Skip to main content

AFLAC INC

For the period ended Dec 31, 2025. Filed Feb 25, 2026.

View on SEC.gov

About this filing

A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2025 · Filed Feb 25, 2026

AFL$125.22+0.9%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.

See the whole filing, with its images and exhibits
Contents

Item 7. Results of Operations

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company earns its revenues principally from insurance premiums and investments. The Company’s operating expenses primarily consist of insurance benefits provided and reserves established for anticipated future insurance benefits, general business expenses, commissions and other costs of selling and servicing its products. Profitability for the Company depends principally on its ability to price its insurance products at a level that enables the Company to earn a margin over the costs associated with providing benefits and administering those products. Profitability also depends on, among other items, actuarial and policyholder behavior experience on insurance products, and the Company's ability to attract and retain customer assets, generate and maintain favorable investment results, effectively deploy capital and utilize tax capacity, and manage expenses.

This document includes references to the Company’s financial performance measures which are not calculated in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) (non-U.S. GAAP). The financial measures exclude items that the Company believes may obscure the underlying fundamentals and trends in insurance operations because they tend to be driven by general economic conditions and events or related to infrequent activities not directly associated with insurance operations.

Due to the size of Aflac Japan, where the functional currency is the Japanese yen, fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate can have a significant effect on reported results. In periods when the Japanese yen weakens, translating Japanese yen into U.S. dollars results in fewer U.S. dollars being reported. When the Japanese yen strengthens, translating Japanese yen into U.S. dollars results in more U.S. dollars being reported. Consequently, Japanese yen weakening has the effect of suppressing current period results in relation to the comparable prior period, while Japanese yen strengthening has the effect of magnifying current period results in relation to the comparable prior period. A significant portion of the Company’s business is conducted in Japanese yen and never converted into U.S. dollars but translated into U.S. dollars for U.S. GAAP reporting purposes, which results in foreign currency impact to earnings, cash flows and book value on a U.S. GAAP basis. Management evaluates the Company's financial performance both including and excluding the impact of foreign currency translation to monitor, respectively, cumulative currency impacts and the currency-neutral operating performance over time. The average yen/dollar exchange rate is based on the published MUFG Bank, Ltd. telegraphic transfer middle rate (TTM).

The Company defines the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures included in this document as follows:

Adjusted earnings are adjusted revenues less benefits and adjusted expenses. Adjusted earnings per share (basic or diluted) are the adjusted earnings for the period divided by the weighted average outstanding shares (basic or diluted) for the period presented. The adjustments to both revenues and expenses account for certain items that are outside of management’s control because they tend to be driven by general economic conditions and events or are related to infrequent activities not directly associated with insurance operations. Adjusted revenues are U.S. GAAP total revenues excluding adjusted net investment gains and losses. Adjusted expenses are U.S. GAAP total acquisition and operating expenses including the impact of interest from derivatives associated with notes payable but excluding any non-recurring or other items not associated with the normal course of the Company’s insurance operations and that do not reflect the Company's underlying business performance. Management uses adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to evaluate the financial performance of the Company’s insurance operations on a consolidated basis and believes that a presentation of these financial measures is vitally important to an understanding of the underlying profitability drivers and trends of the Company’s insurance business. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share (basic or diluted) are net earnings and net earnings per share, respectively.

Adjusted net investment gains and lossesare net investment gains and losses adjusted for i) amortized hedge cost/income related to foreign currency exposure management strategies and certain derivative activity, ii) net interest income/expense from foreign currency and interest rate derivatives associated with certain investment strategies, which are both reclassified to net investment income, and iii) the impact of interest from derivatives associated with notes payable, which is reclassified to interest expense as a component of total adjusted expenses. The Company considers adjusted net investment gains and losses important as it represents the remainder amount that is considered outside management’s control, while excluding the components that are within management’s control and are accordingly reclassified to net investment income and interest expense. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for adjusted net investment gains and losses is net investment gains and losses.

Amortized hedge costs/income represent costs/income incurred or recognized as a result of using foreign currency derivatives to hedge certain foreign currency exchange risks in the Company's Japan segment or in Corporate and other. These amortized hedge costs/income are estimated at the inception of the derivatives based on the specific terms of each contract and are recognized on a straight-line basis over the contractual term of the derivative. The Company believes that amortized hedge costs/income measure the periodic currency risk management costs/income related to hedging certain foreign currency exchange risks and are an important component of net investment income. There is no comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for amortized hedge costs/income.

Adjusted earnings excluding current period foreign currency impact are computed using the average foreign exchange rate for the comparable prior-year period, which eliminates fluctuations driven solely by foreign exchange rate changes. Adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact is adjusted earnings excluding current period foreign currency impact divided by the weighted average outstanding diluted shares for the period presented. The Company considers adjusted earnings excluding current period foreign currency impact and adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact important because a significant portion of the Company's business is conducted in Japan and foreign exchange rates are outside management’s control; therefore, the Company believes it is important to understand the impact of translating foreign currency (primarily Japanese yen) into U.S. dollars. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for adjusted earnings excluding current period foreign currency impact and adjusted earnings per diluted share excluding current period foreign currency impact are net earnings and net earnings per share, respectively.

Adjusted book valueis the U.S. GAAP book value (representing total shareholders’ equity), less accumulated other comprehensive income as recorded on the U.S. GAAP balance sheet. Adjusted book value per common share is adjusted book value at the period end divided by the ending outstanding common shares for the period presented. The Company considers adjusted book value and adjusted book value per common share important as they exclude accumulated other comprehensive income, which fluctuates due to market movements that are outside management’s control. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for adjusted book value and adjusted book value per common share are total book value and total book value per common share, respectively.

Adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurementis the U.S. GAAP book value (representing total shareholders’ equity), less accumulated other comprehensive income as recorded on the U.S. GAAP balance sheet and excluding the cumulative (beginning January 1, 2021) foreign currency gains/losses associated with i) foreign currency remeasurement and ii) sales and redemptions of invested assets. Adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement per common share is adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement at the period end divided by the ending outstanding common shares for the period presented. The Company considers adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement and adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement per common share important as they exclude both accumulated other comprehensive income and the cumulative foreign currency remeasurement gains/losses, which fluctuate due to market movements that are outside management's control. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures for adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement and adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement per common share are total book value and total book value per common share, respectively.

Adjusted return on equity is annualized adjusted earnings divided by average shareholders’ equity, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income. Management uses adjusted return on equity to evaluate the financial performance of the Company’s insurance operations on a consolidated basis and believes that a presentation of this financial measure is vitally important to an understanding of the underlying profitability drivers and trends of the Company’s insurance business. The Company considers adjusted return on equity important as it excludes components of accumulated other comprehensive income, which fluctuate due to market movements that are outside management's control. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for adjusted return on equity is return on equity as determined using annualized net earnings and average total shareholders’ equity.

Adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency remeasurementis annualized adjusted earnings divided by average shareholders’ equity, excluding both accumulated other comprehensive income and the cumulative (beginning January 1, 2021) foreign currency gains/losses associated with i) foreign currency remeasurement and ii) sales and redemptions of invested assets. The Company considers adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency remeasurement important because it excludes both accumulated other comprehensive income and the cumulative foreign currency remeasurement gains/losses, which fluctuate due to market movements that are outside management's control. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency remeasurement is return on equity as determined using annualized net earnings and average total shareholders’ equity.

U.S. dollar-denominated investment income excluding foreign currency impact represents amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income using the average foreign exchange rate for the comparable prior year period. The Company considers U.S. dollar-denominated investment income excluding foreign currency impact important as it eliminates the impact of foreign currency changes on the Aflac Japan segment results, which are outside management’s control. The most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure for U.S. dollar-denominated investment income excluding foreign currency impact is the corresponding net investment income amount from the U.S. dollar denominated investments translated to yen.

The following table is a reconciliation of items impacting adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per diluted share to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures of net earnings and net earnings per diluted share, respectively, for the years ended December 31.

Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Adjusted Earnings

In Millions · Per Diluted Share
2025 · 2024 · 2025 · 2024
Net earnings$3,646$5,443$6.82$9.63
Items impacting net earnings:
Adjusted net investment (gains) losses (1)375(1,495).70(2.65)
Other and non-recurring (income) loss5423.10.04
Income tax (benefit) expense on items excluded from adjusted earnings(67)101(.13).18
Adjusted earnings4,0084,0727.497.21
Current period foreign currency impact (2)(19)N/A(.04)N/A
Adjusted earnings excluding current period foreign currency impact$3,989$4,072$7.46$7.21

(1) See reconciliation of net investment (gains) losses to adjusted net investment (gains) losses below.

(2) Prior period foreign currency impact reflected as “N/A” to isolate change for current period only.

Reconciling Items

Net Investment Gains and Losses

The following table is a reconciliation of items impacting adjusted net investment (gains) losses to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure of net investment (gains) losses for the years ended December 31.

Reconciliation of Net Investment (Gains) Losses to Adjusted Net Investment (Gains) Losses

(In millions)20252024
Net investment (gains) losses$572$(1,271)
Items impacting net investment (gains) losses:
Amortized hedge costs(45)(26)
Amortized hedge income98113
Net interest income (expense) from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies(252)(338)
Impact of interest from derivatives associated with notes payable227
Adjusted net investment (gains) losses$375$(1,495)

The Company's investment strategy is to invest primarily in fixed maturity securities to provide a reliable stream of investment income, which is one of the drivers of the Company’s profitability. This investment strategy incorporates asset-liability matching to align the expected cash flows of the portfolio to the needs of the Company's liability structure. The Company does not purchase securities with the intent of generating investment gains or losses. However, investment gains and losses may be realized as a result of changes in the financial markets and the creditworthiness of specific issuers, tax planning strategies, and/or general portfolio management and rebalancing. The realization of investment gains and losses is independent of the underwriting and administration of the Company's insurance products.

Net investment gains and losses excluded from adjusted earnings include the following:

Securities Transactions

Credit Losses

Changes in the Fair Value of Equity Securities

Certain Derivative and Foreign Currency Activities.

Securities Transactions, Credit Losses and Changes in the Fair Value of Equity Securities

Securities transactions include gains and losses from sales and redemptions of investments where the amount received is different from the amortized cost of the investment. Credit losses include losses for held-to-maturity securities, available-for-sale securities, loan receivables, loan commitments and reinsurance recoverables. Changes in the fair value of equity securities are the result of gains or losses driven by fluctuations in market prices.

Certain Derivative and Foreign Currency Activities

The Company's derivative activities include:

foreign currency forwards and options used in hedging foreign currency exchange risk on U.S. dollar-denominated investments held by Aflac Japan, with options used on a standalone basis and/or in a collar strategy;

foreign currency forwards and options used to economically hedge certain portions of forecasted cash flows denominated in Japanese yen and hedge the Company's long-term exposure to a weakening Japanese yen;

foreign currency swaps used to economically hedge the foreign currency exchange risk associated with certain investments denominated in other foreign currencies held by Aflac Japan;

cross-currency swaps, also referred to as foreign currency swaps, associated with certain senior notes and subordinated debentures;

foreign currency swaps that are associated with variable interest entity (VIE) bond purchase commitments, and investments in special-purpose entities, including VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary;

foreign currency forwards used to economically hedge the foreign currency exchange risk associated with certain investments denominated in other foreign currencies held by Aflac Japan;

interest rate swaps used to economically hedge interest rate fluctuations in certain variable-rate investments;

interest rate swaptions (swaptions) used to hedge changes in the fair value associated with interest rate fluctuations for certain U.S. dollar-denominated available-for-sale securities; and

bond purchase commitments at the inception of investments in consolidated VIEs.

Gains and losses are recognized as a result of valuing these derivatives, net of the effects of hedge accounting.

The Company also excludes from adjusted earnings the accounting impacts of foreign currency remeasurement associated with changes in the foreign exchange rate.

For additional information regarding net investment gains and losses, including details of reported amounts for the periods presented, see Notes 3 and 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other and Non-recurring Items

The U.S. insurance industry has a policyholder protection system that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers. The system can result in periodic charges to the Company as a result of insolvencies/bankruptcies that occur with other companies in the life insurance industry. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. These charges neither relate to the ordinary course of the Company’s business nor reflect the Company’s underlying business performance, but result from external situations not controlled by the Company. The Company excludes any charges associated with U.S. guaranty fund assessments and the corresponding tax benefit or expense from adjusted earnings.

In Japan, the government also requires the insurance industry to contribute to a policyholder protection corporation that provides funds for the policyholders of insolvent insurers; however, these costs are calculated and administered differently than in the U.S. In Japan, these costs are not directly related to specific insolvencies or bankruptcies, but are rather a regular operational cost for an insurance company. Based on this structure, the Company does not remove the Japan policyholder protection expenses from adjusted earnings.

The Company considers the costs associated with the early redemption of its debt to be unrelated to the underlying fundamentals and trends in its insurance operations. Additionally, these costs are driven by changes in interest rates subsequent to the issuance of the debt, and the Company considers these interest rate changes to represent economic conditions not directly associated with its insurance operations.

In 2025, as part of the U.S. defined benefit plan freeze effective January 1, 2024, the Company purchased a nonparticipating single premium group annuity contract from an external insurer to settle its obligations under the plan and paid to the insurer the related annuity premium. As a result, the Company recognized a settlement charge of $55 million in 2025. The settlement charge was both unusual and non-recurring; therefore, the Company excluded the settlement charge from adjusted earnings.

In 2024, as part of the U.S. defined benefit plan freeze effective January 1, 2024, the Company offered lump sum payments to certain participants. The lump sum payments were distributed in the fourth quarter of 2024 and resulted in a settlement charge of $18 million in 2024 due to the payments being greater than the settlement threshold. The settlement charge was both unusual and non-recurring and unrelated to other recurring benefit costs associated with the plan; therefore, the Company excluded the settlement charge from adjusted earnings.

Foreign Currency Translation

Aflac Japan’s premiums and a significant portion of its investment income are received in Japanese yen, and its claims and most expenses are paid in Japanese yen. Aflac Japan purchases Japanese yen-denominated assets and U.S. dollar-denominated assets, which may be hedged to Japanese yen, to support Japanese yen-denominated policy liabilities. Japanese yen-denominated income statement accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using the weighted average yen/dollar foreign exchange rate for the reporting period, except realized gains and losses on securities transactions which are translated at the foreign exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Japanese yen-denominated balance sheet accounts are translated to U.S. dollars using the spot yen/dollar exchange rate at the end of the reporting period.

In recent periods, the Japanese yen has weakened against the U.S. dollar. Although the Company is unable to predict the timing or extent of future movements of the yen/dollar exchange rate, the Company maintains hedging strategies (see the Hedging Activities section of this MD&A) that are intended to mitigate the impacts of Japanese yen fluctuation on the Company’s financial position and results of operations. See the risk factor entitled “The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in the yen/dollar exchange rate” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors for more information.

Income Taxes

The Company's combined U.S. and Japanese effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was 19.6% in 2025 and 15.2% in 2024. The combined effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to the impact of tax credits from federal historic rehabilitation and solar investments in partnerships and the exclusion of foreign currency translation gains and losses on certain Aflac Japan U.S. dollar-denominated investments held in the Delaware Statutory Trust. Total income taxes were $887 million in 2025 and $974 million in 2024. Japanese income taxes on Aflac Japan's results account for most of the Company's consolidated income tax expense.

For additional information, see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Critical Accounting Estimates - Income Taxes section of this MD&A. The effective tax rate continues to be subject to future tax law changes both in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions. See the risk factor entitled "Tax rates applicable to the Company may change" in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors for additional information.

Reconciliation of Book Value to Adjusted Book Value

(Excluding Foreign Currency Remeasurement)

The following table is a reconciliation of items impacting adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement and adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement per common share to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures of book value and book value per common share, respectively, for the years ended December 31.

(In millions, except for share and per-share amounts)20252024
U.S. GAAP book value$29,490$26,098
Items impacting U.S. GAAP book value:
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)(4,847)(4,998)
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities and derivatives(1,822)4
Effect of changes in discount rate assumptions8,0352,006
Pension liability adjustment8610
Total accumulated other comprehensive income1,452(2,978)
Adjusted book value28,03829,076
Foreign currency remeasurement gains (losses)5,9105,725
Adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement22,12823,351
Number of shares outstanding at end of period518,690549,964
U.S. GAAP book value per common share$56.85$47.45
Items impacting U.S. GAAP book value per common share:
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) per common share(9.34)(9.09)
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities and derivatives per common share(3.51).01
Effect of changes in discount rate assumptions per common share15.493.65
Pension liability adjustment per common share.17.02
Total accumulated other comprehensive income per common share2.80(5.41)
Adjusted book value per common share54.0652.87
Foreign currency remeasurement gains (losses) per common share11.3910.41
Adjusted book value excluding foreign currency remeasurement per common share42.6642.46

Reconciliation of Return on Equity to Adjusted Return on Equity

(Excluding Foreign Currency Remeasurement)

The following table is a reconciliation of items impacting adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency remeasurement to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure of return on equity for the years ended December 31.

20252024
U.S. GAAP return on equity - net earnings (1)13.1%22.6%
Impact of excluding unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses)(2.6)(3.6)
Impact of excluding unrealized gains (losses) on securities and derivatives(.5).4
Impact of excluding effect of changes in discount rate assumptions2.6(.2)
Impact of excluding pension liability adjustment.0.0
Impact of excluding accumulated other comprehensive income(.4)(3.4)
U.S. GAAP return on equity less accumulated other comprehensive income12.819.2
Differences between adjusted earnings and net earnings (2)1.3(4.8)
Adjusted return on equity - reported14.014.4
Impact of excluding gains (losses) associated with foreign currency remeasurement (3)3.62.9
Adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency remeasurement17.617.3

(1)U.S. GAAP return on equity is calculated by dividing net earnings (annualized) by average shareholders' equity.

(2)See separate reconciliation of net earnings to adjusted earnings above.

(3)Impact of gains/losses associated with foreign currency remeasurement is calculated by excluding the cumulative (beginning January 1, 2021) foreign currency gains/losses associated with i) foreign currency remeasurement and ii) sales and redemptions of invested assets. The impact is the difference of adjusted return on equity - reported compared with adjusted return on equity, excluding from shareholders' equity, gains/losses associated with foreign currency remeasurement.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT

U.S. GAAP financial reporting requires that a company report financial and descriptive information about operating segments in its annual and interim period financial statements. Furthermore, the Company is required to report a measure of segment profit or loss, certain revenue and expense items and segment assets. The Company's insurance business consists of two segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. Aflac Japan is the principal contributor to consolidated earnings. In addition, the Parent Company, other business units that are not individually reportable, reinsurance activities, including internal reinsurance activity with Aflac Re, and other business activities not included in Aflac Japan or Aflac U.S., as well as intercompany eliminations, are included in Corporate and other. See Item 1. Business for a summary of each segment's products and distribution channels.

Consistent with U.S. GAAP guidance for segment reporting, pretax adjusted earnings is the Company's U.S. GAAP measure of segment performance. The Company believes that a presentation of this measure is vitally important to an understanding of the underlying profitability drivers and trends of its business. Additional performance measures used to evaluate the financial condition and performance of the Company's segments are listed below.

Operating Ratios

New Annualized Premium Sales

New Money Yield

Return on Average Invested Assets

Portfolio Book Yield

Average Weekly Producer

Premium Persistency

For additional information on the Company’s performance measures included in this MD&A, see the Glossary of Selected Terms found directly following Part IV. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the reconciliation of segment results to the Company's consolidated U.S. GAAP results and additional information.

AFLAC JAPAN SEGMENT

Aflac Japan Pretax Adjusted Earnings

Changes in Aflac Japan's pretax adjusted earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.

Aflac Japan Summary of Operating Results

In Dollars · In Yen
(In millions of dollars and billions of yen) · 2025 · 2024 · 2025 · 2024
Net earned premiums (1)$6,744$6,930¥1,009¥1,050
Net investment income: (2)
Yen-denominated investment income894879134133
U.S. dollar-denominated investment income1,7321,849259281
Net investment income2,6262,727393414
Amortized hedge costs452674
Adjusted net investment income2,5812,701386410
Other income (loss)322854
Total adjusted revenues9,3579,6591,3991,464
Benefits and claims:
Benefits and claims, excluding reserve remeasurement4,5284,761678721
Reserve remeasurement (gains) losses(529)(444)(79)(64)
Total benefits and claims, net3,9994,317599657
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs3233214849
Insurance commissions4274356466
Insurance and other expenses1,1681,092175165
Total adjusted expenses1,9181,848287280
Total benefits and adjusted expenses5,9176,165886936
Pretax adjusted earnings$3,440$3,494¥514¥528
Weighted-average yen/dollar exchange rate149.32150.97——
Percentage change over previous period:
Net earned premiums(2.7)%(13.9)%(3.9)%(6.9)%
Adjusted net investment income(4.4)4.6(5.9)12.1
Total adjusted revenues(3.1)(9.4)(4.4)(2.3)
Total benefits and claims, net(7.4)(18.7)(8.8)(11.8)
Total adjusted expenses3.8(12.7)2.6(5.8)
Pretax adjusted earnings(1.5)8.0(2.7)15.5

(1)Includes a gain (loss) of $(52) and $(81) in 2025 and 2024, respectively, related to remeasurement of the deferred profit liability for limited-payment contracts.

(2) Net interest income/expense from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(228) and $(305) in 2025 and 2024, respectively, have been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.

In 2025, operating results in Japanese yen terms compared to the previous year were as follows:

Net earned premiums decreased primarily due to approximately ¥21 billion related to the internal cancer reinsurance transaction with Aflac Re established in the fourth quarter of 2024 and approximately ¥15 billion from limited-pay products reaching premium paid-up status. Net earned premiums also reflect a remeasurement loss of approximately ¥8 billion related to assumption updates of the deferred profit liability for limited-payment contracts in the third quarter of 2025, compared to a remeasurement loss of approximately ¥11 billion in the third quarter of 2024.

Adjusted net investment income decreased primarily due to lower floating rate income from U.S. dollar-denominated investments.

Total adjusted revenues decreased primarily due to the decreases in net earned premiums and adjusted net investment income.

Total benefits and claims decreased primarily due to ¥68 billion of reserve remeasurement gains related to assumption updates in the third quarter of 2025, compared to reserve remeasurement gains of approximately ¥50 billion in the third quarter of 2024, as well as the internal cancer reinsurance transaction with Aflac Re established in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Total adjusted expenses increased primarily due to higher technology and sales-related expenses, partially offset by the impact of the internal cancer reinsurance transaction with Aflac Re established in the fourth quarter of 2024 and an increase in the capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs resulting from higher sales.

Pretax adjusted earnings decreased primarily due to the decrease in total adjusted revenues, partially offset by the decrease in total benefits and claims.

Annualized premiums in force at December 31, 2025 were ¥1.18 trillion, compared with ¥1.21 trillion at December 31, 2024. The decrease in annualized premiums in force in Japanese yen of 2.5% in 2025 and 3.0% in 2024 was driven primarily by limited-pay products reaching premium paid-up status. Annualized premiums in force, translated into U.S. dollars at respective year-end foreign exchange rates, were $7.5 billion at December 31, 2025, compared with $7.6 billion at December 31, 2024.

As of December 31, 2025, Aflac Japan exceeded 22 million individual policies in force in Japan, with approximately 14 million cancer policies in force in Japan.

Aflac Japan's investment portfolios include U.S. dollar-denominated securities and reverse dual-currency securities (Japanese yen-denominated fixed maturity securities with dollar coupon payments). In years when the Japanese yen strengthens in relation to the dollar, translating Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investment income into Japanese yen lowers growth rates for net investment income, total adjusted revenues and pretax adjusted earnings in Japanese yen terms. In years when the Japanese yen weakens, translating U.S. dollar-denominated investment income into Japanese yen magnifies growth rates for net investment income, total adjusted revenues and pretax adjusted earnings in Japanese yen terms.

The following table illustrates the effect of translating Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investment income and related items into Japanese yen by comparing certain segment results with those that would have been reported had foreign exchange rates remained unchanged from the prior year. Amounts excluding foreign currency impact on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income were determined using the average foreign exchange rate for the comparable prior year period. See non-U.S. GAAP financial measures defined above.

Aflac Japan Percentage Changes Over Prior Year

(Japanese Yen Operating Results)

For the Years Ended December 31,

Including ForeignCurrency ChangesExcluding ForeignCurrency Changes
2025202420252024
Adjusted net investment income(5.9)%12.1%(5.3)%6.5%
Total adjusted revenues(4.4)(2.3)(4.2)(3.7)
Pretax adjusted earnings(2.7)15.5(2.2)11.1

The following table presents a summary of operating ratios in Japanese yen terms for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31 followed by a discussion of the significant drivers of changes in operating ratios in Japanese yen compared to the previous year.

Ratios to total adjusted revenues:20252024
Total benefits and claims, net42.8%44.8%
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs3.53.3
Insurance commissions4.64.5
Insurance and other expenses12.511.3
Total adjusted expenses20.519.1
Pretax adjusted earnings36.736.0
Ratios to total premiums:
Total benefits and claims, net59.3%62.5%
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs4.84.6

In 2025, the total benefits and claims to total premiums ratio decreased primarily due to lower benefits resulting from assumption updates in the third quarter of 2025.

The total adjusted expense ratio increased in 2025 primarily due to a year-over-year decrease in total adjusted revenues and an increase in total adjusted expenses.

In total, the pretax adjusted profit margin increased in 2025 primarily due to the lower benefit ratio.

The following table presents Aflac Japan's premium persistency on a 12-month rolling basis as of December 31.

20252024
Premium persistency93.1%93.4%

Aflac Japan Sales

The following table presents Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.

In DollarsIn Yen
(In millions of dollars and billions of yen)2025202420252024
New annualized premium sales$498$422¥74.4¥64.1
Increase (decrease) over prior period18.1%(2.2)%16.0%5.6%

In 2025, the increase in new annualized premium sales on a Japanese yen basis was driven primarily by continued strong sales of the new cancer insurance product, Miraito, as well as sales of Tsumitasu.

The following table details the contributions to Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales by major insurance product for the years ended December 31.

20252024
Cancer67.2%57.5%
Medical and other health11.916.1
Life insurance:
Traditional life (1)19.123.0
WAYS1.12.2
Child endowment.1.2
Other.61.0
Total100.0%100.0%

(1)Includes term life, whole life and Tsumitasu

The foundation of Aflac Japan's product portfolio has been, and continues to be, third sector products, which include cancer, medical and other products. With continued cost pressure on Japan’s health care system, the Company expects the need for third sector products will continue to rise in the future and that the cancer and medical insurance products Aflac Japan provides will continue to be an important part of its product portfolio. Additionally, the Company believes that sales of first sector products, including Tsumitasu, WAYS and Child Endowment, position Aflac Japan for potential future long-term sales opportunities by marketing these products to a younger demographic as well as potential cross-selling opportunities of Aflac Japan's third sector products.

The following table details the contributions to Aflac Japan's new annualized premium sales by agency type for the years ended December 31.

20252024
Independent corporate and individual47.5%48.2%
Affiliated corporate (1)49.248.6
Bank3.33.2
Total100.0%100.0%

(1)Includes Japan Post Group, Dai-ichi Life and Daido Life

In 2025, Aflac Japan recruited 236 new sales agencies. At December 31, 2025, Aflac Japan was represented by approximately 6,300 sales agencies, with approximately 112,000 licensed sales associates employed by those agencies. The number of sales agencies has declined in recent years due to Aflac Japan's focus on supporting agencies with strong management frameworks, high productivity and more producing agents.

At December 31, 2025, Aflac Japan had agreements to sell its products at 358 banks, approximately 90% of the total number of banks in Japan.

Strategic Alliance with Japan Post Holdings

On May 10, 2024, the Parent Company reported that the shares owned by the J&A Alliance Trust (Trust) represented, in aggregate, 20% of the voting power of the Parent Company's common stock. The Shareholders Agreement, entered into on February 28, 2019, by the Parent Company, Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd., J&A Alliance Holdings Corporation, solely in its capacity as trustee of the Trust and General Incorporated Association J&A Alliance, provides voting restrictions that require the Trust to vote (i) all shares representing voting rights in excess of 20% of the voting rights in the Parent Company and (ii) all of its shares in connection with a change in control transaction, in each case, in a manner proportionally equal to votes of shares not beneficially owned by the Trust. Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. does not have a board seat on the Parent Company’s board of directors and does not have rights to control, manage or intervene in the management of the Parent Company. According to a Form 13F filed by Japan Post Holdings with the SEC on January 27, 2026, Japan Post Holdings owned 52.3 million Aflac Incorporated common shares as of December 31, 2025.

As previously reported, on December 19, 2018, the Parent Company and Aflac Japan entered into a Basic Agreement with Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd., a Japanese corporation (Japan Post Holdings). Pursuant to the terms of the Basic Agreement, among other items, Japan Post Holdings and Aflac Japan agreed to reconfirm existing initiatives regarding cancer insurance and to consider new joint initiatives. On May 1, 2023, the Parent Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 that registered the sale of its common stock from time to time by J&A Alliance Holdings Corporation in its capacity as trustee of the Trust. The filing was made pursuant to a contractual requirement contained in the Shareholders Agreement. The Trust has agreed not to own more than the greater of 10% of the Parent Company’s outstanding shares or such shares representing 22.5% of the voting rights in the Parent Company.

The foregoing is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Basic Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 19, 2018, and the Shareholders Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.50 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed April 26, 2019, the terms of which exhibits are incorporated herein by reference.

Aflac Japan Investments

The level of investment income in Japanese yen is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments, the effect of yen/dollar exchange rates on U.S. dollar-denominated investment income and other factors.

As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac Japan primarily invests in Japanese yen- and U.S. dollar-denominated investments. Aflac Japan's Japanese yen-denominated investments primarily consist of JGBs, public and private fixed maturity securities and equity securities. Aflac Japan's U.S. dollar-denominated investments include fixed maturity investments, loan receivables, and growth assets, including alternative investments in limited partnerships or similar investment vehicles. Aflac Japan invests in both publicly traded and privately originated U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loan receivables, and has entered into foreign currency derivatives to economically hedge the foreign currency exchange risk on the fair value of a portion of the U.S. dollar-denominated investments.

The following table details the investment purchases for Aflac Japan for the years ended December 31.

(In millions)20252024
Yen-denominated:
Fixed maturity securities:
Japan government and agencies$5,122$0
Private placements182131
Other fixed maturity securities165290
Equity securities497407
Commercial mortgage and other loans:
Other loans250
Other investments4828
Total yen-denominated6,039856
U.S. dollar-denominated:
Fixed maturity securities:
Other fixed maturity securities4,0352,532
Infrastructure debt178291
Collateralized loan obligations7430
Equity securities10
Commercial mortgage and other loans:
Transitional real estate loans3379
Middle market loans1,064987
Other loans11074
Other investments390349
Total U.S. dollar-denominated5,8854,342
Other currencies:
Fixed maturity securities:
Infrastructure debt5226
Private placements10
Other fixed maturity securities660
Commercial mortgage and other loans:
Other loans2647
Other investments125
Total other currencies15778
Total Aflac Japan purchases$12,081$5,276

See the Investments section of this MD&A for further discussion of these investment programs, and see Notes 1 and 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding loans and loan receivables.

Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income and funds generated from maturities, redemptions, securities lending and other securities transactions. Securities lending is also used from time to time to accelerate the availability of funds for investment. Purchases of securities from period to period are determined based on multiple objectives including appropriate portfolio diversification, the relative value of a potential investment and availability of investment opportunities, liquidity, credit and other risk factors while adhering to the Company's investment policy guidelines.

The following table presents the results of Aflac Japan's investment yields for the years ended and as of December 31

20252024
Total purchases for the period (in millions) (1)$11,631$4,894
New money yield (1),(2)4.17%6.11%
Return on average invested assets (3)3.223.33
Portfolio book yield, including U.S. dollar-denominated investments, end of period (1),(2)3.26%3.22%

(1) Includes fixed maturity securities, commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, and excludes alternative investments in limited partnerships

(2) Reported on a gross yield basis; excludes investment expenses, external management fees and amortized hedge costs

(3) Net of investment expenses and amortized hedge costs, year-to-date number reflected on a quarterly average basis

The decrease in the Aflac Japan new money yield in 2025 was primarily due to higher allocations to lower yielding asset classes. See Notes 3, 4 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Investments and Hedging Activities sections of this MD&A for additional information on the Company's investments and hedging strategies.

AFLAC U.S. SEGMENT

Aflac U.S. Pretax Adjusted Earnings

Changes in Aflac U.S. pretax adjusted earnings and profit margins are primarily affected by morbidity, mortality, expenses, persistency and investment yields. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.

Aflac U.S. Summary of Operating Results

(In millions)20252024
Net earned premiums$5,999$5,829
Adjusted net investment income (1)830847
Other income7463
Total adjusted revenues6,9036,739
Benefits and claims:
Benefits and claims, excluding reserve remeasurement2,9692,821
Reserve remeasurement (gains) losses(132)(95)
Total benefits and claims, net2,8372,726
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs551530
Insurance commissions564563
Insurance and other expenses1,5301,501
Total adjusted expenses2,6452,594
Total benefits and adjusted expenses5,4825,320
Pretax adjusted earnings$1,421$1,419
Percentage change over previous period:
Net earned premiums2.9%2.7%
Adjusted net investment income(2.0)3.3
Total adjusted revenues2.41.8
Total benefits and claims, net4.112.1
Total adjusted expenses2.0(3.6)
Pretax adjusted earnings.1(5.5)

(1)Net interest income/expense from derivatives associated with certain investment strategies of $(24) and $(36) in 2025 and 2024, respectively, have been reclassified from net investment gains (losses) and included in adjusted earnings as a component of net investment income.

In 2025, operating results compared to the previous year were as follows:

Net earned premiums increased primarily due to improved sales.

Adjusted net investment income decreased primarily due to lower floating rate income.

Total adjusted revenues increased primarily due to the increase in net earned premiums, partially offset by the decrease in adjusted net investment income.

Total benefits and claims increased primarily due to higher incurred claims, partially offset by $60 million of reserve remeasurement gains related to assumption updates in the third quarter of 2025, compared to reserve remeasurement gains of $11 million in the third quarter of 2024.

Total adjusted expenses increased primarily due to a one-time technology-related expense and higher variable expenses associated with the growth in net earned premiums.

Pretax adjusted earnings were essentially flat.

Annualized premiums in force increased 4.9% in 2025 and 3.6% in 2024. Annualized premiums in force at December 31, 2025 were $6.7 billion, compared with $6.4 billion at December 31, 2024.

The following table presents a summary of operating ratios for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31 followed by a discussion of the significant drivers of changes in operating ratios compared to the previous year.

Ratios to total adjusted revenues:20252024
Total benefits and claims41.1%40.5%
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs8.07.9
Insurance commissions8.28.4
Insurance and other expenses22.222.3
Total adjusted expenses38.338.5
Pretax adjusted earnings20.621.1
Ratios to total premiums:
Total benefits and claims47.3%46.8%
Adjusted expenses:
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs9.29.1

In 2025, the total benefits and claims to total premiums ratio increased primarily due to higher incurred claims.

The total adjusted expense ratio decreased slightly in 2025 primarily due to a year-over-year increase in total adjusted revenues.

In total, the pretax adjusted profit margin decreased in 2025 primarily due to the higher benefit ratio.

The following table presents premium persistency for Aflac U.S. on a 12-month rolling basis as of December 31.

20252024
Premium persistency79.2%79.3%

Aflac U.S. Sales

The following table presents Aflac's U.S. new annualized premium sales for the years ended December 31.

(In millions)20252024
New annualized premium sales$1,589$1,543
Increase (decrease) over prior period3.0%(1.0)%

The increase in new annualized premium sales for Aflac U.S. in 2025 was primarily driven by sales of group products.

The following table details the contributions to Aflac's U.S. new annualized premium sales by major insurance product category for the years ended December 31.

20252024
Accident18.9%19.6%
Disability26.426.3
Critical care (1)19.820.9
Hospital indemnity13.213.7
Dental/vision6.25.3
Life15.514.2
Total100.0%100.0%

(1)Includes cancer, critical illness and hospital intensive care products

In 2025, the Aflac U.S. sales force included an average of approximately 5,300 U.S. agents, including brokers, who were actively producing business on a weekly basis. The Company believes that this average weekly producer equivalent metric allows sales management to monitor progress and needs, as well as serve as a leading indicator of future production capacity.

Aflac U.S. Investments

The level of investment income is affected by available cash flow from operations, the timing of investing the cash flow, yields on new investments and other factors.

As part of the Company's portfolio management and asset allocation process, Aflac U.S. invests in fixed maturity securities, loan receivables and growth assets, including equity securities and alternative investments in limited partnerships. Aflac U.S. invests in both publicly traded and privately originated investment-grade and below-investment-grade fixed maturity securities and loan receivables.

The following table details the investment purchases for Aflac U.S. for the years ended December 31.

(In millions)20252024
U.S. dollar-denominated:
Fixed maturity securities:
Other fixed maturity securities$844$654
Infrastructure debt4964
Collateralized loan obligations2512
Equity securities026
Commercial mortgage and other loans:
Transitional real estate loans921
Commercial mortgage loans3113
Middle market loans165133
Other loans1211
Other investments:
Limited partnerships21539
Other210
Total U.S. dollar-denominated1,371973
Other currencies:
Other investments40
Total other currencies40
Total Aflac U.S. purchases$1,375$973

Funds available for investment include cash flows from operations, investment income and funds generated from maturities, redemptions, and other securities transactions. Purchases of securities from period to period are determined based on multiple objectives, including appropriate portfolio diversification, the relative value of a potential investment and availability of investment opportunities, liquidity, credit and other risk factors while adhering to the Company's investment policy guidelines.

The following table presents the results of Aflac's U.S. investment yields for the years ended and as of December 31.

20252024
Total purchases for period (in millions) (1)$1,156$934
New money yield (1),(2)6.73%6.90%
Return on average invested assets (3)4.945.00
Portfolio book yield, end of period (1),(2)5.47%5.58%

(1)Includes fixed maturity securities, commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, and excludes alternative investments in limited partnerships

(2)Reported on a gross yield basis; excludes investment expenses and external management fees

(3) Net of investment expenses, year-to-date number reflected on a quarterly average basis

The decrease in the Aflac U.S. new money yield in 2025 was primarily due to lower short-term rates on floating rate assets. See Notes 3 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Investments section of this MD&A for additional information on the Company's investments.

CORPORATE AND OTHER

Changes in the pretax adjusted earnings of Corporate and other are primarily affected by internal reinsurance activity and net investment income. The following table presents a summary of operating results for Corporate and other for the years ended December 31.

Corporate and Other Summary of Operating Results

(In millions)20252024
Net earned premiums$806$680
Net investment income (loss) (1)368201
Amortized hedge income98113
Adjusted net investment income466314
Other income513
Total adjusted revenues1,2771,007
Benefits and claims:
Benefits and claims, excluding reserve remeasurement491426
Reserve remeasurement (gains) losses(33)(19)
Total benefits and claims, net458407
Adjusted expenses:
Interest expense210156
Other adjusted expenses508412
Total adjusted expenses718568
Total benefits and adjusted expenses1,176975
Pretax adjusted earnings$101$32
Percentage change over previous period:
Net earned premiums18.5%70.0%
Adjusted net investment income48.4613.6
Total adjusted revenues26.8118.9
Total benefits and claims, net12.5(12.8)
Total adjusted expenses26.436.2
Pretax adjusted earnings215.6107.5

(1) The change in value of federal historic rehabilitation and solar investments in partnerships of $65 and $165 in 2025 and 2024, respectively, is included as a reduction to net investment income. Tax credits on these investments of $69 and $164 in 2025 and 2024, respectively, have been reported as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statements of earnings. See Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these investments.

In 2025, operating results compared to the previous year were as follows:

Net earned premiums and total benefits and claims increased primarily due to higher internal reinsurance activity resulting from the transaction established in the fourth quarter of 2024. The increase in total benefits and claims was partially offset by $31 million of reserve remeasurement gains related to assumption updates in the third quarter of 2025, compared to reserve remeasurement gains of $20 million in the third quarter of 2024.

Adjusted net investment income increased primarily due to $100 million from a lower volume of federal historic rehabilitation and solar tax credit investments, with offsetting tax benefits recognized as a corresponding lower income tax expense, and higher Aflac Re investment income of $46 million from a higher volume of assets as part of the reinsurance agreement established in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Total adjusted revenues increased primarily due to the increases in adjusted net investment income and net earned premiums.

Total adjusted expenses increased primarily due to $61 million from higher costs pertaining to business operations, including costs related to the ongoing response to the cybersecurity incident and legal and other professional services related thereto, higher interest expense of $54 million, and $35 million associated with internal reinsurance activity.

Pretax adjusted earnings increased primarily due to the increase in total adjusted revenues, partially offset by the increases in total adjusted expenses and total benefits and claims.

The Parent Company invests in partnerships that specialize in rehabilitating historic structures or the installation of solar equipment in order to receive federal historic rehabilitation and solar tax credits. These investments are classified as limited partnerships and included in other investments in the consolidated balance sheets. The change in value of each investment is reported as a reduction to net investment income. Tax credits generated by these investments are reported as an income tax benefit in the consolidated statements of earnings.

ContentsView on SEC.gov

The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.