As the Q2 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the life insurance industry, including Unum Group (NYSE: UNM) 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 12 life insurance stocks we track reported a mixed Q2. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 8.2%.
In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.
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 $2.96 billion, down 12.3% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 2%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates and EPS in line with analysts’ estimates.
“We delivered another solid performance in the second quarter across multiple dimensions,” said Richard P. McKenney, president and chief executive officer.
Unum Group delivered the slowest revenue growth among its peers. Interestingly, the stock is up 4.1% since reporting and currently trades at $91.51.
Read our full report on Unum Group here, it’s free.
Best Q2: 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 $443.5 million, up 7.7% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. The business had a very strong quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 1.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $51.21.
Is now the time to buy Horace Mann Educators? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q2: 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 2.4% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2%. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
As expected, the stock is down 9.7% since the results and currently trades at $55.88.
Read our full analysis of Brighthouse Financial’s results here.
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 $19.08 billion, up 6.4% year on year. This print lagged analysts’ expectations by 2.2%. It was a slower quarter as it also logged a significant miss of analysts’ book value per share estimates.
The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $96.21.
Read our full, actionable report on MetLife here, it’s free.
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 $863.4 million, up 8.5% year on year. This number met analysts’ expectations. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced a decent beat of analysts’ book value per share estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ net premiums earned estimates.
The stock is down 3.3% since reporting and currently trades at $309.93.
Read our full, actionable report on Primerica 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 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
