Skip to content

Aflac

NYSE: AFL · USD

Aflac (AFL) Economic Moat Analysis63

Competitive advantages, dated evidence and erosion risks.

Narrow economic moat

Aflac's longstanding Japanese cancer-insurance leadership, extensive distribution relationships and demonstrated repeat demand support a narrow intangible-assets moat. These advantages help sustain customer access and an established insurance franchise, although nonexclusive distribution and competing bundled products limit protection. Realized pricing power remains unproven: disclosed repricing lacks direction and magnitude, while premium growth also reflects sales, product mix and reinsurance.

Intangible assets

Aflac Japan combines an established cancer-insurance franchise with accumulated distribution relationships. Leadership dating from its 1974 market entry, agreements covering approximately 90% of Japanese banks, longstanding Japan Post arrangements and substantial premium persistency support a current customer-access and franchise advantage. They do not establish exclusive distribution, customer lock-in or a network effect.

Durability
Decades of continued cancer-insurance leadership and commercial arrangements maintained since 2008 support persistence beyond a single product cycle. Durability remains conditional on competitive products, distributor economics and policyholder trust.
Competitors
Comparison not established
Erosion risks
Independent distributors can sell competing policies. Competition intensified after deregulation, and major medical carriers are bundling and discounting supplemental coverage in the U.S. Japan premium persistency weakened in early 2026, and the cyber incident creates unresolved reputational and financial exposure.
What would invalidate the thesis
The thesis would fail if Aflac lost its Japanese cancer-insurance leadership alongside sustained deterioration in comparable premium persistency or distribution access; if major distribution arrangements ended without replacement; or if maintaining sales required sustained price concessions or commission increases that eliminated the franchise's economic benefit.
Evidence (6) · Counterevidence (6)

Changes since the previous analysis

  • Changed from uncertain to narrow. The supplied evidence establishes continued cancer-insurance leadership since 1974, extensive bank access and commercial distribution arrangements maintained since 2008. Together with demonstrated persistency, these support a limited franchise advantage despite nonexclusive distribution.
  • Pricing power remains unproven. Added explicit treatment of the persistency methodology change, early-2026 persistency deterioration, actual cyber exposure, compensation arrangements and insurer-specific financial assessments.

Evidence limitations

  • The passages identify generic competing insurer categories but establish no named competitor comparison. Named distribution partners, affiliates and companies mentioned in director biographies are not treated as competitors.
  • Market leadership, brand strength and operating measures are issuer disclosures. No comparative acquisition costs, exclusive distribution protections or demonstrated customer switching costs are supplied; claimed low-cost operations are not established as a cost advantage.
  • Tsumitasu repricing is disclosed without its direction, magnitude or isolated profitability effect. Premium movements cannot establish realized pricing because sales, policy mix, currency, paid-up policies and reinsurance also affect them.
  • Japan persistency methodology changed in January 2025 without retrospective adjustment. Current persistency demonstrates repeat demand but does not prove customer dependency or permit an unqualified comparison with earlier years.
  • All dates used are catalog filing dates. Financial grades rely on 2026-filed sources within 550 days of October 19, 2026; older filings do not establish current capital sufficiency.
  • Latest supplied quantified Japan and U.S. solvency ratios concern December 2025. The estimated ESR is not an observed result under the subsequently introduced reporting regime. June 2026 consolidated equity is not substituted for regulatory capital.
  • Reinsurance counterparty recoverability, quantified duration gaps, current parent liquidity allocation and realized venture-investment returns are incompletely disclosed. Governance policies and award terms do not establish actual executive ownership compliance or future vesting.

Financial indicators to test against the thesis

Calculated from annual filings. Missing data remains unavailable. Detailed financial charts remain in the other topics.

Financial indicators to test against the thesis
PeriodGross marginOperating marginROICFCF margin
2021—22.3%——
2022—21.3%——
2023————
2024————
2025————

Pricing power—

  • Pricing outcomes

    Repricing new Tsumitasu policies is confirmed, but neither its direction nor magnitude is supplied. Sales success and competitors' discounting do not establish Aflac's own realized pricing outcome.

  • Customer demand

    Reported 2025 premium persistency directly demonstrates substantial repeat demand, particularly in Japan. This is premium retention rather than customer-count retention; methodology changes and early-2026 weakening limit the assessment.

  • Margin resilience

    Japan's adjusted pretax margin increased from 36.0% to 36.7% in 2025 and improved in the first quarter of 2026. However, claims assumptions, reinsurance and investment income influence profitability, and first-half consolidated adjusted earnings declined 4.2%. This supports mixed resilience, not demonstrated pricing causation.

  • Pricing freedom

    U.S. premium rates and policy forms require regulatory approval, constraining unilateral pricing freedom. New-policy repricing demonstrates some flexibility, but rights to reprice existing contracts are absent.

Management56

  • Capital discipline

    Actual buybacks reduced shares while disclosed regulatory ratios remained substantial. However, 2025 parent dividends and treasury purchases exceeded parent operating cash inflows, with new borrowing contributing funding. Repurchases are not themselves proof of attractive investment returns.

  • Incentive alignment

    Actual performance-share grants link multiyear awards to returns, capital measures and relative shareholder return, with possible zero payout. Retirement provisions relax service requirements while preserving performance conditions. Actual personal ownership and realized award outcomes are not established.

  • Execution

    Japan and U.S. sales growth demonstrates product and distribution execution; service continued through the cyber incident. The incident affected personal information for approximately 22.65 million individuals, while first-half 2026 adjusted earnings declined. Execution is assessed from operating outcomes, not management praise.

  • Governance

    Independent committees, executive sessions and shareholder rights support oversight, and completed regulatory examinations had no material findings. Combined CEO/chair leadership and time-phased enhanced voting rights temper accountability. No shareholder proposal is assumed adopted.

Sources and methodology

Current publication · Updated 19/10/2026 · Version 5

AI interpretation based on checked source excerpts. Issuer assertions and evidence limitations remain explicit.

Policy quality-scores-2: six equally weighted categories. The overall score requires full coverage. Missing inputs are not zero. Qualitative grades are sourced interpretations, not probabilities. 5/6 · 19/10/2026

Moat63

Equal-weight average of four evidence-backed rubric grades (0–4), scaled to 100.

structural advantage · 3/4 · Continued Japanese cancer-insurance leadership, broad bank access and established commercial distribution arrangements jointly support a franchise advantage. Nonexclusive channels limit its strength; size alone is insufficient.

durability · 3/4 · Leadership dating from 1974 and distribution arrangements maintained since 2008 demonstrate persistence across product cycles. Intensified competition prevents an exceptional durability assessment.

customer dependency · 2/4 · Japan's 93.1% and U.S. 79.2% 2025 premium persistency establish repeat demand, but do not demonstrate lock-in or indispensable coverage. Japan persistency subsequently fell to 92.8% in the first quarter of 2026.

erosion resilience · 2/4 · Japanese sales grew 16.0% in 2025 despite competitive pressure, supporting adaptation. Bundling, nonexclusive distribution, weakening Japan persistency and the actual cyber incident leave resilience mixed.

Pricing power—

Insufficient evidence for every rubric criterion; no category score is inferred.

realized pricing · — · Repricing new Tsumitasu policies is confirmed, but neither its direction nor magnitude is supplied. Sales success and competitors' discounting do not establish Aflac's own realized pricing outcome.

retention · 3/4 · Reported 2025 premium persistency directly demonstrates substantial repeat demand, particularly in Japan. This is premium retention rather than customer-count retention; methodology changes and early-2026 weakening limit the assessment.

margin resilience · 2/4 · Japan's adjusted pretax margin increased from 36.0% to 36.7% in 2025 and improved in the first quarter of 2026. However, claims assumptions, reinsurance and investment income influence profitability, and first-half consolidated adjusted earnings declined 4.2%. This supports mixed resilience, not demonstrated pricing causation.

contractual freedom · 1/4 · U.S. premium rates and policy forms require regulatory approval, constraining unilateral pricing freedom. New-policy repricing demonstrates some flexibility, but rights to reprice existing contracts are absent.

Predictability81

Financial-sector stability over five consecutive reported annual periods: equal weights for nondeclining revenue frequency, revenue-growth volatility (5–40pp), positive consolidated earnings frequency, and net-income/revenue margin volatility (3–20pp). Uses reported accounting scope; not industrial FCF or a growth forecast.

Nondeclining revenue years (%)
25.00
Revenue growth volatility (pp)
5.00
positiveEarningsShare
100.00
netMarginStdDev
3.27

Financial strength69

Qualitative insurance assessment: equal-weight average of four current evidence-backed grades (0–4), scaled to 100. Policy financial-industry-1; not an industrial ratio score or credit rating.

capital adequacy · 3/4 · December 2025 Japan SMR was 995%, down from 1,221%, and U.S. combined RBC was 570%. SMR divides solvency margin by half the risk total; regulatory RBC uses total adjusted capital over authorized control level RBC, with combined U.S. entities net of intercompany items. These denominators are not interchangeable. Estimated Japan ESR above the 170%–230% target supports the assessment but is not a subsequently reported regulatory result.

liquidity funding · 3/4 · Parent cash reached $2.646 billion at December 2025, supported by actual subsidiary remittances and operating cash inflows. An undrawn ¥100 billion revolving facility and June 2026 covenant compliance provide additional support. Parent reliance on regulated subsidiary distributions and incomplete current liquidity allocation prevent an exceptional grade.

asset liability risk · 2/4 · First-half 2026 credit losses of $138 million, substantial higher-LTV transitional real-estate loans and below-investment-grade middle-market exposures demonstrate actual investment risk. The disclosed possibility of reinvesting below legacy liability accretion yields adds matching pressure. Favorable reserve remeasurement supports claims experience, but full duration and reinsurance-recoverability evidence is missing.

earnings resilience · 3/4 · The supplied five-year series shows consistently positive consolidated earnings and adjusted earnings. First-half 2026 net earnings were $1.844 billion versus $628 million, although adjusted earnings declined 4.2% to $1.784 billion. Investment volatility and reserve remeasurement preclude exceptional stability.

Capital allocation63

Qualitative insurance assessment: equal-weight average of four current evidence-backed grades (0–4), scaled to 100. Policy financial-industry-1; not an industrial ratio score or credit rating.

capital efficiency · 3/4 · First-half 2026 annualized GAAP ROE was 12.3%, while adjusted ROE excluding foreign currency remeasurement was 16.7%. The latter uses adjusted earnings and excludes AOCI and specified cumulative currency effects from equity. These demonstrate productive capital use, with accounting scope and limited comparative evidence preventing an exceptional assessment.

distributions and buffers · 2/4 · Second-quarter 2026 distributions comprised $983 million of buybacks and $309 million of dividends. Disclosed December solvency ratios support capacity, but 2025 parent distributions exceeded operating inflows and borrowing increased. Current post-distribution regulatory buffers are not quantified.

dilution and cost · 3/4 · June outstanding shares fell to 502.257 million from 534.809 million a year earlier, demonstrating net share reduction despite equity issuance. Reported 2025 pretax share-based compensation was $82 million; June 2026 unrecognized restricted-stock cost was another $82 million. Financing costs increased, limiting the strength of the result.

investment discipline · 2/4 · Actual credit losses, writeoffs and realized securities-sale losses show imperfect investment outcomes despite a profitable overall franchise. Aflac Ventures had deployed approximately $230 million against a $400 million commitment, but realized venture returns are absent. Available evidence supports a mixed assessment rather than treating stated underwriting processes as proven success.

Management56

Equal-weight average of four evidence-backed rubric grades (0–4), scaled to 100.

capital discipline · 2/4 · Actual buybacks reduced shares while disclosed regulatory ratios remained substantial. However, 2025 parent dividends and treasury purchases exceeded parent operating cash inflows, with new borrowing contributing funding. Repurchases are not themselves proof of attractive investment returns.

incentive alignment · 3/4 · Actual performance-share grants link multiyear awards to returns, capital measures and relative shareholder return, with possible zero payout. Retirement provisions relax service requirements while preserving performance conditions. Actual personal ownership and realized award outcomes are not established.

execution · 2/4 · Japan and U.S. sales growth demonstrates product and distribution execution; service continued through the cyber incident. The incident affected personal information for approximately 22.65 million individuals, while first-half 2026 adjusted earnings declined. Execution is assessed from operating outcomes, not management praise.

governance · 2/4 · Independent committees, executive sessions and shareholder rights support oversight, and completed regulatory examinations had no material findings. Combined CEO/chair leadership and time-phased enhanced voting rights temper accountability. No shareholder proposal is assumed adopted.

Evidence

Third Sector Insurance Products Cancer Insurance Aflac Japan pioneered the cancer insurance market in Japan in 1974, and remains the number one provider of cancer insurance in Japan today.

Item 1, Aflac Japan, cancer-insurance market history and current leadership · Filed 25/02/2026

At December 31, 2025, Aflac Japan had agreements with approximately 90% of the total number of banks in Japan to sell its products.

Item 1, Aflac Japan, bank distribution agreements · Filed 25/02/2026

Since 2008, the Company and Aflac Japan have maintained various commercial and contractual arrangements with Japan Post Holdings and certain of its affiliates.

Related person transactions, Japan Post commercial arrangements since 2008 · Filed 19/03/2026

Under these arrangements, affiliates of Japan Post Holdings conduct the sale of Aflac Japan cancer insurance policies and, among other things, provide supplemental support necessary or beneficial to effectuating the sale and servicing of such policies.

Related person transactions, Japan Post distribution and servicing arrangements · Filed 19/03/2026

Aflac Japan’s cancer insurance policies issued pursuant to these contractual arrangements constituted approximately 6.7% of Aflac Japan’s earned premium for 2025, representing approximately 3.3% of Aflac Incorporated’s total consolidated earned premium for 2025.

Related person transactions, earned premiums from Japan Post arrangements · Filed 19/03/2026

•Persistency remained strong at 93.1% for the year.

2025 selected results, Aflac Japan premium persistency · Filed 19/03/2026

The Company's sales associates, brokers and other distribution partners are independent contractors and may sell products of its competitors.

Item 1A, nonexclusive independent distribution · Filed 25/02/2026

Since the deregulation of the Japan market in 2001, the number of insurance companies offering stand-alone cancer and medical insurance has increased, intensifying competition.

Item 1, Japanese competitive markets after deregulation · Filed 25/02/2026

products. However, given the profitability erosion some major medical carriers are facing in their core lines of business, the Company has seen a more competitive landscape as these carriers seek entry into Aflac's supplemental product segments and leverage their core benefit offerings by bundling and discounting products in order to gain market share.

Item 1, U.S. competitive bundling and discounting · Filed 25/02/2026

rolling) 92.8 93.8 (100) Total benefits and claims (net) / Net earned premiums 62.9 65.8 (290) Total adjusted expenses / Total adjusted revenues 19.5 19.6 (10) Pretax adjusted earnings / Total adjusted revenues 35.0 31.8 320 In yen terms, Aflac Japan's net earned premiums were ¥246.7 billion for the quarter, or 3.8% lower than a year ago, mainly due to the impact of a new external reinsurance transaction for WAYS and Tsumitasu as well as limited pay products reaching paid-up status.

First-quarter 2026 Japan operating ratios, persistency and premium movements · Filed 29/04/2026

In December 2025, the Company determined that personal information associated with approximately 22.65 million individuals was involved.

Note 13, cyber incident, affected personal information · Filed 06/05/2026

The Company believes that the potential amount of loss cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

Note 13, cyber incident, unquantifiable potential loss · Filed 06/05/2026

•Persistency decreased slightly by 10 basis points but remained strong at 79.2%.

2025 selected results, U.S. premium persistency · Filed 19/03/2026

Beginning January 2025, the Company implemented a new methodology of calculating persistency rate which excludes annuitizations, premium halving and waiver premium from the terminations; prior periods have not been retroactively adjusted.

Japan operating-ratio methodology, January 2025 persistency definition change · Filed 06/08/2026

2025 Selected Results •Aflac Japan’s sales grew 16.0% for the year reflecting robust sales of Miraito, our latest cancer insurance product, and the continued success of agencies selling Tsumitasu, our repriced life insurance product which offers an asset formation component and options such as nursing care.

2025 selected results, Japanese sales growth and product performance · Filed 19/03/2026

We continue to promote awareness for third sector protection to new and younger customers through our innovative first sector product Tsumitasu, which was repriced for new policies effective in September.

Management commentary, Tsumitasu repricing for new policies · Filed 04/02/2026

•approval of policy forms and premium rates

Item 1, state regulation, approval of policy forms and premium rates · Filed 25/02/2026

As a result, the pretax adjusted profit margin for the Japan segment was 36.7%, compared with 36.0% a year ago.

Full-year 2025 Japan pretax adjusted profit margin comparison · Filed 04/02/2026

1,356 1,359 1,501 1,419 1,421 388 370 (4.6) 746 733 (1.7) 1 Corporate and other (1) (293) (218) (425) 32 101 20 (10) 63 (10) Pretax adjusted earnings 4,819 4,422 4,310 4,945 4,962 1,198 1,101 (8.1) 2,321 2,223 (4.2) Income taxes (1) 893 808 577 873 954 241 218 (9.5) 458 439 (4.1) 2 Adjusted earnings (2) 3,925 3,614 3,733 4,072 4,008 957 883 (7.7) 1,863 1,784 (4.2) Reconciling items: Adjusted net investment gains (losses) 462 447 914 1,495 (375) (377) (106) (1,301) (3) Other and non-recurring income (loss) (73) 1 39 (23) (54) — — (53) — 3 Income tax benefit (expense) on items excluded from adjusted earnings (3) (83) 357 (26) (101) 67 19 48 119 63 Net earnings $ 4,231 $ 4,418 $ 4,659 $ 5,443 $ 3,646 $ 599 $ 825 37.7 % $ 628 $ 1,844 193.6 % Effective Tax rate The Company believes that this metric is a key driver of in force levels, which is a key measure of the size of the Company's business and future sources of earnings.

Summary of adjusted results, earnings history and first-half 2026 comparisons · Filed 06/08/2026

Financial Statements. Aflac Incorporated and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Earnings Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (In millions, except for share and per-share amounts - Unaudited) 2026 2025 2026 2025 Revenues: Net earned premiums, principally supplemental health insurance (1) $ 3,252 $ 3,470 $ 6,562 $ 6,851 Net investment income 984 1,081 1,940 2,036 Net investment gains (losses) (153) (421) (104) (1,384) Other income (loss) 34 30 65 55 Total revenues 4,117 4,160 8,463 7,558 Benefits and expenses: Benefits and claims, excluding reserve remeasurement 1,898 2,047 3,812 4,033 Reserve remeasurement (gains) losses (46) (37) (128) (78) Total benefits and claims, net 1,852 2,010 3,684 3,955 Acquisition and operating expenses: Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs 218 221 439 437 Insurance commissions 239 251 476 491 Insurance and other expenses 749 804 1,520 1,606 Interest expense 64 52 124 102 Total acquisition and operating expenses 1,270 1,328 2,559 2,636 Total benefits and expenses 3,122 3,338 6,243 6,591 Earnings before income taxes 995 822 2,220 967 Income taxes 170 223 376 339 Net earnings $ 825 $ 599 $ 1,844 $ 628 Net earnings per share: Basic $ 1.64 $ 1.12 $ 3.63 $ 1.16 Diluted 1.63 1.11 3.61 1.16 Weighted-average outstanding common shares used in computing earnings per share (In thousands): Basic 504,123 536,688 508,572 540,676 Diluted 505,578 538,425 510,150 542,629 Cash dividends per share $ .61 $ .58 $ 1.22 $ 1.16 (1) Includes a gain (loss) of an immaterial amount for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively, related to remeasurement of the deferred profit liability for limited-payment contracts.

Consolidated statements of earnings, first-half 2026 and 2025 · Filed 07/08/2026

199 SCHEDULE II CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT Aflac Incorporated (Parent Only) Condensed Statements of Cash Flows Years ended December 31, (In millions) 2025 2024 2023 Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $ 3,646 $ 5,443 $ 4,659 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided from operating activities: Equity in earnings of subsidiaries(1) (3,708) (5,090) (4,418) Cash dividends received from subsidiaries 3,824 4,274 3,410 Other, net (52) (292) (686) Net cash provided (used) by operating activities 3,710 4,335 2,965 Cash flows from investing activities: Fixed maturity securities sold 824 572 547 Fixed maturity securities purchased (772) (695) (345) Other investments sold (purchased) 125 (243) (34) Settlement of derivatives 277 469 693 Additional capitalization of subsidiaries(1) (15) (84) (203) Other, net (58) 0 1 Net cash provided (used) by investing activities 381 19 659 Cash flows from financing activities: Purchases of treasury stock (3,530) (2,800) (2,801) Proceeds from borrowings 1,039 823 0 Principal payments under debt obligations (84) 0 0 Dividends paid to shareholders (1,198) (1,087) (966) Treasury stock reissued 8 14 17 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 7 9 13 Net change in amount due to/from subsidiaries(1) 25 (5) (6) Other, net (20) (7) (17) Net cash provided (used) by financing activities (3,753) (3,053) (3,760) Net change in cash and cash equivalents 338 1,301 (136) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 2,308 1,007 1,143 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 2,646 $ 2,308 $ 1,007 (1) Eliminated in consolidation See the accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

Schedule II, parent-only cash flows, financing and distributions · Filed 25/02/2026

As of December 31, 2025, Aflac Japan's SMR was 995%, compared with 1,221% at December 31, 2024.

Liquidity and capital resources, Japan SMR at December 2025 and 2024 · Filed 25/02/2026

Solvency Margin Ratio (SMR) is solvency margin total divided by one half of the risk total.

Glossary, SMR denominator · Filed 25/02/2026

As of December 31, 2025, Aflac Japan estimated the ESR to be above the Company's target range of 170% to 230%.

Liquidity and capital resources, estimated December 2025 Japan ESR · Filed 25/02/2026

COMBINED RISK-BASED CAPITAL (RBC) RATIO(2) 570% Pay-For-Performance Compensation Philosophy OUR COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY PILLARS We Pay for Performance.

2025 business highlights, U.S. combined RBC ratio · Filed 19/03/2026

Regulatory compliance is determined by a ratio of a company's regulatory total adjusted capital to its authorized control level RBC as defined by the NAIC.

NAIC risk-based capital, regulatory ratio denominator · Filed 25/02/2026

(2)The Company calculates its combined RBC ratio to include all U.S.

Business highlights footnote, combined RBC scope · Filed 19/03/2026

regulated life insurance entities as if they were a single combined U.S.

Business highlights footnote, combined U.S. regulatory entities · Filed 19/03/2026

RBC entity net of intercompany items related to capital resources and risk.

Business highlights footnote, combined RBC intercompany netting · Filed 19/03/2026

Purpose uncommitted bilateral 364 days December 4, 2026 $100 million $0 million The rate quoted by the bank and agreed upon at the time of borrowing Up to 3 months None General corporate purposes unsecured revolving 5 years May 13, 2030, or the date commitments are terminated pursuant to an event of default ¥100.0 billion ¥0.0 billion A rate per annum equal to, at the Company's option, either (a) Tokyo Interbank Market Rate (TIBOR) plus an applicable margin or (b) an alternative TIBOR based on the rate offered by the agent to major banks in yen for the applicable period plus an applicable margin No later than May 14, 2030 .28% to .45%, depending on the Parent Company's debt ratings as of the date of determination

Liquidity and capital resources, undrawn yen revolving facility · Filed 07/08/2026

dollar-denominated borrowings or three-month TIBOR plus 68 basis points per annum for Japanese yen-denominated borrowings No later than December 2, 2026 None General corporate purposes (1) Intercompany credit agreement The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of its notes payable and lines of credit at June 30, 2026.

Notes payable and credit facilities, June 2026 covenant compliance · Filed 07/08/2026

Investment exposures that individually exceeded 10% of shareholders' equity were as follows: June 30, 2026 December 31, 2025 (In millions) Credit Rating Amortized Cost Fair Value Credit Rating Amortized Cost Fair Value Japan National Government(1) A+ $29,714 $24,612 A+ $32,618 $28,434 (1) Japan Government Bonds (JGBs) or JGB-backed securities 16 Net Investment Gains and Losses Information regarding pretax net investment gains and losses was as follows: Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, (In millions) 2026 2025 2026 2025 Net investment gains (losses): Sales and redemptions: Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale: Gross gains from sales $ 0 $ 5 $ 1 $ 119 Gross losses from sales (837) (98) (978) (333) Foreign currency gains (losses) 599 79 725 240 Other investments: Gross gains (losses) from sales and redemptions 0 11 (2) 12 Total sales and redemptions (238) (3) (254) 38 Equity securities 87 98 73 37 Impairment losses (11) (6) (35) (6) Credit losses: Fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity 0 0 1 0 Commercial mortgage and other loans (76) (61) (126) (114) Loan commitments (1) 2 1 0 Reinsurance recoverables and other 0 1 (14) 1 Total credit losses (77) (58) (138) (113) Derivatives and other: Derivative gains (losses) (134) 23 (229) (22) Foreign currency gains (losses) 220 (475) 479 (1,318) Total derivatives and other 86 (452) 250 (1,340) Total net investment gains (losses) $ (153) $ (421) $ (104) $ (1,384) In the three-month period ended June 30, 2026, the Company did not recognize impairment losses on real estate owned (REO) properties.

Note 3, investment concentration, realized investment and credit losses · Filed 07/08/2026

Transitional Real Estate Loans (In millions) 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 Prior Total Loan-to-Value Ratio: 0%-59.99% $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 141 $ 157 $ 298 60%-69.99% 0 0 0 0 324 304 628 70%-79.99% 0 0 0 14 515 457 986 80% or greater 65 0 0 0 349 1,018 1,432 Total $ 65 $ 0 $ 0 $ 14 $ 1,329 $ 1,936 $ 3,344 Current-period gross writeoffs: $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 8 $ 0 $ 8 Commercial Mortgage Loans (In millions) 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 Prior Total Weighted-Average DSCR Loan-to-Value Ratio: 0%-59.99% $ 35 $ 11 $ 0 $ 31 $ 0 $ 1,061 $ 1,138 2.80 60%-69.99% 13 20 0 0 0 77 110 1.91 70%-79.99% 0 0 0 0 0 72 72 1.45 80% or greater 0 0 12 0 0 36 48 0.87 Total $ 48 $ 31 $ 12 $ 31 $ 0 $ 1,246 $ 1,368 2.59 Weighted Average DSCR 1.90 1.83 1.09 2.74 0.00 2.65 Current-period gross writeoffs: $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 26 Middle Market Loans (In millions) 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 Prior Revolving Loans Total Credit Ratings: BBB $ 73 $ 13 $ 61 $ 22 $ 0 $ 94 $ 6 $ 269 BB 269 355 506 114 296 774 66 2,380 B 49 291 124 46 232 628 45 1,415 CCC 0 25 3 0 34 273 26 361 CC 6 5 2 0 10 81 8 112 C and lower 0 0 0 0 0 53 7 60 Total $ 397 $ 689 $ 696 $ 182 $ 572 $ 1,903 $ 158 $ 4,597 Current-period gross writeoffs: $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 11 $ 0 $ 11 Other Loans (In millions) 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 Prior Revolving Loans Total Credit Ratings: A $ 20 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 60 $ 0 $ 0 $ 80 AA 0 0 0 0 8 3 0 11 BBB 81 37 257 0 24 24 0 423 BB 0 0 0 64 0 0 0 64 Total $ 101 $ 37 $ 257 $ 64 $ 92 $ 27 $ 0 $ 578 Current-period gross writeoffs: $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 Other Investments The table below presents the composition of the carrying value for other investments as of the periods presented.

Note 3, real-estate and middle-market loan quality and writeoffs · Filed 07/08/2026

Currently, when the Company's fixed maturity securities mature, the proceeds may be reinvested at a yield below that required for the accretion of policy benefit liabilities on policies issued in earlier years.

Liquidity and capital resources, reinvestment yields versus liability accretion · Filed 07/08/2026

Common stock - issued: Balance, beginning of period 1,357,909 1,356,763 Exercise of stock options and issuance of restricted shares 1,027 Balance, end of period 1,358,830 1,357,790 Treasury stock: Balance, beginning of period 839,219 806,799 Purchases of treasury stock: Share repurchase program 16,413 Dispositions of treasury stock: Shares issued to AFL Stock Plan (328) (366) (42) (41) (167) (226) Balance, end of period 856,573 822,981 Shares outstanding, end of period 502,257 534,809 Share Repurchase Program: During the first six months of 2026, the Company repurchased 17.5 million shares of its common stock for $2.0 billion as part of its share repurchase program.

Note 10, outstanding shares and first-half 2026 repurchases · Filed 07/08/2026

(In millions, except for per-share amounts) 2025 2024 2023 Impact on earnings from continuing operations $ 82 $ 72 $ 79 Impact on earnings before income taxes 82 72 79 Impact on net earnings 65 57 62 Impact on net earnings per share: Basic $ .12 $ .10 $ .10 Diluted .12 .10 .10 175 Item 8.

Note on share-based compensation, reported 2025 expense · Filed 25/02/2026

As part of its overall corporate strategy, the Company has committed up to $400 million to Aflac Ventures, LLC (Aflac Ventures) as opportunities emerge, of which approximately $230 million has been deployed as of June 30, 2026.

Investing activities, Aflac Ventures commitment and deployment · Filed 07/08/2026

GAAP ROE - Net earnings1 12.3 4.7 Impact of excluding unrealized foreign currency translation gains (losses) (2.2) (0.8) Impact of excluding unrealized gains (losses) on securities and derivatives (0.2) Impact of excluding effect of changes in discount rate assumptions 4.0 0.7 Impact of excluding pension liability adjustment — — Impact of excluding AOCI 0.9 (0.3) U.S.

First-half ROE reconciliation, GAAP return on average shareholders' equity · Filed 06/08/2026

GAAP ROE - less AOCI 13.2 4.4 Differences between adjusted earnings and net earnings2 (0.4) 8.7 Adjusted ROE - reported 12.8 13.1 Impact of excluding gains (losses) associated with foreign currency remeasurement3 3.9 3.0 Adjusted ROE, excluding foreign currency remeasurement 16.7 16.1 1 U.S.

First-half ROE reconciliation, adjusted return measures · Filed 06/08/2026

•Adjusted return on equity excluding foreign currency remeasurement is annualized adjusted earnings divided by average shareholders’ equity, excluding both accumulated other comprehensive income and the cumulative (beginning January 1, 2021) foreign currency gains/losses associated with i) foreign currency remeasurement and ii) sales and redemptions of invested assets.

Non-GAAP measures, adjusted ROE excluding currency remeasurement definition · Filed 06/08/2026

Miller 300 % Audrey Boone Tillman 325 % 52 AFLAC INCORPORATED EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION LTI Performance Metrics The PBRS will vest based on the Company’s achievement on a combination of these measures—AROE, RBC, SMR/ESR —for the cumulative three-year performance period beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2027.

Executive compensation, granted 2025–2027 performance award metrics · Filed 19/03/2026

74 Performance-Based Restricted Stock In 2026, the Company granted 289 thousand shares of performance-based stock, which are contingent on the achievement of the Company's financial performance metrics and certain market conditions.

Note 11, actual 2026 performance-based stock grants · Filed 07/08/2026

Actual performance, including modification for relative total shareholder return, may result in the ultimate award of 0% to 200% of the initial number of performance-based restricted stock issued, with the potential for no award if the Company's performance goals are not achieved.

Note 11, performance-award payout range and relative shareholder return · Filed 07/08/2026

Tillman are retirement-eligible under the terms of the Company’s equity agreements and each will vest in all equity awards granted at least one year before the date his or her employment terminates (subject to satisfaction of performance goals).

Termination benefits, retirement eligibility and equity vesting provisions · Filed 19/03/2026

In particular: •a substantial majority of our Board members are independent; •the Audit and Risk, Compensation, and Corporate Governance Committees all comprise independent Directors; •the Company has a Lead Non-Management Director with significant responsibilities, as described below; •the Non-employee Directors meet at each regularly scheduled Board meeting in executive session without management present; •the Corporate Governance Committee oversees and manages the annual assessment of Board performance, which includes consideration of the effectiveness of our Board leadership structure; •our shareholders have several avenues to make their views known, including the ability to amend the Bylaws of the Company, to call a special meeting of shareholders and to include director nominations in our proxy materials; and •members of our management team and/or independent Directors proactively engage on a year-round basis with our shareholders to understand their perspectives on our business, strategy, management, Board, and governance practices.

Corporate governance, independent committees and shareholder rights · Filed 19/03/2026

Total for PEO(1) Actually Paid to PEO(2)(7) Average Summary Total for Non-PEO NEOs(3) Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(2)(9) Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based On: Income*(5) Equity(5)(6)(7) Peer Group Total Return(4) $25,033,687 $38,988,251 $6,833,991 $9,579,272 $278.50 $201.00 $3,646 $19,268,254 $36,602,092 $4,853,760 $7,733,169 (8) $255.62 $189.87 $5,443 17.7 $20,703,253 $40,403,440 $6,201,143 $8,477,924 (8) $199.58 $157.83 $4,659 14.2 $15,776,291 $32,797,790 $5,168,408 $8,807,464 $170.03 $150.82 $4,418 13.9 $15,728,233 $27,847,653 In light of the fact that the shares acquired by the Trust, like all Aflac Incorporated shares of Common Stock, are eligible for 10-for-1 voting rights, having been held for 48 consecutive months, the Shareholders Agreement further provides for voting restrictions that effectively limit the trustee’s voting rights to no more than 20% of the voting rights in the Company and further restrict the trustee’s voting rights with respect to certain change in control transactions.

Ownership arrangements, time-phased voting rights and trustee restrictions · Filed 19/03/2026

DANIEL P. AMOS, 74 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Director Since 1983 Committees: E, FI W.

Director summary, combined chairman and CEO roles · Filed 19/03/2026

The Company's systems were not affected by ransomware, and the Company remained able to serve its policyholders and underwrite policies, review claims, and otherwise service customers as usual.

Note 13, cyber incident, continued policyholder service · Filed 06/05/2026

•Sales of nearly $1.6 billion were up 3.0%.

2025 selected results, U.S. new sales · Filed 19/03/2026

There were no material findings in any of the NDOI and NYSDFS final examination reports.

State regulation, completed examination findings · Filed 25/02/2026

(In thousands of shares) Shares Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value Per Share Restricted stock at December 31, 2025 1,867 $ 86.15 Granted in 2026 928 119.68 Canceled in 2026 (18) 101.26 Vested in 2026 (1,093) 75.39 Restricted stock at June 30, 2026 1,684 $ 102.84 As of June 30, 2026, total compensation cost not yet recognized in the Company's consolidated financial statements related to restricted stock was $82 million, of which $42 million (1.4 million shares) was related to performance-based restricted stock.

Note 11, restricted-share activity and unrecognized compensation cost · Filed 07/08/2026

•The company returned $1.3 billion to shareholders, consisting of $983 million in share repurchase and $309 million in dividends.

Second-quarter 2026 actual buybacks and dividends · Filed 06/08/2026

The initial report on the ESR will be issued as of March 31, 2026, which is Aflac Japan's 2025 fiscal year-end.

Japan solvency regime transition, initial ESR reporting date · Filed 25/02/2026

The decrease in annualized premiums in force in Japanese yen of 2.5% in 2025 and 3.0% in 2024 was driven primarily by limited-pay products reaching premium paid-up status.

Japan premiums in force, limited-pay policies reaching paid-up status · Filed 25/02/2026

Publication history

Publication history
VersionUpdatedCompetitive advantage
519/10/2026narrow
418/10/2026uncertain
318/10/2026uncertain
218/10/2026uncertain
118/10/2026Unavailable

Sources

Research methodology and limitations · What is an economic moat?