CNO Financial Group, Inc. filed its third quarter 2026 earnings disclosure on October 29, 2026, reporting net income of $161 million and raising its full-year operating earnings per share guidance with the midpoint up 9% from prior guidance.

Key Highlights

  • Net income: $161 million, or $1.71 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, according to the filing.
  • Net operating income: $179 million, or $1.90 per diluted share, representing a 47% increase in operating EPS year over year.
  • Significant items impact: A $44.9 million net favorable impact on both net income and net operating income from the comprehensive annual actuarial review, or $0.48 per diluted share.
  • Book value: Book value per share of $25.34; book value per diluted share excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss of $41.29, up 8%.
  • Sales growth streak: Total new annualized premiums up for a 17th consecutive quarter, with Consumer and Worksite divisions reporting 15th and 17th consecutive quarters of producing agent count growth, respectively.
  • Reinsurance transaction: On October 1, 2026, CNO closed a third reinsurance transaction with its wholly owned Bermuda affiliate, reinsuring approximately $270 million of inforce graded benefit life statutory reserves from Colonial Penn.
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 operating EPS guidance raised with the midpoint up 9% from prior guidance, the company disclosed.

CNO Financial Group Q3 2026 Earnings: Key Figures and Disclosures

CNO Financial Group (NYSE:CNO) reported third quarter 2026 results showing net income of $161.1 million, or $1.71 per diluted share, compared to $23.1 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2025. According to the filing, net operating income, a non-GAAP measure used by management to evaluate operating performance, was $179.1 million, or $1.90 per diluted share, up 47% from $1.29 per diluted share in Q3 2025. Operating EPS grew 43% on a year-to-date basis as well, the company reported.

The filing noted that significant items, related to CNO's comprehensive annual actuarial review, had a $44.9 million net favorable impact on both net income and net operating income in the quarter, equivalent to $0.48 per diluted share. This compares to a $32.2 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, favorable significant items impact in Q3 2025. Income from insurance products was $172.0 million in Q3 2026, up 15% from $149.5 million in Q3 2025. Investment income not allocated to product lines was $68.1 million, up 72% from $39.5 million in the prior year quarter.

The company disclosed a return on equity of 16.4% on a trailing four-quarter basis, and an operating return on equity excluding significant items of 14.1%. Weighted average diluted shares outstanding were 94.3 million in Q3 2026, down from 98.6 million in Q3 2025. Non-operating items in Q3 2026 included net realized investment losses of $48.3 million, which included an unfavorable change in the allowance for credit losses of $5.4 million, and a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets of $22.1 million. Chief Executive Officer Gary C. Bhojwani stated, "CNO delivered an excellent quarter, with operating earnings per share up 47% and our 17th consecutive quarter of sales growth."

What Was Disclosed

CNO Financial Group reported Q3 2026 financial results including net income of $161 million, net operating income of $179 million, a 47% increase in operating EPS, a third reinsurance transaction with its Bermuda affiliate, and a raise to full-year 2026 operating EPS guidance.