Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Globe Life (NYSE: GL) and the best and worst performers in the life insurance industry.
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 12 life insurance stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.8%.
In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 1% on average since the latest earnings results.
Globe Life (NYSE: GL)
With roots dating back to 1900 and a rebranding from Torchmark Corporation in 2019, Globe Life (NYSE: GL) is an insurance holding company that offers life insurance, supplemental health insurance, and annuity products through various distribution channels.
Globe Life reported revenues of $1.61 billion, up 6% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a sluggish quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates and a miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The market seems disappointed with the results as the stock is down 5.2% since reporting and currently trades at $160.78.
Read our full report on Globe Life here, it’s free.
Best Q3: 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 $4.30 billion, down 2.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. The business had an impressive quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ book value per share estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
However, the results were likely priced into the stock as it’s traded sideways since reporting. Shares currently sit at $125.22.
Is now the time to buy Aflac? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Slowest Q3: 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 $2.10 billion, down 3.1% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 4.1%. It was an underwhelming quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates.
Interestingly, the stock is up 7% since the results and currently trades at $43.97.
Read our full analysis of Brighthouse Financial’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 $3.40 billion, up 4.6% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 11%. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ net premiums earned estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates.
Unum Group pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat in the group. The stock is down 13% since reporting and currently trades at $79.24.
Read our full, actionable report on Unum Group here, it’s free.
MetLife (NYSE: MET)
Founded in 1863 by a group of New York businessmen during the Civil War era, MetLife (NYSE: MET) is a global financial services company that provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services to individuals and businesses worldwide.
MetLife reported revenues of $19.91 billion, up 11.2% year on year. This result was in line with analysts’ expectations. Overall, it was a solid quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ net premiums earned estimates.
MetLife delivered the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 1.1% since reporting and currently trades at $101.79.
Read our full, actionable report on MetLife here, it’s free.
Market update
Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.
Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.
By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
