Prudential Financial said its profit rose in the second quarter, supported by gains at PGIM, the company’s global investment management business, and a marked improvement in its individual life segment within its U.S. Businesses.
The company reported quarterly assets under management of $1.64 trillion, up from $1.58 trillion in the same quarter a year earlier. Management highlighted diversification across business lines as a factor helping U.S. life insurers mitigate the effects of market volatility or weakness in a single business area.
Financial results and segment performance
- PGIM posted quarterly adjusted operating income of $294 million, compared with $229 million a year ago.
- The individual life unit, included in Prudential’s U.S. Businesses segment, reported adjusted operating income of $176 million for the quarter, more than double the $82 million recorded in the prior-year quarter.
- On an after-tax adjusted operating income basis, the company reported $4.08 per common share for the three months ended June 30, up from $3.58 per share a year earlier.
In commentary accompanying the results, CEO Andy Sullivan said, "PGIM delivered another quarter of strong investment performance and progressed its platform integration. Our U.S. Businesses continued to see benefits of investments in distribution and product diversification."
Operational context
Prudential pointed to continued momentum at its investment management arm and to gains in its U.S. life operations as key drivers of the quarterly improvement. The company’s stated emphasis on distribution and product diversification within its U.S. Businesses was cited as contributing to the enhanced financial outcomes.
What the numbers show
The sequential and year-over-year comparisons supplied by Prudential show higher assets under management and improved adjusted operating income across the named divisions. PGIM’s adjusted operating income rose by $65 million year-over-year, while the individual life unit’s adjusted operating income rose by $94 million versus the prior-year quarter. The per-share after-tax adjusted operating income increased by $0.50 compared with the same period a year earlier.
Prudential’s results underscore the company’s reliance on multiple business lines to offset volatility that could affect any single unit, and the firm highlighted integration and distribution investments as ongoing priorities.
The company’s quarterly disclosure covered the three months ended June 30 and focused on the areas detailed above.