News Release

Globe Life Inc. Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

April 22, 2024

McKinney, Texas

/PRNewswire/ -- Globe Life Inc. (NYSE: GL) reported today that for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, net income was $2.67 per diluted common share, compared with $2.28 per diluted common share for the year-ago quarter. Net operating income for the quarter was $2.78 per diluted common share, compared with $2.53 per diluted common share for the year-ago quarter.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Net income as an ROE was 21.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Net operating income as an ROE excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) was 14.3% for the same period.
  • Net income increased 14% and net operating income increased 6% over the year-ago quarter.
  • At the American Income Life Division, life net sales and premiums increased over the year-ago quarter by 17% and 7%, respectively. Additionally, the average producing agent count increased 15% over the year-ago quarter.
  • At the Liberty National Division, the average producing agent count increased 14% over the year-ago quarter and life premiums increased 7%.
  • At the Family Heritage Division, health net sales increased 11% and premiums increased 8% over the year-ago quarter.
  • Total underwriting margin increased 5% over the year-ago quarter.
  • Net investment income grew 10% over the year-ago quarter.

Note: As used in the earnings release, "Globe Life," the "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refer to Globe Life Inc., a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1979, its subsidiaries and affiliates.

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Earnings Release—Q1 2024

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Net operating income, a non-GAAP(1) financial measure, has been used consistently by Globe Life's management for many years to evaluate the operating performance of the Company, and is a measure commonly used in the life insurance industry. It differs from net income primarily because it excludes certain non-operating items such as realized investment gains and losses and certain significant and unusual items included in net income. Management believes an analysis of net operating income is important in understanding the profitability and operating trends of the Company's business. Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

 

The following table represents Globe Life's operating summary for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

Operating Summary

 

Per Share

           
 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

     

Three Months Ended

March 31,

   
 

2024

 

2023

 

%

Chg.

 

2024

 

2023

 

%

Chg.

Insurance underwriting income(2)

$           3.41

 

$           3.18

 

7

 

$     324,361

 

$     311,037

 

4

Excess investment income(2)

0.46

 

0.30

 

53

 

43,785

 

29,255

 

50

Interest on debt

(0.30)

 

(0.25)

 

20

 

(28,621)

 

(24,867)

 

15

Parent company expense

(0.03)

 

(0.03)

     

(2,826)

 

(2,585)

   

Income tax expense

(0.70)

 

(0.61)

 

15

 

(66,227)

 

(59,849)

 

11

Stock compensation benefit (expense), net of tax

(0.07)

 

(0.05)

     

(6,373)

 

(4,949)

   

Net operating income

2.78

 

2.53

 

10

 

264,099

 

248,042

 

6

                       

Reconciling items, net of tax:

                     

Realized gain (loss)—investments

(0.10)

 

(0.25)

     

(9,321)

 

(24,432)

   

Non-operating expenses

(0.01)

 

     

(561)

 

   

Net income(3)

$           2.67

 

$           2.28

     

$     254,217

 

$     223,610

   
                       

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

95,115

 

97,911

               
                       
   

(1)

GAAP is defined as accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

(2)

Definitions included within this document.

(3)

A GAAP-basis condensed consolidated statement of operations is included in the appendix of this report.

   

Note: Tables in this earnings release may not sum due to rounding.

 

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Earnings Release—Q1 2024

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

MANAGEMENT VS. GAAP MEASURES

 

Shareholders' equity, excluding AOCI, and book value per share, excluding AOCI, are non-GAAP measures that are utilized by management to view the business without the effect of changes in AOCI, which are primarily attributable to fluctuation in interest rates. Management views the business in this manner because it creates more meaningful and easily identifiable trends, as we exclude fluctuations resulting from changes in interest rates. Shareholders' equity and book value per share are the most directly comparable GAAP measures. 

 
 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

2024

 

2023

Net income

$        254,217

 

$        223,610

Net operating income

264,099

 

248,042

Net income as an ROE(1)

21.3 %

 

22.9 %

Net operating income as an ROE (excluding AOCI)(1)

14.3 %

 

14.6 %

       
 

March 31,

 

2024

 

2023

Shareholders' equity

$     5,039,161

 

$     3,846,291

Impact of adjustment to exclude AOCI

2,467,236

 

2,961,093

Shareholders' equity, excluding AOCI

$     7,506,397

 

$     6,807,384

       

Book value per share

$            53.03

 

$            39.74

Impact of adjustment to exclude AOCI

25.97

 

30.60

Book value per share, excluding AOCI

$            79.00

 

$            70.34

   

(1)

Calculated using average shareholders' equity for the measurement period. 

INSURANCE OPERATIONS: 

Life insurance accounted for 76% of the Company's insurance underwriting margin for the quarter and 70% of total premium revenue. 

Health insurance accounted for 23% of the Company's insurance underwriting margin for the quarter and 30% of total premium revenue.

Net sales of life insurance increased 7% for the quarter, and net health sales increased 9%. 

The following table summarizes Globe Life's premium revenue by product type for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Earnings Release—Q1 2024

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

Insurance Premium Revenue

 

Quarter Ended

 

March 31, 2024

 

March 31, 2023

 

%

Chg.

Life insurance

$           804,265

 

$           772,597

 

4

Health insurance

341,019

 

322,493

 

6

Annuity

 

   

Total

$        1,145,284

 

$        1,095,090

 

5

 

INSURANCE UNDERWRITING INCOME

 

Insurance underwriting margin is management's measure of profitability of the Company's life, health, and annuity segments' underwriting performance, and consists of premiums less policy obligations (excluding interest on policy liabilities), commissions and other acquisition expenses. Insurance underwriting income is the sum of the insurance underwriting margins of the life, health, and annuity segments, plus other income, less administrative expenses. It excludes the investment segment, interest on debt, Parent Company expense, stock compensation expense and income taxes. Management believes this information helps provide a better understanding of the business and a more meaningful analysis of underwriting results by distribution channel. Insurance underwriting income, a non-GAAP measure, is a component of net operating income, which is reconciled to net income in the Results of Operations section above.

 

The following table summarizes Globe Life's insurance underwriting income by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

Insurance Underwriting Income

 

Quarter Ended

 

March 31, 2024

 

% of

Premium

 

March 31, 2023

 

% of

Premium

 

%

Chg.

Insurance underwriting margins:

                 

Life

$           309,011

 

38

 

$           291,274

 

38

 

6

Health

93,770

 

27

 

91,332

 

28

 

3

Annuity

1,915

     

2,288

       
 

404,696

     

384,894

     

5

Other income

76

     

50

       

Administrative expenses

(80,411)

     

(73,907)

     

9

Insurance underwriting income

$           324,361

     

$           311,037

     

4

Per share

$                 3.41

     

$                 3.18

     

7

 

The ratio of administrative expenses to premium was 7.0%, compared with 6.7% for the year-ago quarter.

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Earnings Release—Q1 2024

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

LIFE INSURANCE RESULTS BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

 

Our distribution channels consist of the following exclusive agencies: American Income Life Division (American Income), Liberty National Division (Liberty National) and Family Heritage Division (Family Heritage); an independent agency, United American Division (United American); and our Direct to Consumer Division (Direct to Consumer).

 

Total premium, underwriting margins, first-year collected premium and net sales by all distribution channels are shown at https://investors.globelifeinsurance.com at "Financial Reports and Other Financial Information."

 

Life Underwriting Margin

 

Quarter Ended

   
 

March 31,

   
 

2024

 

2023

   
 

Amount

 

% of
Premium

 

Amount

 

% of
Premium

 

% Chg.

American Income

$       187,068

 

45

 

$       175,567

 

45

 

7

Direct to Consumer

58,585

 

24

 

56,161

 

23

 

4

Liberty National

30,713

 

34

 

27,690

 

32

 

11

Other

32,645

 

64

 

31,856

 

61

 

2

Total

$       309,011

 

38

 

$       291,274

 

38

 

6

 

Life Premium

 

Quarter Ended

   
 

March 31,

   
 

2024

 

2023

 

%

Chg.

American Income

$       414,044

 

$       387,512

 

7

Direct to Consumer

248,040

 

247,667

 

Liberty National

90,777

 

85,203

 

7

Other

51,404

 

52,215

 

(2)

Total

$       804,265

 

$       772,597

 

4

 

Life Net Sales(1)

 

Quarter Ended

   
 

March 31,

   
 

2024

 

2023

 

%

Chg.

American Income

$         97,195

 

$         83,329

 

17

Direct to Consumer

28,563

 

32,467

 

(12)

Liberty National

21,605

 

21,979

 

(2)

Other

2,134

 

2,594

 

(18)

Total

$       149,497

 

$       140,369

 

7

   

(1)

Net sales is calculated as annualized premium issued, net of cancellations in the first thirty days after issue, except in the case of Direct to Consumer, where net sales is annualized premium issued at the time the first full premium is paid after any introductory offer period has expired. Management considers net sales to be a better indicator of the rate of premium growth than annualized premium issued.

 

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Earnings Release—Q1 2024

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

HEALTH INSURANCE RESULTS BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

 

Health Underwriting Margin

 

Quarter Ended

   
 

March 31,

   
 

2024

 

2023

   
 

Amount

 

% of
Premium

 

Amount

 

% of
Premium

 

% Chg.

United American

$         11,906

 

8

 

$         12,938

 

10

 

(8)

Family Heritage

35,838

 

35

 

31,749

 

33

 

13

Liberty National

26,672

 

56

 

26,870

 

57

 

(1)

American Income

19,192

 

63

 

18,386

 

62

 

4

Direct to Consumer

162

 

1

 

1,389

 

8

 

(88)

Total

$         93,770

 

27

 

$         91,332

 

28

 

3

 

Health Premium

 

Quarter Ended

   
 

March 31,

   
 

2024

 

2023

 

%

Chg.

United American

$       141,635

 

$       132,607

 

7

Family Heritage

103,391

 

96,072

 

8

Liberty National

47,630

 

46,972

 

1

American Income

30,497

 

29,594

 

3

Direct to Consumer

17,866

 

17,248

 

4

Total

$       341,019

 

$       322,493

 

6

 

Health Net Sales(1)

 

Quarter Ended

   
 

March 31,

   
 

2024

 

2023

 

%

Chg.

United American

$         16,423

 

$         15,380

 

7

Family Heritage

24,966

 

22,543

 

11

Liberty National

7,613

 

7,096

 

7

American Income

4,594

 

4,504

 

2

Direct to Consumer

804

 

550

 

46

Total

$         54,400

 

$         50,073

 

9

   

(1)

Net sales is calculated as annualized premium issued, net of cancellations in the first thirty days after issue, except in the case of Direct to Consumer, where net sales is annualized premium issued at the time the first full premium is paid after any introductory offer period has expired. Management considers net sales to be a better indicator of the rate of premium growth than annualized premium issued.

 

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Earnings Release—Q1 2024

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

PRODUCING EXCLUSIVE AGENT COUNT RESULTS BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

 
 

Quarterly Average

Producing Agent Count(1)

 

Quarter Ended

     

Quarter Ended

 

March 31,

     

December 31,

 

2024

 

2023

 

% Chg.

 

2023

American Income

11,139

 

9,714

 

15

 

11,131

Liberty National

3,419

 

3,011

 

14

 

3,387

Family Heritage

1,295

 

1,298

 

 

1,368

   

(1)

The quarterly average producing agent count is based on the actual count at the beginning and end of each week during the period.

 

INVESTMENTS

 

Management uses excess investment income as the measure to evaluate the performance of the investment segment. It is defined as net investment income less the required interest attributable to policy liabilities. We also view excess investment income per diluted common share as an important and useful measure to evaluate performance of the investment segment, since it takes into consideration our stock repurchase program.

 

The following table summarizes Globe Life's investment income, excess investment income, and excess investment income per diluted common share.

 

Excess Investment Income

 

Quarter Ended

 

March 31,

 

2024

 

2023

 

%

Chg.

Net investment income

$       282,578

 

$       257,105

 

10

Interest on policy liabilities(1)

(238,793)

 

(227,850)

 

5

Excess investment income

$         43,785

 

$         29,255

 

50

Per share

$             0.46

 

$             0.30

 

53

           
   

(1)

Interest on policy liabilities is a component of total policyholder benefits, a GAAP measure.

 

Net investment income increased 10% and average invested assets increased 5%. Required interest on policy liabilities and average policy liabilities both increased 5%.

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Earnings Release—Q1 2024

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

The composition of the investment portfolio at book value at March 31, 2024 is as follows:

 

Investment Portfolio

 

As of

 

March 31, 2024

 

Amount

 

% of Total

Fixed maturities at fair value(1)

$      18,144,353

 

90

Mortgage Loans

329,033

 

2

Policy loans

664,641

 

3

Other long-term investments(2)

899,085

 

4

Short-term investments

58,413

 

Total

$      20,095,525

   
   

(1)

As of March 31, 2024, fixed maturities at amortized cost were $19.5 billion, net of $7.0 million of allowance for credit losses.

(2)

Includes $845 million of investments accounted for under the fair value option which have a cost of $829 million as of March 31, 2024.

 

Fixed maturities at amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses, by asset class as of March 31, 2024 are as follows:

 

Fixed Maturity Portfolio by Sector

 

As of

 

March 31, 2024

 

Investment
Grade

 

Below
Investment
Grade

 

Total
Amortized
Cost, net

Corporate bonds

$    15,138,591

 

$         493,713

 

$    15,632,304

Municipals

3,301,276

 

 

3,301,276

Government, agencies, and GSEs(1)

441,417

 

 

441,417

Collateralized debt obligations

 

36,730

 

36,730

Other asset-backed securities

74,451

 

11,579

 

86,030

Total

$    18,955,735

 

$         542,022

 

$    19,497,757

   

(1)

Government-Sponsored Enterprises

 

Below are fixed maturities available for sale by amortized cost, allowance for credit losses, and fair value at March 31, 2024 and the corresponding amounts of net unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

As of

Amortized

Cost

 

Allowance for
Credit Losses

 

Net Unrealized
Gains
(Losses)

 

Fair
Value

March 31, 2024

$                 19,504,784

 

$              (7,027)

 

$      (1,353,404)

 

$      18,144,353

 

At amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses, 97% of fixed maturities (97% at fair value) were rated "investment grade." The fixed maturity portfolio earned an annual taxable equivalent effective yield of 5.24% during the first quarter of 2024, compared with 5.18% in the year-ago quarter.

Globe Life is not a party to any credit default swaps and does not participate in securities lending.

GLOBE LIFE INC.

Earnings Release—Q1 2024

(Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

Comparable information for acquisitions of fixed maturity investments is as follows:

 

Fixed Maturity Acquisitions

 

Quarter Ended

 

March 31,

 

2024

 

2023

Amount

$      682,427

 

$      310,504

Average annual effective yield

5.9 %

 

5.8 %

Average rating

A-

 

A

Average life (in years) to:

     

Next call

30.4

 

19.7

Maturity

32.3

 

24.9

 

SHARE REPURCHASE:

During most of the first quarter, the Company was in a blackout period due to a potential acquisition that is no longer being actively considered. As a result, first quarter repurchases of Globe Life Inc. common stock were limited to 127,748 shares at a total cost of $15.6 million and an average share price of $122.13. Globe Life will immediately resume buybacks once the blackout for first quarter earnings is over. Our earnings guidance anticipates approximately $350 million to $370 million of share repurchases for the full year.

LIQUIDITY/CAPITAL:

Globe Life's operations consist primarily of writing basic protection life and supplemental health insurance policies which generate strong and stable cash flows. These cash flows are not impacted by volatile equity markets. Liquidity at the Parent Company is sufficient to meet additional capital needs of the insurance companies.

EARNINGS GUIDANCE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024:

Globe Life projects net operating income between $11.50 to $12.00 per diluted common share for the year ending December 31, 2024. 

NON-GAAP MEASURES:

In this news release, Globe Life includes non-GAAP measures to enhance investors' understanding of management's view of the business. The non-GAAP measures are not a substitute for GAAP, but rather a supplement to increase transparency by providing broader perspective. Globe Life's definitions of non-GAAP measures may differ from other companies' definitions. More detailed financial information, including various GAAP and non-GAAP measurements, is located at https://investors.globelifeinsurance.com on the Investors page under "Financial Reports and Other Financial Information."

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These prospective statements reflect management's current expectations, but are not guarantees of future performance. Whether or not actual results differ materially from forward-looking statements may depend on numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable events or developments, which may be national in scope, related to the insurance industry generally, or applicable to the Company specifically. Such events or developments could include, but are not necessarily limited to:

1) Economic and other conditions, including the continued impact of inflation, geopolitical events, and the recent pandemic on the U.S. economy, leading to unexpected changes in lapse rates and/or sales of our policies, as well as levels of mortality, morbidity, and utilization of health care services that differ from Globe Life's assumptions;

2) Regulatory developments, including changes in accounting standards or governmental regulations (particularly those impacting taxes and changes to the Federal Medicare program that would affect Medicare Supplement);

3) Market trends in the senior-aged health care industry that provide alternatives to traditional Medicare (such as Health Maintenance Organizations and other managed care or private plans) and that could affect the sales of traditional Medicare Supplement insurance;

4) Interest rate changes that affect product sales, financing costs, and/or investment portfolio yield;

5) General economic, industry sector or individual debt issuers' financial conditions (including developments and volatility arising from geopolitical events, particularly in certain industries that may compromise part of our investment portfolio) that may affect the current market value of securities we own, or that may impair an issuer's ability to make principal and/or interest payments due on those securities;

6) Changes in the competitiveness of the Company's products and pricing;

7) Litigation results;

8) Levels of administrative and operational efficiencies that differ from our assumptions (including any reduction in efficiencies resulting from increased costs arising from the impact of higher than anticipated inflation);

9) The ability to obtain timely and appropriate premium rate increases for health insurance policies from our regulators;

10) The customer response to new products and marketing initiatives;

11) Reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements which are based on management estimates and judgments which may differ from the actual amounts ultimately realized;

12) Compromise by a malicious actor or other event that causes a loss of secure data from, or inaccessibility to, our computer and other information technology systems;

13) The impact of any reputational damage on the Company's ability to attract and retain agents;

14) The severity, magnitude, and impact of natural or man-made catastrophic events, including but not limited to pandemics, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, war and terrorism, on our operations and personnel, commercial activity and demand for our products; and

15) Globe Life's ability to access the commercial paper and debt markets, particularly if such markets become unpredictable or unstable for a certain period.

Readers are also directed to consider other risks and uncertainties described in other documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Globe Life specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement because of new information, future developments or otherwise.

EARNINGS RELEASE CONFERENCE CALL WEBCAST:

Globe Life will provide a live audio webcast of its first quarter 2024 earnings release conference call with financial analysts at 11:00 am (Eastern) tomorrow, April 23, 2024. Access to the live webcast and replay will be available at https://investors.globelifeinsurance.com on the Calls and Meetings page, at the Conference Calls on the Web icon. Immediately following this press release, supplemental financial reports will be available before the conference call on the Investors page menu of the Globe Life website at "Financial Reports."  

APPENDIX

 

GLOBE LIFE INC.

GAAP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 
 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

2024

 

2023

Revenue:

     

Life premium

$         804,265

 

$         772,597

Health premium

341,019

 

322,493

Other premium

 

Total premium

1,145,284

 

1,095,090

Net investment income

282,578

 

257,105

Realized gains (losses)

(11,799)

 

(30,927)

Other income

76

 

50

Total revenue

1,416,139

 

1,321,318

       

Benefits and expenses:

     

Life policyholder benefits(1)

519,871

 

507,977

Health policyholder benefits(2)

202,327

 

190,962

Other policyholder benefits

9,595

 

8,988

Total policyholder benefits

731,793

 

707,927

Amortization of deferred acquisition costs

99,478

 

92,322

Commissions, premium taxes, and non-deferred acquisition costs

148,110

 

137,797

Other operating expense

93,214

 

84,171

Interest expense

28,621

 

24,867

Total benefits and expenses

1,101,216

 

1,047,084

       

Income before income taxes

314,923

 

274,234

Income tax benefit (expense)

(60,706)

 

(50,624)

Net income

$         254,217

 

$         223,610

       

Basic net income per common share

$               2.71

 

$               2.32

       

Diluted net income per common share

$               2.67

 

$               2.28

   

(1)

Net of a remeasurement gain of $4.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and a remeasurement gain of $2.7 million for the same period in 2023.

(2)

Net of a remeasurement gain of $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and a remeasurement loss of $2.0 million for the same period in 2023.