CNO Financial Group Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings Growth
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2d ago
0mins
Should l Buy CNO?
Source: seekingalpha
- Consistent Earnings Growth: CNO Financial Group reported operating earnings per share of $4.02 for Q4 2025, exceeding the high end of original guidance, with an 11% increase in full-year operating earnings per share, demonstrating strong performance and improved profitability in the middle-income market.
- Innovative Product Performance: The company saw a 49% increase in new annualized premiums for Medicare Supplement insurance, marking its best quarter in 15 years, reflecting a shift in consumer preference from Medicare Advantage to Medicare Supplement, thereby solidifying CNO's competitive position in this market.
- Capital Management Returns: CNO returned $386 million to shareholders in 2025, an 11% increase over 2024, and raised its quarterly dividend for the 13th consecutive year, showcasing the company's ongoing commitment to shareholder returns and robust capital management capabilities.
- Outlook for Growth: The CFO projected operating earnings per share for 2026 to be between $4.25 and $4.45, reflecting an 8% growth target at the midpoint, while maintaining an expense ratio of 18.8% to 19.2%, indicating the company's pursuit of sustainable growth in a stable macro environment.
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Analyst Views on CNO
Wall Street analysts forecast CNO stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CNO is 48.00 USD with a low forecast of 47.00 USD and a high forecast of 50.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
3 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 42.310
Low
47.00
Averages
48.00
High
50.00
Current: 42.310
Low
47.00
Averages
48.00
High
50.00
About CNO
CNO Financial Group, Inc. is a holding company for a group of insurance companies. It provides life and health insurance, annuities, financial services and workforce benefits solutions through its family of brands, including Bankers Life, Colonial Penn, Optavise and Washington National. It is focused on serving middle-income pre-retiree and retired Americans. It markets its products through the Consumer and Worksite Divisions that reflect the customers served by the Company. The Consumer Division serves individual consumers, engaging with them on the phone, virtually, online, face-to-face with agents, or through a combination of sales channels. The Worksite Division focuses on the sale of voluntary benefit life and health insurance products in the workplace for businesses, associations and other membership groups, interacting with customers at their place of employment and virtually. It also offers a suite of voluntary benefits, benefits administration technology and advocacy services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
CNO Financial Group Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings Growth
- Consistent Earnings Growth: CNO Financial Group reported operating earnings per share of $4.02 for Q4 2025, exceeding the high end of original guidance, with an 11% increase in full-year operating earnings per share, demonstrating strong performance and improved profitability in the middle-income market.
- Innovative Product Performance: The company saw a 49% increase in new annualized premiums for Medicare Supplement insurance, marking its best quarter in 15 years, reflecting a shift in consumer preference from Medicare Advantage to Medicare Supplement, thereby solidifying CNO's competitive position in this market.
- Capital Management Returns: CNO returned $386 million to shareholders in 2025, an 11% increase over 2024, and raised its quarterly dividend for the 13th consecutive year, showcasing the company's ongoing commitment to shareholder returns and robust capital management capabilities.
- Outlook for Growth: The CFO projected operating earnings per share for 2026 to be between $4.25 and $4.45, reflecting an 8% growth target at the midpoint, while maintaining an expense ratio of 18.8% to 19.2%, indicating the company's pursuit of sustainable growth in a stable macro environment.
See More
CNO Financial Q4 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Earnings Beat: CNO Financial reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.47, surpassing expectations by $0.26, indicating strong profitability growth that boosts investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $1.14 billion, a 3.6% year-over-year increase, exceeding forecasts by $140 million, demonstrating robust growth momentum and strengthening its market position.
- Dividend Declaration: CNO Financial announced a dividend of $0.17 per share, reflecting its commitment to shareholder returns and showcasing stable cash flow and financial health, which may attract more long-term investors.
- Future Outlook: With the release of Q4 2025 earnings, market expectations for CNO Financial are likely to rise, enhancing investor confidence in the company's future growth potential, which could drive stock price appreciation.
See More
CNO Financial Group Reports Strong 2025 Financial Results
- Consistent Sales Growth: CNO achieved a 15% increase in new annualized premiums for 2025, marking the 14th consecutive quarter of strong insurance sales, which underscores the resilience of its business model and robust market demand, likely driving future revenue growth.
- Earnings Per Share Increase: Operating earnings per share rose by 11% to $1.47 in 2025, supported by strong insurance product margins and investment results, reflecting effective cost management and capital operations, which enhances investor confidence.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: CNO returned $386 million to shareholders in 2025, an 11% increase from 2024, demonstrating the company's healthy free cash flow generation capability, which is expected to attract more investor interest in its stock.
- Strong Capital Position: As of the end of 2025, CNO's capital position is robust, expected to support its return on equity target for 2027, further solidifying its leadership in the middle-income insurance market.
See More
CNO Financial to Announce Q4 Earnings on February 5
- Earnings Announcement Date: CNO Financial is set to release its Q4 2023 earnings report on February 5 after market close, with consensus EPS estimate at $1.21, reflecting a 7.6% year-over-year decline, and revenue expected at $1 billion, down 9.1% year-over-year.
- Historical Performance: Over the past year, CNO has surpassed EPS estimates 75% of the time and revenue estimates 100% of the time, indicating strong operational stability and market confidence in the company's financial health.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen three upward revisions and no downward adjustments, while revenue estimates experienced one upward and one downward revision, suggesting mixed analyst sentiment regarding future performance.
- Dividend Announcement: CNO Financial declared a dividend of $0.17 per share, demonstrating the company's commitment to maintaining stable cash flow and shareholder returns despite current economic challenges.
See More
CNO Financial Group Appoints Two Senior Vice Presidents to Drive Business Growth
- Executive Promotions: Steve Janoson has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Direct and Independent Distribution, having served as Vice President since 2020, where he led initiatives that significantly contributed to the success of Colonial Penn, Washington National, and Bankers Life brands.
- Legal Strategy Leadership: Rachel Spehler has been elevated to Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Secretary, previously holding the same role since 2020; her expertise in navigating complex regulatory matters has been pivotal to CNO's overall success since she joined in 2016.
- Team Contributions: The promotions of Janoson and Spehler underscore CNO's recognition of their leadership capabilities, particularly in driving sustained growth in direct and independent channels, indicating strong potential for future expansion.
- Company Background: CNO Financial Group secures the future of middle-income America, managing 3.3 million policies and $38.3 billion in total assets, demonstrating its solid position and market influence in providing life and health insurance and financial services.
See More
CNO Financial Group Promotes Executives to Drive Business Growth
- Executive Promotions: CNO Financial Group announces the promotions of Steve Janoson to Senior Vice President of Direct and Independent Distribution and Rachel Spehler to Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Secretary, aimed at driving further business growth.
- Leadership Recognition: Scott Goldberg noted that Janoson's leadership has been crucial for sustained growth in direct and independent channels, successfully launching new programs over the past three years, enhancing the company's market position in brands like Colonial Penn.
- Legal Strategy Enhancement: Spehler has demonstrated outstanding leadership in legal strategy and corporate governance, providing essential guidance on complex regulatory matters since joining CNO in 2016, ensuring compliance and effective oversight.
- Business Expansion Potential: CNO Financial Group currently manages 3.3 million policies and $38.3 billion in total assets, and the new executive appointments are expected to further strengthen the company's competitive edge and support future business expansion.
See More
CNO Financial Group Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings Growth
- Consistent Earnings Growth: CNO Financial Group reported operating earnings per share of $4.02 for Q4 2025, exceeding the high end of original guidance, with an 11% increase in full-year operating earnings per share, demonstrating strong performance and improved profitability in the middle-income market.
- Innovative Product Performance: The company saw a 49% increase in new annualized premiums for Medicare Supplement insurance, marking its best quarter in 15 years, reflecting a shift in consumer preference from Medicare Advantage to Medicare Supplement, thereby solidifying CNO's competitive position in this market.
- Capital Management Returns: CNO returned $386 million to shareholders in 2025, an 11% increase over 2024, and raised its quarterly dividend for the 13th consecutive year, showcasing the company's ongoing commitment to shareholder returns and robust capital management capabilities.
- Outlook for Growth: The CFO projected operating earnings per share for 2026 to be between $4.25 and $4.45, reflecting an 8% growth target at the midpoint, while maintaining an expense ratio of 18.8% to 19.2%, indicating the company's pursuit of sustainable growth in a stable macro environment.
See More
CNO Financial Q4 Earnings Exceed Expectations
- Earnings Beat: CNO Financial reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.47, surpassing expectations by $0.26, indicating strong profitability growth that boosts investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved Q4 revenue of $1.14 billion, a 3.6% year-over-year increase, exceeding forecasts by $140 million, demonstrating robust growth momentum and strengthening its market position.
- Dividend Declaration: CNO Financial announced a dividend of $0.17 per share, reflecting its commitment to shareholder returns and showcasing stable cash flow and financial health, which may attract more long-term investors.
- Future Outlook: With the release of Q4 2025 earnings, market expectations for CNO Financial are likely to rise, enhancing investor confidence in the company's future growth potential, which could drive stock price appreciation.
See More
CNO Financial Group Reports Strong 2025 Financial Results
- Consistent Sales Growth: CNO achieved a 15% increase in new annualized premiums for 2025, marking the 14th consecutive quarter of strong insurance sales, which underscores the resilience of its business model and robust market demand, likely driving future revenue growth.
- Earnings Per Share Increase: Operating earnings per share rose by 11% to $1.47 in 2025, supported by strong insurance product margins and investment results, reflecting effective cost management and capital operations, which enhances investor confidence.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: CNO returned $386 million to shareholders in 2025, an 11% increase from 2024, demonstrating the company's healthy free cash flow generation capability, which is expected to attract more investor interest in its stock.
- Strong Capital Position: As of the end of 2025, CNO's capital position is robust, expected to support its return on equity target for 2027, further solidifying its leadership in the middle-income insurance market.
See More
CNO Financial to Announce Q4 Earnings on February 5
- Earnings Announcement Date: CNO Financial is set to release its Q4 2023 earnings report on February 5 after market close, with consensus EPS estimate at $1.21, reflecting a 7.6% year-over-year decline, and revenue expected at $1 billion, down 9.1% year-over-year.
- Historical Performance: Over the past year, CNO has surpassed EPS estimates 75% of the time and revenue estimates 100% of the time, indicating strong operational stability and market confidence in the company's financial health.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen three upward revisions and no downward adjustments, while revenue estimates experienced one upward and one downward revision, suggesting mixed analyst sentiment regarding future performance.
- Dividend Announcement: CNO Financial declared a dividend of $0.17 per share, demonstrating the company's commitment to maintaining stable cash flow and shareholder returns despite current economic challenges.
See More
CNO Financial Group Appoints Two Senior Vice Presidents to Drive Business Growth
- Executive Promotions: Steve Janoson has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Direct and Independent Distribution, having served as Vice President since 2020, where he led initiatives that significantly contributed to the success of Colonial Penn, Washington National, and Bankers Life brands.
- Legal Strategy Leadership: Rachel Spehler has been elevated to Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Secretary, previously holding the same role since 2020; her expertise in navigating complex regulatory matters has been pivotal to CNO's overall success since she joined in 2016.
- Team Contributions: The promotions of Janoson and Spehler underscore CNO's recognition of their leadership capabilities, particularly in driving sustained growth in direct and independent channels, indicating strong potential for future expansion.
- Company Background: CNO Financial Group secures the future of middle-income America, managing 3.3 million policies and $38.3 billion in total assets, demonstrating its solid position and market influence in providing life and health insurance and financial services.
See More
CNO Financial Group Promotes Executives to Drive Business Growth
- Executive Promotions: CNO Financial Group announces the promotions of Steve Janoson to Senior Vice President of Direct and Independent Distribution and Rachel Spehler to Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Secretary, aimed at driving further business growth.
- Leadership Recognition: Scott Goldberg noted that Janoson's leadership has been crucial for sustained growth in direct and independent channels, successfully launching new programs over the past three years, enhancing the company's market position in brands like Colonial Penn.
- Legal Strategy Enhancement: Spehler has demonstrated outstanding leadership in legal strategy and corporate governance, providing essential guidance on complex regulatory matters since joining CNO in 2016, ensuring compliance and effective oversight.
- Business Expansion Potential: CNO Financial Group currently manages 3.3 million policies and $38.3 billion in total assets, and the new executive appointments are expected to further strengthen the company's competitive edge and support future business expansion.
See More
