Life Insurance Stocks Q2 Results: Benchmarking Globe Life (NYSE:GL)

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 15 life insurance stocks we track reported a slower Q2. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4.1% 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 $1.5 billion, up 3.2% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 8.7% since reporting and currently trades at $136.03.

Read our full report on Globe Life here, it’s free for active Edge members.

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 $4.42 billion, up 14.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.3%. The business had a stunning quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue and EPS estimates.

Corebridge Financial achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 7.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $32.06.

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

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’ revenue and EPS estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 1.2% since the results and currently trades at $50.29.

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

Primerica (NYSE:PRI)

With a sales force of over 140,000 licensed representatives operating on an independent contractor model, Primerica (NYSE:PRI) provides term life insurance, investment products, and other financial services to middle-income households in the United States and Canada.

Primerica reported revenues of $793.3 million, up 7.1% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ book value per share estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ net premiums earned estimates.

The stock is up 1.1% since reporting and currently trades at $269.82.

Read our full, actionable report on Primerica here, it’s free for active Edge members.

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 result lagged analysts' expectations by 3.5%. It was a slower quarter as it also produced a significant miss of analysts’ revenue and book value per share estimates.

The stock is up 5.2% since reporting and currently trades at $44.50.

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

Market Update

The Fed’s interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty for 2025.

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

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.