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Equitable Holdings Reports First Quarter 2020 Results

May 7, 2020 4:15 PM

_______________________________________

Net income of $5.4 billion; net income per common share of $11.65

Non-GAAP operating earnings1 of $515 million, or $1.08 per common share

Balance sheet and business model resilient amidst uncertain outlook

RBC ratio of 450-475%, well in excess of 375-400% minimum target and CTE98

Returned $274 million to shareholders; expect to continue delivering of 50-60% target payout ratio

_______________________________________

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Equitable Holdings, Inc. (“Equitable Holdings”, “Holdings”, or the “Company”) (NYSE: EQH) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

“During these challenging and volatile times, Equitable has a special role to play. I'm proud of the commitment and ingenuity of our people in supporting our communities and continuing to serve, advise and invest wisely for our clients. It is now when we all see the value of our purpose - which is to secure the financial well-being of our clients so they can live long and fulfilling lives.” said Mark Pearson, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Pearson continued, “As important as how we respond, however, is how we’ve prepared. I am extremely proud of what the teams have done over the past decade to build a resilient balance sheet and robust business model. While the economic outlook is uncertain, we are confident in our ability to adapt and create value across a broad range of scenarios. We have a large inforce driving a sustainable revenue stream, a history of developing economically sound products which are even more in demand today, a deep and diverse distribution network providing stability and privileged access, and trusted leadership positions in resilient sectors.”

“Further, our balance sheet remains protected by our economic hedging program. As such, we are well-capitalized with an RBC ratio of 450-475% and our liquidity position remains strong. Overall, despite the significant market dislocation and uncertainty we face, I am confident that our balance sheet, business model, and the fantastic people who make up this organization, will ensure that Equitable will continue to be a force for good.”

Consolidated Results

First Quarter

(in millions, except per share amounts or unless otherwise noted)

2020

2019

Total Assets Under Management (“AUM”, in billions)

$

646

$

664

Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings

5,410

(775

)

Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings per common share

11.65

(1.50

)

Non-GAAP operating earnings (loss)

515

509

Non-GAAP operating earnings (loss) per common share (“EPS”)

1.08

0.98

As of March 31, 2020, total AUM was $646 billion, a year-over-year decrease of 3%.

Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings for the first quarter of 2020 was $5.4 billion compared to $(775) million in the first quarter of 2019 driven primarily by non-economic market impacts from hedging and non-performance risk under U.S. GAAP accounting, as well as the realignment of our long-term GAAP interest rate assumption.

Non-GAAP operating earnings in the first quarter of 2020 increased to $515 million from $509 million in the first quarter of 2019.

As of March 31, 2020, book value per common share, including accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), was $42.86. Book value per common share, excluding AOCI, was $37.78 per share.

Business Highlights

Business Segment Results

Individual Retirement

(in millions, unless otherwise noted)

Q1 2020

Q1 2019

Account value (in billions)

$

93.6

$

102.5

Segment net flows

(320

)

(88

)

Operating earnings (loss)

372

370

Group Retirement

(in millions, unless otherwise noted)

Q1 2020

Q1 2019

Account value (in billions)

$

33.1

$

35.1

Segment net flows

128

107

Operating earnings (loss)

106

81

Investment Management and Research

(in millions, unless otherwise noted)

Q1 2020

Q1 2019

Total AUM (in billions)

$

541.8

$

554.7

Segment net flows (in billions)

(5.6

)

1.1

Operating earnings (loss)

95

77

Protection Solutions

(in millions)

Q1 2020

Q1 2019

Gross written premiums

$

778

$

786

Annualized premiums

56

64

Operating earnings (loss)

38

49

Corporate and Other

Operating loss of $96 million compared to operating loss of $68 million in the prior year quarter driven primarily by a non-repeat of favorable net investment income in the first quarter of 2019 as well as higher commissions and operating expenses.

_______________________________________________

  1. This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. More information on these 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.
  2. Refers to AllianceBernstein L.P. and AllianceBernstein Holding L.P., collectively.

  3. Any declaration of dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on our financial condition and other factors.

Earnings Conference Call

Equitable Holdings will host a conference call on Friday, May 8, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. ET, to discuss its first quarter 2020 results. The conference call webcast, along with additional earnings materials will be accessible on the company’s investor relations website at ir.equitableholdings.com. Please log on to the webcast at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary software. To join the conference call via telephone, please use one of the following dial-in numbers:

A webcast replay will be made available on the Equitable Holdings Investor Relations website at ir.equitableholdings.com.

About Equitable Holdings

Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH) is a financial services holding company comprised of two complementary and well-established principal franchises, Equitable and AllianceBernstein. Founded in 1859, Equitable provides advice, protection and retirement strategies to individuals, families and small businesses. AllianceBernstein is a global investment management firm that offers high-quality research and diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals and private wealth clients in major world markets. Equitable Holdings has approximately 12,000 employees and financial professionals, $646 billion in assets under management (as of 3/31/2020) and more than 5 million client relationships globally.

Equitable is the brand name for AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company and its affiliates.

Forward-looking and cautionary statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “seeks,” “aims,” “plans,” “assumes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “shall” or variations of such words are generally part of forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon Equitable Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) and its consolidated subsidiaries. “We,” “us” and “our” refer to Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context refers only to Holdings as a corporate entity. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Holdings will be those anticipated by management. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, all matters that are not historical facts.

These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and there are certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements, including, among others: (i) conditions in the financial markets and economy, including equity market declines and volatility, interest rate fluctuations, impacts on our goodwill and changes in liquidity, access to and cost of capital and the impact of COVID-19 and related economic conditions; (ii) operational factors, including reliance on the payment of dividends to Holdings by its subsidiaries, remediation of our material weakness, indebtedness, protection of confidential customer information or proprietary business information, information systems failing or being compromised, strong industry competition and catastrophic events, such as the outbreak of pandemic diseases including COVID-19; (iii) credit, counterparties and investments, including counterparty default on derivative contracts, failure of financial institutions, defaults, errors or omissions by third parties and affiliates and gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity and equity securities; (iv) our reinsurance and hedging programs; (v) our products, structure and product distribution, including variable annuity guaranteed benefits features within certain of our products, complex regulation and administration of our products, variations in statutory capital requirements, financial strength and claims-paying ratings and key product distribution relationships; (vi) estimates, assumptions and valuations, including risk management policies and procedures, potential inadequacy of reserves, actual mortality, longevity, morbidity and lapse experience differing from pricing expectations or reserves, amortization of deferred acquisition costs and financial models; (vii) our Investment Management and Research segment, including fluctuations in assets under management, the industry-wide shift from actively-managed investment services to passive services and potential termination of investment advisory agreements; (viii) legal and regulatory risks, including federal and state legislation affecting financial institutions, insurance regulation and tax reform; (ix) risks related to our controlling stockholder, including conflicts of interest, waiver of corporate opportunities and costs associated with separation and rebranding; and (x) risks related to our common stock and future offerings, including the market price for our common stock being volatile and potential stock price declines due to future sales of shares by existing stockholders.

Forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements, risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in Holdings’ subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as otherwise may be required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP financial measures

In addition to our results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we report Non-GAAP Operating Earnings, Non-GAAP Operating EPS and Book value per share, excluding AOCI & Preferred Stock, each of which is a measure that is not determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Management believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures, together with relevant U.S. GAAP measures, provides a better understanding of our results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers and trends of our business. These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to remove from our results of operations the impact of market changes (where there is mismatch in the valuation of assets and liabilities) as well as certain other expenses which are not part of our underlying profitability drivers or likely to re-occur in the foreseeable future, as such items fluctuate from period-to-period in a manner inconsistent with these drivers. These measures should be considered supplementary to our results that are presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be viewed as a substitute for the U.S. GAAP measures. Other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way we calculate such measures. Consequently, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

We also discuss certain operating measures, including AUM, account value, and certain other operating measures, which management believes provide useful information about our businesses and the operational factors underlying our financial performance.

Non-GAAP Operating Earnings

Non-GAAP Operating Earnings is an after-tax non-GAAP financial measure used to evaluate our financial performance on a consolidated basis that is determined by making certain adjustments to our consolidated after-tax net income attributable to Holdings. The most significant of such adjustments relates to our derivative positions, which protect economic value and statutory capital, and are more sensitive to changes in market conditions than the variable annuity product liabilities as valued under U.S. GAAP. This is a large source of volatility in net income.

Non-GAAP Operating Earnings equals our consolidated after-tax net income attributable to Holdings adjusted to eliminate the impact of the following items:

Because Non-GAAP Operating Earnings excludes the foregoing items that can be distortive or unpredictable, management believes that this measure enhances the understanding of the Company’s underlying drivers of profitability and trends in our business, thereby allowing management to make decisions that will positively impact our business.

We use the prevailing corporate federal income tax rate of 21% in 2020 while taking into account any non-recurring differences for events recognized differently in our financial statements and federal income tax returns as well as partnership income taxed at lower rates when reconciling Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings to Non-GAAP Operating Earnings.

The table below presents a reconciliation of Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings to Non-GAAP Operating Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

Three Months Ended
March 31,

(in millions)

2020

2019

Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings

$

5,410

$

(775

)

Adjustments related to:

Variable annuity product features (1)

(6,861

)

1,540

Investment (gains) losses

(4

)

11

Net actuarial (gains) losses related to pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

27

24

Other adjustments (2) (3)

634

40

Income tax expense (benefit) related to above adjustments (4)

1,303

(337

)

Non-recurring tax items

6

6

Non-GAAP Operating Earnings

$

515

$

509

  1. Includes COVID-19 impact on Variable annuity product features due to assumption update of $1.5 billion and other COVID-19 related impacts of $35 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
  2. Includes assumption update due to COVID-19 of $1.0 billion and other COVID-19 related impacts of $51 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
  3. Includes separation costs of $32 million and $24 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
  4. Includes income taxes of $(534) million for the above related COVID-19 items for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Non-GAAP Operating EPS

Non-GAAP Operating EPS is calculated by dividing Non-GAAP Operating Earnings by weighted average diluted common shares outstanding. The table below presents a reconciliation of GAAP EPS to Non-GAAP Operating EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

Three Months Ended
March 31,

(per share amounts)

2020

2019

Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings (1)

$

11.67

$

(1.50

)

Less: Preferred stock dividend

0.02

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders

11.65

(1.50

)

Adjustments related to:

Variable annuity product features (2)

(14.80

)

2.97

Investment (gains) losses

(0.01

)

0.02

Net actuarial (gains) losses related to pension and other postretirement benefit obligations

0.06

0.05

Other adjustments (3) (4)

1.36

0.08

Income tax expense (benefit) related to above adjustments (5)

2.81

(0.65

)

Non-recurring tax items

0.01

0.01

Non-GAAP Operating Earnings (5)

$

1.08

$

0.98

  1. Due to reporting a net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2019, basic shares was used in the diluted earnings per common share calculation as the use of diluted shares would have resulted in a lower loss per share.
  2. Includes COVID-19 impact on Variable annuity product features due to assumption update of $3.17 and other COVID-19 related impacts of $0.08 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
  3. Includes assumption update due to COVID-19 of $2.13 and other COVID-19 related impacts of $0.11 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
  4. Includes separation costs of $0.07 and $0.05 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.
  5. Includes income taxes of $(1.15) for the above related COVID-19 items for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Book Value per common share, excluding AOCI

We use the term “book value” to refer to Total equity attributable to Holdings’ common shareholders. Book Value per common share, excluding AOCI, is our total equity attributable to Holdings, excluding AOCI and preferred stock, divided by ending common shares outstanding.

March 31,
2020

December 31,
2019

Book value per common share

$

42.86

$

27.52

Per share impact of AOCI

(5.08

)

(1.81

)

Book Value per common share, excluding AOCI

$

37.78

$

25.71

Other Operating Measures

We also use certain operating measures which management believes provide useful information about our businesses and the operational factors underlying our financial performance.

Account Value

Account value generally equals the aggregate policy account value of our retirement products.

Assets Under Management (“AUM”)

AUM means investment assets that are managed by one of our subsidiaries and includes: (i) assets managed by AB, (ii) the assets in our general account investment portfolio and (iii) the separate account assets of our Individual Retirement, Group Retirement and Protection Solutions businesses. Total AUM reflects exclusions between segments to avoid double counting.

Conditional Tail Expectation (“CTE”) 98

CTE98 is defined as the amount of assets required to satisfy contract holder obligations across market environments in the average of the worst two percent of scenarios over the life of the contracts.

Segment net flows

Net change in segment customer account balances in a period including, but not limited to, gross premiums, surrenders, withdrawals and benefits. It excludes investment performance, interest credited to customer accounts and policy charges.

Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2020

2019

(in millions)

REVENUES

Policy charges and fee income

$

991

$

931

Premiums

289

283

Net derivative gains (losses)

9,401

(1,630

)

Net investment income (loss)

616

1,015

Investment gains (losses), net:

Credit losses on AFS debt securities and loans

(12

)

Other investment gains (losses), net

16

(11

)

Total investment gains (losses), net

4

(11

)

Investment management and service fees

1,136

999

Other income

156

127

Total revenues

12,593

1,714

BENEFITS AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS

Policyholders’ benefits

2,788

880

Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances

317

304

Compensation and benefits

526

509

Commissions and distribution-related payments

338

281

Interest expense

52

56

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs

1,248

198

Other operating costs and expenses

437

410

Total benefits and other deductions

5,706

2,638

Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income taxes

6,887

(924

)

Income tax (expense) benefit

(1,440

)

215

Net income (loss)

5,447

(709

)

Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest

37

66

Net income (loss) attributable to Holdings

5,410

(775

)

Less: Preferred stock dividends

13

Net income (loss) available to Holdings’ common shareholders

$

5,397

$

(775

)

Earnings Per Common Share

Three Months Ended March 31,

2020

2019

(in millions, except per share data)

Earnings per common share

Basic

$

11.71

$

(1.50

)

Diluted

$

11.65

$

(1.50

)

Weighted average shares:

Weighted average common stock outstanding for basic earnings per common share

461.0

518.0

Weighted average common stock outstanding for diluted earnings per common share (1)

463.5

518.0

  1. Shares in the diluted earnings per common share calculation represent basic shares for three months ended March 31, 2019 due to the net loss in this period. The shares excluded from the calculation were 5.3 million shares.

Results of Operations by Segment

Three Months Ended March 31,

2020

2019

(in millions)

Operating earnings (loss) by segment:

Individual Retirement

$

372

$

370

Group Retirement

106

81

Investment Management and Research

95

77

Protection Solutions

38

49

Corporate and Other

(96

)

(68

)

Non-GAAP Operating Earnings

$

515

$

509

Select Balance Sheet Statistics

March 31,
2020

December 31,
2019

(in millions)

ASSETS

Total investments and cash and cash equivalents

$

106,531

$

97,745

Separate Accounts assets

106,128

126,910

Total assets

240,781

249,870

LIABILITIES

Short-term and long-term debt

$

4,217

$

4,111

Future policy benefits and other policyholders' liabilities

37,968

34,587

Policyholders’ account balances

55,810

58,879

Total liabilities

218,884

234,379

EQUITY

Preferred stock

775

775

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

2,289

840

Total equity attributable to Holdings

$

20,086

$

13,535

Total equity attributable to Holdings, excluding Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

17,022

11,920

Assets Under Management (Unaudited)

March 31,
2020

December 31,
2019

(in billions)

Assets Under Management

AB AUM

$

541.8

$

622.9

Exclusion for General Account and other Affiliated Accounts

(77.4

)

(74.4

)

Exclusion for Separate Accounts

(30.9

)

(38.5

)

AB third party

$

433.5

$

509.9

Total company AUM

AB third party

$

433.5

$

509.9

General Account and Other (1)

106.5

97.7

Separate Accounts (2)

106.1

126.9

Total AUM

$

646.2

$

734.6

  1. “General Account and Other Affiliated Accounts” refers to assets held in the general accounts of our insurance companies and other assets on which we bear the investment risk.
  2. “Separate Accounts” refers to the separate account investment assets of our insurance subsidiaries excluding any assets on which we bear the investment risk.

Investor Relations

Jessica Baehr

+(212) 314-2476



Media Relations

Matt Asensio

+(212) 314-2010

Source: EQH Investor Relations

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