Aflac Incorporated Announces Third Quarter Results, Reports Third Quarter Net Earnings of $1.6 Billion, Declares Fourth

COLUMBUS, Ga., Oct. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) today reported its third quarter results.

Total revenues were $4.8 billion in the third quarter of 2022, compared with $5.2 billion in the third quarter of 2021. Net earnings were $1.6 billion, or $2.53 per diluted share, compared with $888 million, or $1.32 per diluted share a year ago, reflecting a release of $695 million in deferred taxes in the third quarter.

Net earnings in the third quarter of 2022 included net investment gains of $199 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared with net investment losses of $171 million, or $0.25 per diluted share a year ago. The net investment gains were driven by net gains from certain derivatives and foreign currency activities of $173 million and net gains from sales and redemptions of $59 million, both driven by foreign exchange. These net investment gains included a decrease of $22 million in the fair value of equity securities. These gains were partially offset by an increase in the allowance associated with the company’s estimate of current expected credit losses (CECL) and impairments of $11 million.

Adjusted earnings* in the third quarter were $725 million, compared with $1.0 billion in the third quarter of 2021, reflecting a decrease of 29.7%. Adjusted earnings per diluted share* decreased 24.8% to $1.15 in the quarter. Adjusted earnings included a variable investment income loss of $40 million from alternative investments, which was $0.11 per share below return expectations. Additionally, adjusted earnings reflects $70 million, or $0.11 per share, of net investment income for a make-whole call of a security in the Japan segment.  The weaker yen/dollar exchange rate impacted adjusted earnings per share by $0.08.

The average yen/dollar exchange rate in the third quarter of 2022 was 137.08, or 19.7% weaker than the average rate of 110.11 in the third quarter of 2021. For the first nine months, the average exchange rate was 126.65, or 14.3% weaker than the rate of 108.58 a year ago.

Total investments and cash at the end of September 2022 were $114.5 billion, compared with $146.0 billion at September 30, 2021. The decline in the portfolio is principally driven by the weaker yen and higher interest rates.

Shareholders’ equity was $24.2 billion, or $38.71 per share, at September 30, 2022, compared with $33.6 billion, or $50.62 per share, at September 30, 2021. Shareholders’ equity at the end of the third quarter included a net unrealized gain on investment securities and derivatives of $1.1 billion, compared with a net unrealized gain of $9.7 billion at September 30, 2021. Shareholders’ equity at the end of the third quarter also included an unrealized foreign currency translation loss of $4.5 billion, compared with an unrealized foreign currency translation loss of $1.8 billion at September 30, 2021. The annualized return on average shareholders’ equity in the third quarter was 25.3%.

For the first nine months of 2022, total revenues were down 7.1% to $15.5 billion, compared with $16.7 billion in the first nine months of 2021. Net earnings were $4.0 billion, or $6.25 per diluted share, compared with $3.3 billion, or $4.82 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2021. Adjusted earnings for the first nine months of 2022 were $2.6 billion, or $4.03 per diluted share, compared with $3.2 billion, or $4.65 per diluted share, in 2021. Excluding the negative impact of $0.23 per share from the weaker yen/dollar exchange rate, adjusted earnings per diluted share decreased 8.4% to $4.26 for the first nine months of 2022.

Shareholders’ equity excluding AOCI (or adjusted book value*) was $27.7 billion, or $44.34 per share at September 30, 2022, compared with $25.9 billion, or $39.06 per share, at September 30, 2021. The annualized adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency impact* in the third quarter was 11.4%.

AFLAC JAPAN

In yen terms, Aflac Japan’s net earned premiums were ¥309.9 billion for the quarter, or 4.1% lower than a year ago, mainly due to limited pay products reaching paid-up status and constrained sales from the impact of pandemic conditions. Adjusted net investment income increased 9.8% to ¥92.2 billion, mainly due to a weaker yen on the dollar-denominated investment income. Total adjusted revenues in yen declined 1.2% to ¥403.3 billion. Pretax adjusted earnings in yen for the quarter declined 19.2% on a reported basis to ¥86.9 billion, primarily due to a 940 basis point increase in the benefit ratio resulting from a wider scope of “deemed hospitalization” that was in effect through most of the third quarter. Pretax adjusted earnings decreased 27.9% on a currency-neutral basis. The pretax adjusted profit margin for the Japan segment decreased to 21.6%, compared with 26.3% a year ago.

For the first nine months, net earned premiums in yen were ¥939.5 billion, or 4.2% lower than a year ago. Adjusted net investment income increased 8.1% to ¥265.3 billion. Total adjusted revenues in yen were down 1.7% to ¥1.2 trillion. Pretax adjusted earnings were ¥298.8 billion, or 4.0% lower than a year ago.

In dollar terms, net earned premiums decreased 23.6% to $2.2 billion in the third quarter. Adjusted net investment income decreased 13.1% to $663 million. Total adjusted revenues declined by 21.4% to $2.9 billion. Pretax adjusted earnings declined 35.5% to $630 million.

For the first nine months, net earned premiums in dollars were $7.4 billion, or 18.4% lower than a year ago. Adjusted net investment income decreased 8.6% to $2.1 billion. Total adjusted revenues were down 16.4% to $9.5 billion. Pretax adjusted earnings were $2.4 billion, or 18.0% lower than a year ago.

For the quarter, total new annualized premium sales (sales) increased 10.2% to ¥13.9 billion, or $100 million, reflecting the  August launch of a new cancer product through the agency channel. For the first nine months, total new sales decreased 4.1% to ¥38.5 billion, or $301 million.

AFLAC U.S.

Aflac U.S. net earned premiums declined 1.3% to $1.4 billion in the third quarter, impacted by lower year-to-date persistency. Adjusted net investment income decreased 3.1% to $185 million. Total adjusted revenues were down 1.1% to $1.6 billion. Pretax adjusted earnings were $309 million, 13.7% lower than a year ago, which was driven by elevated general expenses reflecting, in part, platform and growth investments, as well as the amortization of deferred acquisition costs driven by a slight drop in persistency. The pretax adjusted profit margin for the U.S. segment was 19.3%, compared with 22.2% a year ago.

For the first nine months, net earned premiums declined 1.0% to $4.2 billion. Adjusted net investment income increased 1.1% to $563 million. Total adjusted revenues were down 0.1% to $4.9 billion. Pretax adjusted earnings were $984 million, or 19.1% lower than a year ago.

Aflac U.S. sales increased 11.8% in the quarter to $334 million, reflecting continued improvement from investment in growth initiatives as well as productivity gains. For the first nine months of the year, total new sales increased 15.2% to $938 million.

CORPORATE AND OTHER

For the quarter, total adjusted revenues increased 1.4% to $73 million, primarily due to higher adjusted net investment income from higher interest rates and an increase in amortized hedge income, partially offset by higher tax credits expense and a reduction in total premiums as a result of significant yen weakening. Pretax adjusted earnings were a loss of $59 million, compared with a loss of $41 million a year ago, resulting from higher other adjusted expenses, interest expense, and benefits and claims (including the impact from “deemed hospitalization” benefits), partially offset by slightly higher total adjusted revenue.

For the first nine months, total adjusted revenues decreased 7.8% to $189 million. Pretax adjusted earnings were a loss of $179 million, compared with a loss of $144 million a year ago.

DIVIDEND AND CAPITAL RETURNED TO SHAREHOLDERS

The board of directors declared the fourth quarter dividend of $0.40 per share, payable on December 1, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 16, 2022.

In the third quarter, Aflac Incorporated deployed $650 million in capital to repurchase 11.1 million of its common shares. At the end of September 2022, the company had 25.6 million remaining shares authorized for repurchase.

OUTLOOK

Commenting on the company’s results, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Amos stated: “The company generated solid earnings for the first nine months, despite the weakening yen. Pandemic conditions in Japan and the U.S. continued to move toward normalcy, contributing to positive sales growth in both segments in the third quarter and momentum into the fourth quarter.

“Looking at our operations in Japan, sales continued to improve in the quarter with the launch of our new cancer insurance product through agencies in August, generating an increase of 10.2%. Persistency remained strong in the third quarter. We continue to monitor evolving pandemic conditions, as this impacts our ability to meet face-to-face with customers, which continues to be key to a recovery in sales. We believe our benefit ratio will normalize in the fourth quarter given the narrowed scope for “deemed hospitalization” introduced toward the end of the third quarter. Taking these factors into account, we continue to expect stronger sales in the fourth quarter, assuming that productivity continues to improve at Japan Post and that we execute on our product introduction and refreshment plans. 

“In the U.S., I am encouraged by the continued improvement in the productivity of our agents and brokers as we enter what is typically our strongest quarter of the year. This led to a strong third quarter that produced an 11.8% increase in sales. We continue to work toward reinforcing our leading position and generating stronger sales for…