNM) provides workplace financial protection benefits including disability, life, accident, critical illness, dental and vision insurance primarily through employers.

Unum Group reported revenues of $3.25 billion, flat year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 4.5% since the results and currently trades at $72.24.

Read our full analysis of Unum Group’s results here.

F&G Annuities & Life (NYSE: FG)

Founded in 1959 and serving approximately 677,000 policyholders who rely on its financial protection products, F&G Annuities & Life (NYSE: FG) provides fixed annuities, life insurance, and pension risk transfer solutions to retail and institutional clients.

F&G Annuities & Life reported revenues of $1.78 billion, up 11.7% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 15%. Zooming out, it was a slower quarter as it recorded a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates.

The stock is down 18.3% since reporting and currently trades at $22.62.

Read our full, actionable report on F&G Annuities & Life here, it’s free.

Prudential (NYSE: PRU)

Recognized by its iconic Rock of Gibraltar logo symbolizing strength and stability since 1896, Prudential Financial (NYSE: PRU) provides life insurance, annuities, retirement solutions, investment management, and other financial services to individual and institutional customers globally.

Prudential reported revenues of $14.52 billion, up 11.6% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations. However, it was a slower quarter as it produced a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 5.7% since reporting and currently trades at $101.04.

Read our full, actionable report on Prudential here, it’s free.

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