Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, adjusted earnings were reported at $1.6 billion or $2.49 per share, with an adjusted EPS of $2.58, up 24% from $2.08 a year ago, marking MetLife's highest single EPS quarter [11][20] - For the full year 2025, adjusted earnings, excluding notable items, totaled $6 billion or $8.89 per share, reflecting a growth of approximately 10% [12][20] - The company achieved a 10% adjusted EPS growth and an adjusted return on equity (ROE) of 16%, within the target range [9][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Group Benefits adjusted earnings for Q4 were $465 million, up 12% year-over-year, driven by favorable underwriting in life and dental, despite weaker disability results [24] - Retirement and Income Solutions (RIS) adjusted earnings were $454 million for Q4, up 18%, benefiting from record origination in pension risk transfers and U.K. longevity reinsurance [14][25] - Asia adjusted earnings were $444 million, essentially flat year-over-year, with sales growth of 18% on a constant currency basis, primarily driven by Japan and Korea [26] - Latin America adjusted earnings were $227 million, up 13%, with adjusted PFOs rising 25% [27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Asia saw constant currency sales jump 18% in 2025, while Latin America sales rose by 12%, with Mexico leading the growth [7] - EMEA adjusted earnings increased by 64%, driven by robust volume growth and favorable underwriting margins [27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company launched the "New Frontier" strategy focusing on growth, capital deployment, and operational efficiency [5] - MetLife Investment Management (MIM) was established as a new business segment following the acquisition of PineBridge Investments, with $742 billion in assets under management [6][28] - The company aims to achieve double-digit adjusted EPS growth and maintain a direct expense ratio target of 11.3% over five years [9][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to adapt to changing economic environments, emphasizing the importance of disciplined capital management and operational efficiency [10][18] - The outlook for 2026 includes expectations for double-digit adjusted EPS growth and a stable U.S. dollar, with a projected increase in long-term interest rates [35] Other Important Information - MetLife returned approximately $4.4 billion to shareholders through stock repurchases and dividends in 2025 [8] - The company reported a total of $50 billion in policyholder benefits and claims paid in 2025 [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on Group Benefits renewal season and pricing - Management noted robust results in persistency, particularly in dental, with good sales growth across the business, including disability [47] Question: Impact of macroeconomic volatility in Japan - Management acknowledged short-term impacts on sales due to macroeconomic fluctuations but maintained a strong value proposition and diversified product portfolio [48][49] Question: Change in GAAP earnings for real estate accounting - Management explained the change aimed to better reflect annual cash flows and returns, aligning with overall economics of the asset class [52][54] Question: Outlook for U.S. retail retirement space - Management highlighted successful execution of flow reinsurance deals, enhancing liability origination and capital flexibility [62] Question: Surrender activity in Japan - Management reported a slight increase in surrender trends in Q4 but expected surrenders to return to long-term assumptions in 2026 [64] Question: Employment actions and their impact on Group Benefits - Management indicated that employment actions were considered in the outlook, but strong sales growth and persistency were also observed [68]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, adjusted earnings were reported at $1.6 billion or $2.49 per share, with an adjusted EPS of $2.58, up 24% from $2.08 a year ago, marking MetLife's highest single EPS quarter [11][20] - For the full year 2025, adjusted earnings, excluding notable items, reached $6 billion or $8.89 per share, reflecting a growth of approximately 10% [12][20] - The company achieved a 10% adjusted EPS growth and a 16% adjusted return on equity (ROE) for the year, aligning with its five-year financial commitments [9][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Group Benefits adjusted earnings for Q4 totaled $465 million, up 12% year-over-year, driven by favorable underwriting in life and dental, despite weaker disability results [13][24] - Retirement and Income Solutions (RIS) adjusted earnings were $454 million for Q4, up 18%, benefiting from record origination in pension risk transfers and UK longevity reinsurance [14][25] - Asia adjusted earnings were $444 million, essentially flat year-over-year, with sales growth of 18% on a constant currency basis, primarily driven by Japan and Korea [26] - Latin America adjusted earnings reached $227 million, up 13%, with adjusted PFOs increasing by 25% [27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Asia saw constant currency sales jump 18% in 2025, while Latin America sales rose by 12%, with Mexico leading the growth [7][27] - EMEA adjusted earnings increased by 64%, driven by robust volume growth and favorable underwriting margins [27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company launched the "New Frontier" strategy emphasizing growth, capital deployment, and operational discipline, with a focus on enhancing market leadership [5][10] - MetLife Investment Management (MIM) was established as a new business segment following the acquisition of PineBridge Investments, with $742 billion in assets under management at year-end [6][28] - The company aims to achieve double-digit adjusted EPS growth and maintain a direct expense ratio target of 11.3% over five years, despite a projected increase in 2026 due to the acquisition [9][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to adapt and succeed in various economic environments, highlighting strong business momentum and market leadership [10][18] - The outlook for 2026 includes expectations for double-digit adjusted EPS growth and a stable US dollar, with a focus on maintaining capital flexibility [35][41] Other Important Information - The company returned approximately $4.4 billion to shareholders through stock repurchases and dividends in 2025 [8] - MetLife paid roughly $50 billion in policyholder benefits and claims, emphasizing its commitment to building a confident future for its stakeholders [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on Group Benefits renewal season and pricing - Management noted robust results in persistency, particularly in dental, with good sales growth across the business, including disability [47] Question: Impact of macroeconomic variables in Japan - Management acknowledged macroeconomic volatility affecting sales but maintained a strong value proposition and optimistic outlook for the market [48][49] Question: Change in GAAP earnings for real estate accounting - The change was made to better reflect annual cash flows and returns, aligning with the company's operational cash flow [52][53] Question: Impact of Brighthouse acquisition on MIM - Management expressed excitement about the PineBridge acquisition and its potential to enhance service offerings, with minimal expected impact on EPS from Brighthouse [55][58] Question: Surrender activity in Japan - Management reported a slight increase in surrenders in Q4 but expected them to return to long-term assumptions in 2026 [65]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, MetLife reported adjusted earnings of $1.6 billion or $2.49 per share, with adjusted EPS excluding notable items at $2.58, a 24% increase from $2.08 a year ago, marking the highest single EPS quarter for the company [10][19] - For the full year 2025, adjusted earnings excluding notable items reached $6 billion or $8.89 per share, up roughly 10% [11][19] - The company achieved 10% adjusted EPS growth and an adjusted return on equity (ROE) of 16%, within the target range of 15%-17% [8][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Group Benefits adjusted earnings for Q4 were $465 million, contributing to full-year adjusted earnings of $1.7 billion, with life mortality trends improving [12][22] - Retirement and Income Solutions (RIS) adjusted earnings were $454 million for Q4, up 18%, with full-year earnings also at $1.7 billion, benefiting from record origination in pension risk transfers [13][24] - Asia adjusted earnings were $444 million for Q4, essentially flat year-over-year, while Latin America adjusted earnings rose 13% to $227 million [25][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Asia saw constant currency sales jump 18% in 2025, with Japan contributing significantly, while Latin America sales rose by 12%, led by Mexico [5][26] - EMEA adjusted earnings increased 64%, driven by robust volume growth and favorable underwriting margins [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - MetLife's "New Frontier" strategy emphasizes growth, capital deployment, and operational discipline, with a focus on enhancing market leadership in group benefits and asset management [4][17] - The acquisition of PineBridge Investments established a new business segment, MetLife Investment Management, which had $742 billion in assets under management by year-end [5][27] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving five-year commitments for adjusted EPS, adjusted ROE, and free cash flow, despite evolving macroeconomic conditions [9][34] - The company anticipates continued growth in 2026, with adjusted EPS growth expected to remain in double digits and adjusted ROE targeted at 15%-17% [34] Other Important Information - MetLife returned approximately $4.4 billion to shareholders in 2025 through stock repurchases and dividends, while also funding acquisitions and investments totaling about $1.2 billion [6][15] - The company paid roughly $50 billion in policyholder benefits and claims in 2025, highlighting its commitment to customer service [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on Group Benefits renewal season and pricing - Management noted robust results in persistency, particularly in dental, with good sales growth across the business, including strength in disability [46] Question: Impact of macroeconomic volatility in Japan - Management acknowledged short-term impacts on sales due to macroeconomic fluctuations but emphasized a solid value proposition and strong sales results [48][49] Question: Changes in GAAP earnings for real estate accounting - Management explained the change aimed to better reflect cash flows and returns, aligning with overall economics of the asset class [52][54] Question: Outlook for U.S. retail retirement space - Management highlighted successful execution of flow reinsurance deals, enhancing liability origination and capital flexibility [61][64] Question: Trends in surrender activity in Japan - Management reported a slight increase in surrenders in Q4 but expected them to return to long-term assumptions in 2026 [65] Question: Group disability experience and outlook - Management indicated pressure in disability results but did not expect this to indicate a trend into 2026, citing strong full-year performance [78]

4Q25 Earnings Call Presentation1 John McCallion Chief Financial Officer and Head of MetLife Investment Management 1 These slides highlight information in MetLife, Inc.'s earnings release, quarterly financial supplement and other prior public disclosures. 1 These slides highlight information in MetLife, Inc.'s earnings release, quarterly financial supplement and other prior public disclosures. 1 Table of contents Page No. | Key 2025 highlights | 3 | | --- | --- | | Adjusted earnings by segment and Corporate ...

Core Insights - MetLife, Inc. has a market capitalization of $51.4 billion and operates in six business segments, providing a wide range of financial services including insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management solutions [1] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, MetLife's stock has decreased by 7.8%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which has increased nearly 14% [2] - Year-to-date, MetLife shares are down 1.2%, contrasting with a slight rise in the S&P 500 [2] - The stock has also lagged behind the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF, which has returned 5.5% over the same period [3] Financial Results - MetLife reported strong Q4 2025 results, with net investment income rising to $5.92 billion, driven by favorable market conditions following U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts [5] - Adjusted premiums, fees, and other revenues surged by 29% to $18.61 billion, while adjusted EPS increased by 19% to $2.49 [5] - The company benefited from strong volume growth, improved expense margins, disciplined premium pricing, and solid consumer spending trends [5] Future Earnings Expectations - For the fiscal year ending December 2026, analysts project MetLife's adjusted EPS to grow by 10.9% year-over-year to $9.86 [6] - The company's earnings surprise history is mixed, with two beats and two misses in the last four quarters [6] - Among 19 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with 12 "Strong Buy" ratings and seven "Holds" [6] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Wells Fargo analyst Elyse Greenspan raised MetLife's price target to $97, maintaining an "Overweight" rating [8] - The mean price target of $92.94 suggests a premium of 19.1% to current levels, while the highest price target of $102 implies a potential upside of 30.8% [8]

Core Insights - The company reported a 27.5% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4, reaching $23.81 billion, which fell short of analysts' expectations of $27.22 billion [1] - Adjusted earnings per share were $2.49, exceeding analysts' expectations of $2.34 [1] - Net investment income for the period was $5.92 billion, reflecting a 9.4% year-over-year increase [1]

Core Insights - MetLife reported $24.19 billion in revenue for Q4 2025, a year-over-year increase of 22.6%, with EPS of $2.58 compared to $2.08 a year ago [1] - The revenue fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $30.04 billion, resulting in a surprise of -19.47%, while the EPS exceeded expectations by 9.32% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Adjusted Revenue from Asia's net investment income was $1.41 billion, exceeding the estimated $1.38 billion, reflecting a 12.3% year-over-year increase [4] - Adjusted Revenue from Latin America's premiums reached $1.44 billion, surpassing the $1.24 billion estimate, marking a 31.4% year-over-year growth [4] - Adjusted Revenue from Asia's premiums was $1.22 billion, slightly below the $1.23 billion estimate, showing a 1.3% year-over-year increase [4] - Adjusted Revenue from EMEA's premiums was $679 million, exceeding the $627.25 million estimate, with a year-over-year change of 19.5% [4] - Total revenue from net investment income was $5.92 billion, above the $5.5 billion estimate, representing a 9.6% year-over-year increase [4] - Other revenues amounted to $737 million, surpassing the $661.92 million estimate, with a year-over-year change of 15% [4] - Universal life and investment-type product policy fees generated $1.27 billion, slightly above the $1.26 billion estimate, reflecting a 4.2% year-over-year increase [4] - Total adjusted revenue for Group Benefits was $6.65 billion, slightly below the $6.71 billion estimate, with a year-over-year change of 2.3% [4] - Adjusted Revenue for Retirement & Income Solutions from universal life and investment-type product policy fees was $104 million, exceeding the $98.69 million estimate, marking a 5.1% year-over-year increase [4] - Adjusted Revenue for Retirement & Income Solutions from net investment income was $2.23 billion, above the $2.19 billion estimate, reflecting a 4% year-over-year increase [4] - Adjusted Revenue for Retirement & Income Solutions from other revenues was $75 million, surpassing the $62.52 million estimate, with a year-over-year change of 23% [4] Stock Performance - MetLife's shares have returned -5.3% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite increased by 0.9% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance compared to the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Performance - Total revenues for Q4 2025 reached $18.666 billion, an increase from $17.361 billion in Q3 2025[4] - Net income attributable to MetLife, Inc. for Q4 2025 was $1.239 billion, compared to $818 million in Q3 2025, reflecting a 51.5% increase[4] - Premiums for Q4 2025 were $12.617 billion, up from $10.555 billion in Q3 2025, representing a 19.5% growth[4] - Net investment income for Q4 2025 was $5.405 billion, an increase from $6.089 billion in Q3 2025[4] - Policyholder benefits and claims for Q4 2025 totaled $12.572 billion, compared to $10.369 billion in Q3 2025, indicating a 21.2% rise[4] - Total expenses for Q4 2025 were $17.285 billion, up from $16.151 billion in Q3 2025[4] - The company reported a net income of $4.426 billion for the full year 2025, compared to $3.379 billion in 2024, marking a 31.0% increase[4] - Adjusted earnings available to common shareholders for Q4 2025 were $1.239 billion, compared to $879 million in Q3 2025[4] Investment Performance - Net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $22,559 million, compared to $21,273 million in 2024, reflecting an increase of about 6.0%[11] - The company reported net investment gains (losses) of $(1,145) million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $(1,184) million in 2024, showing an improvement in investment performance[11] - Variable investment income included in net investment income for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $1,502 million, up from $1,013 million in 2024, indicating a significant increase of approximately 48.4%[11] - The company reported a net investment loss of $311 million in Q4 2024, compared to a loss of $387 million in Q1 2025[5] - Net investment income including divested businesses for the year ended December 31, 2025 is $21,433 million[57] Assets and Liabilities - Total assets increased from $677,457 million in December 2024 to $745,166 million in December 2025, representing a growth of 10%[19] - Total liabilities increased from $649,754 million in December 2024 to $716,245 million in December 2025, marking an increase of 10%[19] - Policyholder account balances grew from $221,445 million in December 2024 to $236,857 million in December 2025, an increase of 7%[19] - Future policy benefits at the end of December 2025 are projected to be $84,988 million, up from $71,510 million at the end of December 2024, representing a growth of approximately 18.8%[27] Earnings and Shareholder Equity - Adjusted earnings available to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2025, were $1,692 million, compared to $1,606 million in 2024, reflecting an increase of 5.4%[22] - Total MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders' equity as of December 31, 2024, was $27,445 million, increasing to $28,398 million by December 31, 2025[76] - Common stockholders' equity rose from $23,627 million on December 31, 2024, to $25,568 million by December 31, 2025[76] - Book value per common share increased from $34.28 on December 31, 2024, to $39.02 by December 31, 2025[76] Segment Performance - Group Benefits segment adjusted earnings increased from $526 million in December 2024 to $589 million in March 2025, a rise of 12%[20] - Asia segment adjusted earnings showed a significant increase from $489 million in June 2025 to $752 million in September 2025, a growth of 54%[20] - Adjusted earnings available to common shareholders in EMEA for December 31, 2024, were $59 million, projected to increase to $97 million by December 31, 2025, representing a growth of 64.4%[44] Expenses - Total adjusted expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025, were $24,739 million, compared to $24,091 million in 2024, reflecting an increase of 2.7%[22] - Adjusted other expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2025, totaled $1,100 million, an increase from $1,041 million in December 2024, reflecting a rise of 5.7%[23] - Employee-related costs for the year ended December 31, 2025, were $3,834 million, an increase from $3,696 million in 2024[18] Future Projections - The company anticipates continued growth in adjusted earnings, with a target of $1,709 million for Q4 2025[5] - The company plans to continue focusing on market expansion and new product development to drive future growth[46] - The company anticipates adjusted premiums, fees, and other revenues to reach $18,614 million for the full year 2025, indicating growth potential[79] Notable Items - Total notable items for the year ended December 31, 2025, included a positive impact of $26 million, while notable items for the year ended December 31, 2024, had a negative impact of $43 million[71] - Total notable items reflect unexpected impacts on MetLife's results, which can affect the company's performance positively or negatively[77]

MetLife reported a rise in fourth-quarter adjusted profit on Wednesday, as the insurer was helped by a stronger return on its investment portfolio. ...

Core Viewpoint - MetLife, Inc. is considered one of the best cheap stocks to buy for 2026, despite a recent downgrade by Evercore ISI, which lowered its rating to "In Line" and cut the price target from $108 to $97 [1][3]. Group 1: Analyst Downgrade and Earnings Estimates - Evercore ISI's downgrade was influenced by concerns over potential downside to consensus forward earnings, indicating a weakening of MetLife's earnings expectations compared to previous market anticipations [3]. - The firm reduced its 2026 earnings estimate for MetLife by approximately 3.5% and noted that its initial 2027 earnings estimate was about 4-5% below consensus expectations [3]. Group 2: Valuation and Risk Factors - Analysts expressed valuation concerns, stating that MetLife's stock appears relatively expensive compared to mid-cap peers, although it remains cheaper than some larger competitors [3]. - Specific concerns were raised regarding low new money spreads on public corporate bonds and MetLife's higher risk commercial mortgage loan portfolio compared to peers, which was described as a "double-edged sword" for the stock [4]. Group 3: Growth Opportunities - Despite the risks, MetLife has demonstrated impressive growth in Asia, which could serve as a positive factor for the company [5]. - Analysts noted that risk transfer deals could act as a potential catalyst for MetLife's stock performance [5]. Group 4: Company Overview - MetLife, Inc. provides a range of services including insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management across the United States and international markets, covering life, dental, disability, property, and casualty insurance, as well as retirement and savings products [6].