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Voya Financial Announces First-Quarter 2019 Results

May 7, 2019 4:15 PM

First-quarter 2019 net income available to common shareholders of $0.42 per diluted share

First-quarter 2019 adjusted operating earnings1 of $1.07 per diluted share, after-tax; Normalized for the following items, first-quarter 2019 adjusted operating earnings were $1.22 per diluted share, after-tax:

Voya completes previously announced accelerated share repurchase agreement for $250 million of Voya common stock; enters into new agreement to repurchase an additional $236 million of shares beginning in the second quarter of 2019 — upon completion of the new agreement, Voya will have utilized its previous share repurchase authorization

Board of directors authorizes the repurchase of an additional $500 million of Voya common stock — new authorization expires on June 30, 2020

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA) today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2019.

“During the first quarter, we continued to execute on our plans to achieve organic growth and cost savings as well as effectively deploy excess capital,” said Rodney O. Martin, Jr., chairman and CEO, Voya Financial, Inc. “Our normalized first-quarter 2019 adjusted operating earnings were $1.22 per diluted share, after-tax, up 23% compared with the first quarter of 2018. Our results reflect several notable achievements in our organic growth plans, including an 11% increase in Retirement full service recurring deposits for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2019; more than $1 billion in Institutional net flows in Investment Management; and a 14% increase in annualized in-force premiums in Employee Benefits compared with the first quarter of 2018.

"We also concluded the first quarter with over $700 million in excess capital, which demonstrates the continued strong free cash flows generated by Voya's businesses and will enable us to continue to execute on our capital deployment plans. Following the completion of the $250 million accelerated share repurchase agreement that we entered into during the first quarter, we entered into a new, $236 million agreement early during the second quarter, which, when completed, fully utilizes our existing share repurchase authorization. Subsequently, we've received from the board of directors an additional $500 million share repurchase authorization.

“As we previously announced, we intend to increase our common stock dividend to a yield of at least 1% and we expect to do so beginning in the third quarter of 2019. As we continue to execute on share repurchases given the current attractive valuation levels of our common shares, providing a higher-yielding dividend will enable us to attract new investors to Voya.

“Overall, we are on track to achieve the plans that we shared during our Investor Day in November 2018, and we remain committed to achieving our target of at least 10% annual adjusted operating earnings per share growth over the next three years, on a normalized basis. With our strong, established presence in the workplace and focus on institutional clients, we remain well positioned to achieve our vision to be America's Retirement Company,” added Martin.

FIRST-QUARTER 2019 SUMMARY

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2019 March 31, 2018
($ in millions) (per share) ($ in millions) (per share)
Net income available to common shareholders $64 $0.42 $446 $2.50
Adjusted operating earnings, after-tax $163 $1.07 $137 $0.77
Normalized adjusted operating earnings, after-tax $186 $1.22 $178 $0.99
Common book value $59.13 $54.65
Common book value, excluding AOCI $45.84 $45.84
Weighted avg common shares outstanding (in millions):
Basic 147 172
Diluted 151 178

1 This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted operating earnings and book value, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income. More information on non-GAAP measures and reconciliations to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measures can be found in the “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this release and in the company’s Quarterly Investor Supplement.

Net income available to common shareholders were $64 million, or $0.42 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2019, compared with $446 million, or $2.50 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2018. The decline is largely due to higher income from discontinued operations in the first quarter of 2018. Income (loss) from discontinued operations in the first quarter of 2019 includes a $79 million charge related to a proposed settlement of purchase price true-up amounts payable by the company in connection with the sale of its fixed and variable annuities businesses, which it completed in 2018. Voya does not anticipate further material charges in connection with the sale.

Adjusted operating earnings in the first quarter of 2019 were $163 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, after-tax, up from $137 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, after-tax, in the first quarter of 2018. First-quarter 2018 results included $56 million, after-tax, of unfavorable DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking as well as prepayment fees and alternative investment income that was $8 million, after-tax, above the company's long-term expectations. Conversely, first-quarter 2019 results included $1 million, after-tax, of favorable DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking as well as prepayment fees and alternative investment income that was $24 million, after-tax, below the company's long-term expectations.

Normalized adjusted operating earnings (which excludes DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking; prepayment fees and alternative investment income above or below the company's long-term expectations; and Investment Management adjusted operating earnings associated with the annuities business that was sold on June 1, 2018) in the first quarter of 2019 were $186 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, after-tax, up from $178 million, or $0.99 per diluted share, after-tax, in the first quarter of 2018. The increase reflects higher adjusted operating earnings in Employee Benefits and Individual Life, which were partially offset by lower fee-based revenues in Retirement and Investment Management. On a per-share basis, the improvement also reflects the company's share repurchases.

FIRST-QUARTER 2019 HIGHLIGHTS

SEGMENT DISCUSSIONS

The following segment discussions compare the first quarter of 2019 with the first quarter of 2018, unless otherwise noted. All figures are presented before income taxes.

Retirement

Retirement adjusted operating earnings were $129 million, up from $109 million. The increase primarily reflects:

($ in millions)

Trailing twelve
months ended
Mar. 31, 2019

Trailing twelve
months ended
Dec. 31, 2018

Trailing twelve
months ended
Mar. 31, 2018

Retirement — Full Service
Full Service recurring deposits $ 9,619 $ 9,343 $ 8,634
($ in millions)

Three months
ended Mar. 31,
2019

Three months
ended Dec. 31,
2018

Three months
ended Mar. 31,
2018

Retirement
Total client assets $ 391,856 $ 361,575 $ 417,007
Retirement — Full Service
Full Service recurring deposits $ 2,803 $ 2,173 $ 2,527
Full Service net flows $ 584 $ 1,315 $ 47
Full Service client assets $ 129,976 $ 119,219 $ 122,604

Retirement total client assets for the three months ended March 31, 2019 increased to $392 billion compared with the three months ended Dec. 31, 2018 due to equity market growth and positive net flows in Corporate Markets. The decline in total client assets compared with March 31, 2018 reflects a previously announced termination of a large recordkeeping plan of approximately $40 billion of plan assets in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Investment Management

Investment Management adjusted operating earnings were $34 million, compared with $61 million. The decline primarily reflects:

($ in millions) 1Q, 2019 4Q, 2018 1Q, 2018
Investment Management AUM
External clients $ 153,660 $ 147,176 $ 140,558
General account 56,021 56,288 81,893
Total $ 209,681 $ 203,464 $ 222,451
Investment Management Net Flows
Institutional $ 1,105 $ 694 $ 14
Retail (including sub-advisor replacements) (494 ) (1,120 ) (465 )
Total (excluding divested annuities) $ 611 $ (426 ) $ (451 )
Divested annuities outflows (550 ) (578 ) (714 )
Total $ 61 $ (1,004 ) $ (1,165 )

During the first quarter of 2019, Investment Management net flows (excluding divested annuities) of $611 million included $1,105 million in Institutional net inflows (primarily from fixed income asset classes and CLO issuances) and $494 million in Retail net outflows (primarily from certain equity strategies and partially offset by fixed income net inflows).

Total Investment Management AUM was $210 billion as of March 31, 2019. The increase from Dec. 31, 2018 primarily reflects higher equity markets and total net flows, while the decline from March 31, 2018 is largely due to the reduction in the company's general account that resulted from the sale of substantially all of the company's individual annuities businesses on June 1, 2018.

Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits adjusted operating earnings were $38 million, up from $32 million. First-quarter 2018 results reflected $1 million of negative DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking.

The increase primarily reflects:

($ in millions) 1Q, 2019 4Q, 2018 1Q, 2018

Employee Benefits Annualized
In-Force Premiums

Group Life, Disability and Other $ 720 $ 659 $ 663
Stop Loss 1,053 969 925
Voluntary 390 311 303
Total $ 2,163 $ 1,939 $ 1,891

Trailing twelve
months ended
Mar. 31, 2019

Trailing twelve
months ended
Dec. 31, 2018

Trailing twelve
months ended
Mar. 31, 2018

Total Aggregate Loss Ratio 72.3 % 72.5 % 72.9 %

Compared with the first quarter of 2018, total Employee Benefits in-force premiums increased 14%, reflecting strong growth in all products, especially Voluntary. The Total Aggregate Loss Ratio improved to 72.3% for the TTM ended March 31, 2019, within the company's target range of 71% to 74%, and driven largely by continued pricing discipline and significant improvement in the loss ratio for Stop Loss.

Individual Life

Individual Life adjusted operating earnings were $48 million compared with $17 million. The increase primarily reflects:

Total Individual Life sales, which primarily consist of indexed life insurance, were $34 million. Sales recorded in the first quarter of 2019 reflect the completion of most new business applications that were received through year-end 2018, when Voya stopped accepting new applications for individual life products.

Corporate

Corporate adjusted operating losses were $55 million compared with losses of $56 million. First-quarter 2019 results reflect a decline in the stranded costs that resulted from the company's sale of substantially all of its individual annuities businesses on June 1, 2018, largely offset by the semi-annual preferred stock dividend in the first quarter of 2019, slightly lower earnings from the company's legacy annuities business, and several favorable items in the first quarter of 2018 that did not recur.

Share Repurchases

Early in the second quarter of 2019, Voya completed the previously announced accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreement entered into with a third-party during the first quarter of 2019 to repurchase an aggregate of $250 million of Voya’s common stock. Under this agreement, approximately 5.35 million shares of common stock were repurchased.

Early in the second quarter of 2019, Voya entered into a new ASR agreement with a third-party to repurchase an aggregate of $236 million of Voya’s common stock. The final number of shares to be repurchased will be based on the volume-weighted average stock price of Voya’s common stock less a discount and subject to potential adjustments pursuant to the terms of the ASR agreement. Final settlement of the transaction under the ASR agreement is expected to occur by the beginning of the third quarter of 2019. Giving effect to the completion of this most recent ASR agreement, the company has utilized its previous share repurchase authorization.

The company announced today that its board of directors has increased the amount of the company’s common stock authorized for repurchase under the company’s share repurchase program by an additional $500 million. Under its share repurchase program, the company may, from time to time, purchase shares of its common stock through various means, including open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions, forward, derivative, accelerated repurchase, or automatic repurchase transactions, or tender offers. The additional $500 million share repurchase authorization expires on June 30, 2020 (unless extended), and does not obligate the company to purchase any shares. The authorization for the share repurchase program may be terminated, increased or decreased by the board of directors at any time.

Supplementary Financial Information

More detailed financial information can be found in the company’s Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is available on Voya’s investor relations website, investors.voya.com.

Earnings Call and Slide Presentation

Voya will host a conference call on Wed., May 8, 2019, at 10 a.m. ET, to discuss the company’s first-quarter 2019 results. The call and slide presentation can be accessed via the company’s investor relations website at investors.voya.com. A replay of the call will be available on the company’s investor relations website at investors.voya.com starting at 1 p.m. ET on May 8, 2019.

About Voya Financial

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings — to get ready to retire better. Serving the financial needs of approximately 13.8 million individual and institutional customers in the United States, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $8.5 billion in revenue in 2018. The company had $547 billion in total assets under management and administration as of March 31, 2019. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time — Voya’s vision is to be America’s Retirement Company®. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has been recognized as one of the 2018 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute, one of the 2018 World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune magazine and one of the Top Green Companies in the U.S. by Newsweek magazine. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @Voya.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We believe that Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes provides a meaningful measure of its business and segment performance and enhances the understanding of our financial results by focusing on the operating performance and trends of the underlying business segments and excluding items that tend to be highly variable from period to period based on capital market conditions or other factors. We use the same accounting policies and procedures to measure segment Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes as we do for the directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, which is Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes.

Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes does not replace Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes as a measure of our consolidated results of operations. Therefore, we believe that it is useful to evaluate both Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes when reviewing our financial and operating performance. Each segment’s Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes is calculated by adjusting Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes for the following items:

Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes for Corporate includes Net investment gains (losses) and Net guaranteed benefit hedging gains (losses) associated with the Retained Business in periods prior to 2018. These retained amounts are insignificant and do not distort the ability to make a meaningful evaluation of the trends of Corporate activities.

Income (loss) related to businesses exited through reinsurance or divestment (including net investment gains (losses) on securities sold and expenses directly related to these transactions) is excluded from the results of operations from Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes. When we present the adjustments to Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes on a consolidated basis, each adjustment excludes the relative portions attributable to businesses exited through reinsurance or divestment.

The most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure to Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes is Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes. For a reconciliation of Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes to Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, see the tables that accompany this release, as well as our Quarterly Investor Supplement.

Normalized adjusted operating earnings excludes from Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes the following items:

Because DAC/VOBA and other intangibles unlocking can be volatile, excluding the effect of this item can improve period to period comparability.

In addition to Net income (loss) per common share, we report Adjusted operating earnings per common share (diluted) and Normalized adjusted operating earnings per common share (diluted) because we believe that Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes provides a meaningful measure of its business and segment performances and enhances the understanding of our financial results by focusing on the operating performance and trends of the underlying business segments and excluding items that tend to be highly variable from period to period based on capital market conditions and/or other factors.

In addition to book value per common share including Accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), we also report book value per common share excluding AOCI and shareholders' equity excluding AOCI and preferred stock. Included in AOCI are investment portfolio unrealized gains or losses. In the ordinary course of business we do not plan to sell most investments for the sole purpose of realizing gains or losses, and book value per common share excluding AOCI and common shareholders' equity excluding AOCI provide a measure consistent with that view. The Adjusted debt to capital ratio includes a 25% equity treatment afforded to subordinated debt, 100% equity treatment afforded to preferred stock and excludes AOCI.

For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures, refer to the tables that accompany this release, as well as our Quarterly Investor Supplement.

We analyze our segment performance based on the sources of earnings. We believe this supplemental information is useful in order to gain a better understanding of our Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes for the following reasons: (1) we analyze our business using this information and (2) this presentation can be helpful for investors to understand the main drivers of Adjusted operating earnings (loss) before income taxes. The sources of earnings are defined as such:

More details on these sources of earnings can be found in Voya Financial’s Quarterly Investor Supplement, which is available on Voya Financial’s investor relations website, investors.voya.com.

Forward-Looking and Other Cautionary Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to future developments in our business or expectations for our future financial performance and any statement not involving a historical fact. Forward-looking statements use words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement due to, among other things, (i)�general economic conditions, particularly economic conditions in our core markets, (ii)�performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, (iii)�the frequency and severity of insured loss events, (iv)�mortality and morbidity levels, (v)�persistency and lapse levels, (vi)�interest rates, (vii)�currency exchange rates, (viii)�general competitive factors, (ix)�changes in laws and regulations, (x)�changes in the policies of governments and/or regulatory authorities, and (xi) our ability to successfully manage the separation of the fixed and variable annuities businesses that we sold to VA Capital LLC on June 1, 2018, including the transition services on the expected timeline and economic terms. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from those in any forward-looking statement also include those described under "Risk Factors," "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Trends and Uncertainties" in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2018, which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Feb. 22, 2019 and "Risk Factors," in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019, which we expect to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before May 10, 2019.

VOYA-IR

Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Normalized Adjusted Operating Earnings and Earnings Per Share (Diluted) Quarter-to-Date
Three Months Ended
(in millions USD, except per share) 3/31/2019 3/31/2018
Pre-tax

Tax
Effect (1)

After-
tax

Per
share

Pre-tax

Tax
Effect (1)

After-
tax

Per
share

Net Income (loss) available to Voya Financial,
Inc.'s common shareholders

$ 64 $ 0.42 $ 446 $ 2.50
Less: Preferred stock dividends (10 ) (0.07 )

Net Income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.

74 0.49 446 2.50

Plus: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling
interest

(1 ) (0.01 )
Net Income (loss) 73 0.48 446 2.50

Less: Income (loss) from discontinued operations,
net of tax

(79 ) (0.52 ) 429 2.40
Income (loss) from continuing operations 177 25 152 1.00 21 4 17 0.10
Less Adjustments

Net Investment gains (losses) and related
charges and adjustments

23 5 18 0.12 (61 ) (13 ) (48 ) (0.27 )

Net guaranteed benefit hedging gains (losses)
and related charges and adjustments

(2 ) (2 ) (0.01 ) (14 ) (3 ) (11 ) (0.06 )

Income (loss) related to businesses exited
through reinsurance or divestment

(21 ) (4 ) (17 ) (0.11 ) (45 ) (9 ) (36 ) (0.20 )

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling
interest

(1 ) (1 ) (0.01 )

Income (loss) on early extinguishment of debt

(3 ) (1 ) (2 ) (0.01 )

Immediate recognition of net actuarial gains
(losses) related to pension and other
postretirement benefit obligations and gains
(losses) from plan amendments and
curtailments

66 14 52 0.34

Dividend payments made to preferred
shareholders

10 10 (0.07 )
Other adjustments (2) (92 ) (19 ) (71 ) (0.47 ) (19 ) 4 (23 ) (0.13 )
Adjusted operating earnings 194 31 163 1.07 163 26 137 0.77
Less Adjustments
DAC, VOBA and other intangibles unlocking 1 1 0.01 (71 ) (15 ) (56 ) (0.31 )

Prepayment fees and alternative investment
income above (below) long-term expectations

(30 ) (6 ) (24 ) (0.16 ) 10 2 8 0.05

Investment Management earnings related to
annuities business sold on 6/1/2018

9 2 7 0.04
Normalized adjusted operating earnings $ 223 $ 37 $ 186 $ 1.22 $ 215 $ 37 $ 178 $ 0.99
(1) The adjusted operating effective tax rate is based on the actual income tax expense for the current period related to Income (loss) from continuing operations, adjusted for estimated taxes on non-operating items and non-operating tax impacts, such as those related to restructuring, changes in a tax valuation allowance and changes to tax law, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. For non-operating items, we apply a 21% tax rate.
(2) “Other adjustments” primarily consists of restructuring expenses (severance, lease write-offs, etc.) and tax adjustments.
Reconciliation of Fully Diluted Weighted Average Shares to Normalized Adjusted Operating Diluted Weighted Average Shares
Three Months Ended
(in millions USD) 3/31/2019 3/31/2018
Fully Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 151 178
Dilutive effect of the exercise or issuance of stock based awards
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted (adjusted operating) 151 178
Reconciliation of Book Value per Common Share to Book Value per Share excluding AOCI
As of March 31, 2019 As of March 31, 2018
Book value per common share, including AOCI $ 59.13 $ 54.65
Per share impact of AOCI (13.29 ) (8.81 )
Book value per common share, excluding AOCI $ 45.84 $ 45.84
Reconciliation of Investment Management Adjusted Operating Margin to Adjusted Operating Margin Excluding Investment Capital (1)
Three Months Ended
(in millions USD, unless otherwise indicated) 3/31/2019 12/31/2018 3/31/2018
Adjusted Operating revenues $ 148 $ 159 $ 185
Adjusted operating expenses (114 ) (115 ) (124 )
Adjusted operating earnings before income taxes $ 34 $ 44 $ 61
Adjusted operating margin 22.7 % 27.7 % 32.9 %
Adjusted Operating revenues $ 148 $ 159 $ 185
Less:
Investment Capital Results (2 ) 5 11
Adjusted operating revenues excluding Investment Capital 150 154 174
Adjusted operating expenses (114 ) (115 ) (124 )
Adjusted operating earnings excluding Investment Capital $ 36 $ 39 $ 50
Adjusted operating margin excluding Investment Capital 23.9 % 25.5 % 28.6 %
(1) In our Investment Management business, adjusted operating margin excluding Investment Capital results is reported because results from Investment Capital can be volatile and excluding the effect of this item can improve period-to-period comparability.

Media Contacts:

Christopher Breslin

212-309-8941

[email protected]

Bill Sutton

860-580-2626

[email protected]

Investor Contacts:

Michael Katz

212-309-8999

[email protected]

Mei Ni Chu

212-309-8929

[email protected]

Source: Voya Financial, Inc.

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