COLUMBUS, Ga., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AFLAC Incorporated today
reported its second quarter results. Total revenues, which reflected a
stronger average yen/dollar exchange rate, were $3.2 billion in the second
quarter, or 13.0% higher than a year ago. Net earnings were $265 million, or
$.51 per diluted share, compared with $248 million, or $.48 per diluted share,
a year ago. Net earnings in the second quarter of 2004 included a loss of
$23 million, or $.04 per diluted share, from the change in fair value of the
interest rate component of the cross-currency swaps related to the company's
senior notes as required by SFAS 133. In the second quarter of 2003, net
earnings benefited by $13 million, or $.03 per diluted share, from the effect
of SFAS 133. Realized investment losses were $.01 per diluted share in the
second quarters of 2004 and 2003.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010525/AFLACLOGO )
We believe that an analysis of operating earnings, a non-GAAP financial
measure, is vitally important to an understanding of AFLAC's underlying
profitability drivers. We define operating earnings as the profits we derive
from our operations before realized investment gains and losses, the change in
the fair value of the interest rate component of cross-currency swaps as
required by SFAS 133, and nonrecurring items.
Management uses operating earnings to evaluate the financial performance
of AFLAC's insurance operations because realized gains and losses, the impact
of SFAS 133 and nonrecurring items tend to be driven by general economic
conditions and events and therefore obscure the underlying fundamentals and
trends in AFLAC's insurance operations.
Operating earnings in the second quarter were $291 million, compared with
$240 million a year ago. On a per-share basis, operating earnings rose 21.7%
to $.56 per diluted share, compared with $.46 per share in the second quarter
of 2003. Excluding the benefit of $.02 per share from the stronger yen to the
dollar, operating earnings per share increased 17.4% for the quarter.
For the six months of 2004, total revenues rose 14.9% to $6.5 billion. Net
earnings were $581 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, compared with
$486 million, or $.93 per share, for the first six months of 2003. Operating
earnings for the six months were $587 million, or $1.13 per diluted share,
compared with $483 million, or $.92 per share, in 2003.
The board of directors declared the third quarter cash dividend. The
third quarter dividend of $.095 per share is payable on September 1, 2004, to
shareholders of record at the close of business on August 13, 2004.
Commenting on the company's second quarter and first-half results,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Amos stated: "Overall, we are
pleased with our results so far in 2004. We are especially pleased that
operating earnings per share growth before currency translation was in line
with our annual target of a 17% increase.
"AFLAC U.S. produced total new annualized premium sales in the second
quarter of $281 million, or 6.4% above the second quarter of 2003.
Accident/disability remained the principal contributor to new sales in the
quarter, accounting for approximately 52% of second quarter sales. For the
six months, new sales were up 10.0% to $573 million. Our first-half sales
results were in line with our annual sales target of a 10% to 12% increase.
And we believe the changes we made to our coordinator base and training in
past quarters will enable us to achieve our target for the full year.
"AFLAC Japan's total new annualized premium sales in the second quarter
declined 2.3% from a year ago to 32.2 billion yen, or $294 million. For the
six months, total new annualized premium sales were up .9% to 60.5 billion
yen, or $557 million. Sales growth continued to be impacted by significant
declines in Rider MAX conversions and sales from Dai-ichi Mutual Life,
compared with 2003. Excluding conversions and the contribution from Dai-ichi,
sales were up 2.5% for the quarter and 5.8% for the first six months. We
indicated in the first quarter that we expect better sales growth in the
second half of the year. We continue to believe our sales growth will
improve. However, based on our first-half sales results, it appears that
sales will likely be up 3% to 7% for the full year.
"Although we are disappointed that our sales results were not better in
Japan, we are convinced that we will see better growth in the second half of
the year. EVER continues to be the best-selling stand-alone medical product
in Japan's life insurance industry and we will introduce two new products in
August. We are also encouraged that investment yields in Japan have risen
significantly this year, which should benefit future investment income growth.
And the persistency of our Japanese business has improved to its highest level
since the end of 2001. Even though we view 2004 as a transition year for
AFLAC U.S., we still expect to see double-digit sales growth for the year.
With the significant changes we made to our sales force infrastructure and
training programs last year, and a renewed focus on new agent recruiting this
year, we believe we are positioning AFLAC U.S. for even faster sales growth in
2005.
"Our goal for 2004 is to increase operating earnings per diluted share 17%
excluding the impact of the yen. For 2005, our objective is to increase
operating earnings per diluted share 15% excluding the impact of foreign
currency translation. And in May we established a 2006 objective of a 15%
increase in operating earnings per diluted share before the effect of
currency. We believe our earnings objectives reflect the opportunities we see
for continued growth and our strong competitive position in both the United
States and Japan. More importantly, we believe our objectives are
achievable."
AFLAC Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) is an international holding company. A
Fortune 500(R) company, AFLAC insures more than 40 million people worldwide.
It is a leading writer of insurance products marketed at the worksite in the
United States, offering policies to employees at more than 307,600 payroll
accounts. The company insures one out of four Japanese households and is the
largest life insurer in Japan in terms of individual insurance policies in
force. In January 2004, AFLAC was included in Fortune magazine's list of "The
100 Best Companies to Work for" for the sixth consecutive year. Also in
January 2004, AFLAC was named to Forbes magazine's "Platinum 400 List of Best
Big Companies in America" for the fifth consecutive year. In March 2004,
Fortune magazine included AFLAC in its annual listing of "America's Most
Admired Companies." AFLAC's Internet address is aflac.com.
A copy of AFLAC's second quarter report to shareholders can be found on
the investor relations page of aflac.com.
AFLAC Incorporated will webcast its second quarter conference call on the
investor relations page of aflac.com at 9:00 a.m. (EDT), Wednesday, July 28.
AFLAC INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF EARNINGS
(UNAUDITED -- IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER-SHARE AMOUNTS)
THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2004 2003 % Change
Total revenues $3,233 $2,861 13.0%
Operating earnings 291 240 21.5
Reconciling items, net of tax:
Realized investment gains (losses) (3) (5)
SFAS 133 (23) 13
Net earnings 265 248 6.7
Operating earnings per share - diluted .56 .46 21.7
Reconciling items, net of tax:
Realized investment gains (losses) (.01) (.01)
SFAS 133 (.04) .03
Net earnings per share - diluted .51 .48 6.3
Net earnings per share - basic .52 .48 8.3
Cash dividends paid per share .095 .07 35.7
Shares used to compute earnings
per share (000):
Basic 508,353 513,728 (1.0)
Diluted 517,860 522,713 (1.0)
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
Total revenues $6,513 $5,669 14.9%
Operating earnings 587 483 21.4
Reconciling items, net of tax:
Realized investment gains (losses) 3 (10)
SFAS 133 (12) 13
Japan pension obligation transfer 3 -
Net earnings 581 486 19.5
Operating earnings per share - diluted 1.13 .92 22.8
Reconciling items, net of tax:
Realized investment gains (losses) - (.02)
SFAS 133 (.02) .03
Japan pension obligation transfer .01 -
Net earnings per share - diluted 1.12 .93 20.4
Net earnings per share - basic 1.14 .94 21.3
Cash dividends paid per share .19 .14 35.7
Shares used to compute earnings
per share (000):
Basic 509,138 514,144 (1.0)
Diluted 518,607 523,588 (1.0)
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe
harbor" to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as
those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are
accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. We
desire to take advantage of these provisions. This document contains
cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected herein, and in any other
statements made by company officials in oral discussions with the financial
community and contained in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements are not based on historical
information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or
other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to
numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. In particular, statements
containing words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "goal,"
"objective," "may," "should," "estimate," "intends," "projects," or similar
words as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as
forward-looking. AFLAC undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking
statements.
We caution readers that the following factors, in addition to other
factors mentioned from time to time in our reports filed with the SEC, could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the
forward-looking statements: legislative and regulatory developments;
assessments for insurance company insolvencies; competitive conditions in the
United States and Japan; new product development; ability to attract and
retain qualified sales associates; ability to repatriate profits from Japan;
changes in U.S. and/or Japanese tax laws or accounting requirements; credit
and other risks associated with AFLAC's investment activities; significant
changes in interest rates; fluctuations in foreign currency rates; deviations
in actual experience from pricing and reserving assumptions; level and outcome
of litigation; downgrades in the company's credit rating; changes in rating
agency policies or practices; subsidiary's ability to pay dividends to parent
company; and general economic conditions in the United States and Japan.
Analyst and investor contact - Kenneth S. Janke Jr.,
(800) 235-2667 - option 3, FAX: (706) 324-6330, or kjanke@aflac.com
Media contact - Laura Kane, (706) 596-3493, FAX: (706) 320-2288, or
lkane@aflac.com