Aflac posts steep profit drop but declares 44th consecutive dividend increase
Aflac reported third‑quarter 2026 net profit of $303 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, far below the $1.6 billion and $3.08 per share recorded a year earlier. Adjusted earnings fell to $1.2 billion, a decline of 8.5% from the prior year, while adjusted EPS slipped 2.4% to $2.43. The insurer returned $1.1 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and a $0.61 quarterly dividend, marking the 44th year in a row the dividend has been raised.
Why it matters
The sharp earnings decline may pressure the stock, but the continued dividend growth signals management’s commitment to returning capital, which could support investor demand. The $1.1 billion cash return, including the $0.61 dividend, directly benefits shareholders now.
Key facts
- 1Net profit for Q3 2026 was $303 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, versus $1.6 billion and $3.08 per share in Q3 2025. prnewswire.com
- 2Adjusted earnings for the quarter were $1.2 billion, down 8.5% from the year‑ago period. prnewswire.com
- 3Adjusted earnings per diluted share decreased 2.4% to $2.43. prnewswire.com
- 4Total revenue fell 31.0% to $3.271 billion, compared with $4.740 billion a year earlier. prnewswire.com
- 5The company returned $1.1 billion to shareholders, comprising $804 million of share repurchases and $305 million of dividends. prnewswire.com
- 6A dividend of $0.61 per share was declared, extending a streak of 44 consecutive years of dividend increases. prnewswire.com
Summary written by AlphAI AI Desk from 5 of 5 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.