Aflac stock extends dividend streak after mixed Q3 results
Published on 11/06/2026 at 16:55 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSMixed Results, Stronger U.S. Operations
- Aflac's U.S. segment increased pretax adjusted earnings while premium growth continued.
- Japan earnings weakened as benefits rose and the yen reduced dollar results.
- The company declared its 44th consecutive annual dividend increase.
Aflac Incorporated reported mixed third-quarter results on November 4, with portfolio repositioning losses weighing on reported earnings while its U.S. insurance business delivered stronger operating performance. The company also declared its 44th consecutive annual dividend increase, according to Aflac's results release published by PR Newswire.
U.S. Profitability Improves
Aflac U.S. net earned premiums rose 3.3 percent year over year to 1.5 billion US dollars. Pretax adjusted earnings increased 31.5 percent to 493 million US dollars, lifting the segment margin to 27.7 percent from 21.7 percent. Sales advanced 3.5 percent to 403 million US dollars, supported by network dental, group life and disability products.
The U.S. benefit ratio improved to 40.7 percent from 45.6 percent, while premium persistency rose to 79.7 percent. The release attributed the earnings improvement partly to higher reserve remeasurement gains following an actuarial assumption update.
Japan Results Remain Weaker
Aflac Japan's net earned premiums fell 2.0 percent in yen to 240.3 billion yen. Pretax adjusted earnings declined 15.2 percent in yen to 152.3 billion yen, while the segment margin narrowed to 44.4 percent from 52.2 percent. In US dollar terms, pretax adjusted earnings fell 21.0 percent to 961 million US dollars.
At group level, net earnings dropped to 303 million US dollars from 1.6 billion US dollars a year earlier. The decline primarily reflected 1.1 billion US dollars of net investment losses linked to the portfolio repositioning. Adjusted earnings per diluted share fell 2.4 percent to 2.43 US dollars, a non-GAAP measure that excludes items management considers outside the underlying insurance operations.
Capital Returns Stay In Focus
Aflac returned 1.1 billion US dollars to shareholders during the quarter through 804 million US dollars of repurchases and 305 million US dollars of dividends. The board declared a fourth-quarter dividend of 0.61 US dollars per share, payable on December 1 to shareholders of record on November 18.
Aflac stock traded at 112.35 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 16:40 CET on Friday, November 6; the real-time quote of Aflac stock is available here.
Aflac Incorporated
- Company: Aflac Incorporated
- ISIN: US0010551028
- Ticker: AFL
- Home exchange: New York Stock Exchange
- Lang & Schwarz quote: 112.35 euros on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 16:40 CET
- Dividend: 0.61 US dollars per share for the fourth quarter
U.S. insurance profitability and capital returns remain central themes for the S&P 500 market environment; see the latest S&P 500 market coverage.
