Insurer Aflac beats quarterly revenue estimates on steady US premium gains

Feb 4 (Reuters) - Health and life insurer Aflac AFL.N beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter revenue on Wednesday, helped by higher premiums in its U.S. division.

It reported total revenue of $4.9 billion for the fourth quarter, above analysts' estimate of $4.3 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Aflac provides accident and pet insurance plans through its units in the United States and Japan.

Additionally, it offers supplemental insurance to help cover out-of-pocket costs, including specialized coverage for critical illnesses, dental care and ophthalmological requirements.

On an adjusted basis, profit for the quarter ended December 31 was $1.57 per share, below the estimate of $1.69 per share.

The Columbus-based company said variable investment income ran $12 million below its long‑term return expectations, weighing on quarterly results.

In December, Aflac said the personal data of about 22.65 million people was compromised in a June 2025 security breach at its U.S. business, an attack the insurer attributed to a "sophisticated cybercrime group".

The company's U.S. unit earned net premiums of $1.5 billion for the reported quarter, up 4% from a year earlier.

Aflac U.S. sales rose 3.1% in the quarter to $551 million, primarily benefiting from sales of group voluntary products.

Japan's quarterly sales rose 15.7%, driven by strong demand for the new cancer insurance product, Miraito, the company said.