The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who didn’t). Let’s take a look at how life insurance stocks fared in Q1, starting with MetLife (NYSE: MET).

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 11 life insurance stocks we track reported a slower Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.1%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 1.8% on average since the latest earnings results.

MetLife (NYSE: MET)

Founded in 1863 by a group of New York businessmen during the Civil War era, MetLife (NYSE: MET) is a global financial services company that provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services to individuals and businesses worldwide.

MetLife reported revenues of $19.68 billion, up 4.5% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a mixed quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ net premiums earned estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 4.4% since reporting and currently trades at $83.69.

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

Best Q1: Primerica (NYSE: PRI)

With a sales force of over 140,000 licensed representatives operating on an independent contractor model, Primerica (NYSE: PRI) provides term life insurance, investment products, and other financial services to middle-income households in the United States and Canada.

Primerica reported revenues of $872.3 million, up 8.6% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. The business had a strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ book value per share and revenue estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 5% since reporting. It currently trades at $263.06.

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

Weakest Q1: Brighthouse Financial (NASDAQ: BHF)

Spun off from MetLife in 2017 to focus specifically on retail financial products, Brighthouse Financial (NASDAQ: BHF) provides annuity contracts and life insurance products designed to help individuals protect wealth, generate income, and transfer assets.

Brighthouse Financial reported revenues of $2.10 billion, down 2.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 4.8%. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue and book value per share estimates.

The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $62.52.

Read our full analysis of Brighthouse Financial’s results here.

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 $15.23 billion, up 13.6% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 8.1%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ net premiums earned and revenue estimates.

Prudential delivered the biggest analyst estimate beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 3.6% since reporting and currently trades at $103.91.

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

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 $2.93 billion, down 11.3% year on year. This print came in 5.2% below analysts’ expectations. It was a slower quarter as it also produced a significant miss of analysts’ revenue and book value per share estimates.

Unum Group had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 11.8% since reporting and currently trades at $87.02.

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

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand-wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.