Wrapping up Q2 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the life insurance stocks, including Jackson Financial (NYSE: JXN) and its peers.

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 slower Q2. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 6.6% on average since the latest earnings results.

Jackson Financial (NYSE: JXN)

Spun off from British insurer Prudential plc in 2021 after more than 60 years as its U.S. subsidiary, Jackson Financial (NYSE: JXN) offers annuity products and retirement solutions that help Americans grow and protect their retirement savings and income.

Jackson Financial reported revenues of $1.75 billion, up 1.4% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company.

Laura Prieskorn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jackson, stated, “Our second quarter results underscore the continued strength of our business and our steady progress toward achieving strategic objectives. We delivered another quarter of year-over-year growth in retail annuity sales, driven by our well-diversified product portfolio which now includes our recently launched Jackson Market Link Pro® III and Jackson Market Link Pro Advisory® III. Our robust in-force book generated free cash flow of $290 million for the quarter—significantly surpassing the $229 million generated during the second quarter of 2024—and exceeded $1 billion over the twelve months ended June 30, 2025. We also returned $216 million to common shareholders, maintained an estimated RBC ratio well above our target, and further strengthened our already substantial excess cash position at the holding company. We are confident in our ability to sustain this positive momentum throughout 2025 as we continue to help Americans secure their financial futures.”

Interestingly, the stock is up 14.7% since reporting and currently trades at $99.25.

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

Best Q2: 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 $4.43 billion, up 6.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.6%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 2.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $33.88.

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

Weakest Q2: Equitable Holdings (NYSE: EQH)

Tracing its roots back to 1859 as one of America's oldest financial institutions, Equitable Holdings (NYSE: EQH) provides retirement planning, asset management, and life insurance products through its two main franchises, Equitable and AllianceBernstein.

Equitable Holdings reported revenues of $3.80 billion, up 5.1% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 4.5%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 5.9% since the results and currently trades at $53.91.

Read our full analysis of Equitable Holdings’s results here.

Horace Mann Educators (NYSE: HMN)

Founded in 1945 and named after the 19th-century education reformer known as the "father of American public education," Horace Mann Educators (NYSE: HMN) is an insurance company that specializes in providing auto, property, life, and retirement products tailored for educators and other public service employees.

Horace Mann Educators reported revenues of $411.7 million, up 6.1% year on year. This number came in 3.5% below analysts' expectations. It was a slower quarter as it also produced a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates and a slight miss of analysts’ net premiums earned estimates.

The stock is up 12.5% since reporting and currently trades at $47.57.

Read our full, actionable report on Horace Mann Educators here, it’s free.

Aflac (NYSE: AFL)

Known for its iconic duck mascot that has quacked "Aflac!" in commercials since 2000, Aflac (NYSE: AFL) provides supplemental health and life insurance policies that pay cash benefits directly to policyholders for expenses not covered by their primary insurance.

Aflac reported revenues of $4.54 billion, up 3.5% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 3.1%. However, it was a slower quarter as it recorded a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 9.8% since reporting and currently trades at $108.69.

Read our full, actionable report on Aflac 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.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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