We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Can Higher Investment Income Help MetLife Deliver a Q1 Earnings Beat?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
MetLife reports Q1 2026 results on May 6, with consensus EPS at $2.22 on $19.2B in revenues.
Net investment income is expected to jump 16.3% year over year, driven by higher variable income.
Adjusted earnings from Asia and EMEA are expected to rise 15.9% and 8.1%, while LatAm may lag.
Insurance provider MetLife, Inc. (MET - Free Report) is set to report its first-quarter 2026 results on May 6, 2026, after the closing bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $2.22 per shareon revenues of $19.2 billion.
The first-quarter earnings estimate witnessed four upward revisions and no movement in the opposite direction over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year increase of 13.3%. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests a year-over-year growth of 2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For full-year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MetLife’s revenues is pegged at $78.24 billion, implying a fall of 0.8% year over year. However, the consensus mark for 2026 EPS is pegged at $9.85, implying 11.6% year-over-year growth.
MetLife beat earnings estimates in two of the past four quarters and missed twice, with the average surprise being 0.1%. This is depicted in the figure below.
Our proven model predicts a likely earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is precisely the case here.
MET has an Earnings ESP of +0.02% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter premiums indicates a 2% year-over-year decrease. While the consensus mark signals growth in Group Benefits adjusted revenues, the same from Retirement & Income Solutions is expected to decline in the first quarter.
Nevertheless, the consensus estimate indicates 2.9% year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings from the Retirement & Income Solutions segment. Adjusted earnings from Asia and EMEA regions are expected to grow 15.9% and 8.1% year over year, respectively.
Moreover, the consensus mark for net investment income predicts a 16.3% jump from the year-ago period, due to increased variable investment income.These are likely to have positioned the company for year-over-year growth in the bottom line and an earnings beat. The positives are likely to be partially offset by lower earnings from the Latin America business.
How Did Other Insurers Fare This Quarter?
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MRSH - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $3.29, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.5%. Its strong quarterly results benefited from solid growth in the Risk and Insurance Services and Consulting unit, particularly from the Marsh Risk and Guy Carpenter businesses. The upside was partially offset by elevated operating expenses.
The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) posted first-quarter fiscal 2026 core earnings per share of $3.09, up 40.5% from $2.20 in the prior-year quarter. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.29 by 6.1% due to less favorable prior-year reserve development, higher expenses and pressure in Employee Benefits. The negatives were partially offset by high demand for expensive risk events, stronger investment income and a massive turnaround in HIG’s Personal Insurance unit.
AMERISAFE, Inc. (AMSF - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of 50 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52 cents. The bottom line declined 16.7% year over year. Higher expenses and weaker underwriting margins, with additional pressure from lower fee income and weaker investment income, affected AMERISAFE’s performance. Stronger premium growth partially offset the downside.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Zacks
Can Higher Investment Income Help MetLife Deliver a Q1 Earnings Beat?
Key Takeaways
Insurance provider MetLife, Inc. (MET - Free Report) is set to report its first-quarter 2026 results on May 6, 2026, after the closing bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $2.22 per shareon revenues of $19.2 billion.
The first-quarter earnings estimate witnessed four upward revisions and no movement in the opposite direction over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year increase of 13.3%. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests a year-over-year growth of 2%.
For full-year 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for MetLife’s revenues is pegged at $78.24 billion, implying a fall of 0.8% year over year. However, the consensus mark for 2026 EPS is pegged at $9.85, implying 11.6% year-over-year growth.
MetLife beat earnings estimates in two of the past four quarters and missed twice, with the average surprise being 0.1%. This is depicted in the figure below.
MetLife, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
MetLife, Inc. price-eps-surprise | MetLife, Inc. Quote
Q1 Earnings Whispers for MetLife
Our proven model predicts a likely earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is precisely the case here.
MET has an Earnings ESP of +0.02% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
What’s Shaping MetLife’s Q1 Results?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter premiums indicates a 2% year-over-year decrease. While the consensus mark signals growth in Group Benefits adjusted revenues, the same from Retirement & Income Solutions is expected to decline in the first quarter.
Nevertheless, the consensus estimate indicates 2.9% year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings from the Retirement & Income Solutions segment. Adjusted earnings from Asia and EMEA regions are expected to grow 15.9% and 8.1% year over year, respectively.
Moreover, the consensus mark for net investment income predicts a 16.3% jump from the year-ago period, due to increased variable investment income.These are likely to have positioned the company for year-over-year growth in the bottom line and an earnings beat. The positives are likely to be partially offset by lower earnings from the Latin America business.
How Did Other Insurers Fare This Quarter?
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MRSH - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of $3.29, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.5%. Its strong quarterly results benefited from solid growth in the Risk and Insurance Services and Consulting unit, particularly from the Marsh Risk and Guy Carpenter businesses. The upside was partially offset by elevated operating expenses.
The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (HIG - Free Report) posted first-quarter fiscal 2026 core earnings per share of $3.09, up 40.5% from $2.20 in the prior-year quarter. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.29 by 6.1% due to less favorable prior-year reserve development, higher expenses and pressure in Employee Benefits. The negatives were partially offset by high demand for expensive risk events, stronger investment income and a massive turnaround in HIG’s Personal Insurance unit.
AMERISAFE, Inc. (AMSF - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of 50 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52 cents. The bottom line declined 16.7% year over year. Higher expenses and weaker underwriting margins, with additional pressure from lower fee income and weaker investment income, affected AMERISAFE’s performance. Stronger premium growth partially offset the downside.