Let’s dig into the relative performance of CNO Financial Group (NYSE: CNO) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q1 life insurance earnings season.

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 15 life insurance stocks we track reported a softer Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.1%.

While some life insurance stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 3.6% since the latest earnings results.

CNO Financial Group (NYSE: CNO)

Rebranded from Conseco in 2010 to signal a fresh start after navigating financial challenges, CNO Financial Group (NYSE: CNO) develops and markets health insurance, annuities, and life insurance products primarily targeting middle-income pre-retirees and retirees.

CNO Financial Group reported revenues of $948.6 million, up 5.7% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates and EPS in line with analysts’ estimates.

"Our first quarter results enable us to reaffirm our full-year 2025 and three-year return on equity guidance," said Gary C. Bhojwani, chief executive officer.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 8% since reporting and currently trades at $36.69.

Read our full report on CNO Financial Group here, it’s free.

Best Q1: 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 $4.74 billion, down 19.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.9%. The business had a satisfactory quarter.

Corebridge Financial scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 5.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $34.75.

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

Weakest Q1: 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 $930 million, down 40.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 36.9%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ net premiums earned estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

F&G Annuities & Life delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 12.7% since the results and currently trades at $31.32.

Read our full analysis of F&G Annuities & Life’s results here.

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 $3.30 billion, up 3% year on year. This result missed analysts’ expectations by 1%. Overall, it was a softer quarter as it also logged a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates and a miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 2.1% since reporting and currently trades at $80.43.

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

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 $2.16 billion, up 5.2% year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 5.3%. It was a disappointing quarter as it also produced a significant miss of analysts’ net premiums earned estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates.

The stock is down 11.9% since reporting and currently trades at $51.

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

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.

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