GET DAILY SIGNALSEquitable Holdings (EQH) Delivers Q3 Profit Turnaround and +19% Operating EPS Growth
Key Takeaways
- Equitable Holdings swung to a third quarter net profit of $1.12 billion, or $4.05 per share, compared with a net loss of $1.31 billion, or $4.47 per share, a year earlier.
- Non-GAAP operating earnings rose to $595 million, or $2.13 per share, up from $455 million, or $1.48 per share, in the prior-year quarter.
- Total revenues climbed to $3.88 billion from $1.45 billion a year ago, while operating earnings per share grew 19% year over year.
- All three core businesses delivered positive net flows, led by $6.6 billion of net inflows at AllianceBernstein, the company's asset management arm.
- Management said it is on track to hit its 60–70% shareholder payout ratio target for 2026, returning $320 million to shareholders during the quarter.
- You can find more information about the ticker's Major News, Today's Price Move, Price Targets, and Forecast on additional pages.
- To discover actionable trading ideas and automated strategies, explore Trending AI Robots.
Why These Results Matter
Equitable Holdings operates across retirement, protection, asset management, and wealth management. Its third-quarter performance is notable because the firm generates fees based on roughly $1.2 trillion in client assets, so asset growth and net inflows serve as key signals for future earnings. The quarter also stands out as the company advances toward its all-stock merger with Corebridge Financial, expected to close by year-end 2026. A return to profitability after last year’s sizable loss, along with stronger operating earnings, suggests that its fee-based approach and capital discipline are producing better results for shareholders. I also checked this using Tickeron’s AI Screener to see how the stock compares to others in the industry.
Breaking Down the Reported Numbers
For the third quarter of 2026, Equitable Holdings posted net income attributable to Holdings of $1.12 billion, or $4.05 per share. That marks a clear reversal from the net loss of $1.31 billion, or $4.47 per share, recorded in the same period last year. Total revenues increased to $3.88 billion from $1.45 billion a year earlier.
On an adjusted, non-GAAP basis that excludes items management views as non-recurring, operating earnings reached $595 million, or $2.13 per share, versus $455 million, or $1.48 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Excluding notable items, operating earnings came in at $554 million, or $1.98 per share. Management highlighted that non-GAAP operating EPS rose 19% year over year and 22% for the first nine months, aligning with its guidance for growth above 15% in 2026.
Retirement recorded net inflows of $1.1 billion and first-year premiums of $6.2 billion, up 14% from a year earlier. Wealth Management saw advisory net inflows of $2.7 billion, while Asset Management posted net inflows of $6.6 billion, bringing assets under management to $900.4 billion. The main point of pressure appeared in Asset Management, where operating earnings eased to $152 million from $154 million as AUM growth was offset by a lower fee rate and higher expenses.
How the Market Is Responding
The quarter represented a return to profitability after the prior-year loss, and the headline results exceeded analyst expectations based on financial media reports. Attention now centers on whether the positive net flows across all three businesses can be sustained, the 19% year-over-year rise in non-GAAP operating EPS, and management’s confirmation that it remains on track for the 60–70% payout ratio target. The modest year-over-year dip in Asset Management operating earnings, tied to fee-rate pressure and increased expenses, is the area that may require the closest monitoring, as it shows how rising costs can limit margin expansion even with solid inflows.
What to Watch Going Forward
The pending all-stock merger with Corebridge Financial stands as the largest upcoming catalyst. The combination is expected to close by year-end 2026, subject to approvals, and is projected to be immediately accretive to earnings per share and cash generation, with at least 10% accretion on a run-rate basis by the end of 2028. Updates on integration planning, cost synergies, and the combined distribution reach will be important to follow.
Maintaining net inflows in Retirement, Wealth Management, and Asset Management remains essential, given that fee income grows with the asset base. In Asset Management specifically, the path of fee rates and expense control will determine whether strong flows convert into higher profits. Capital management continues to draw focus as well. Equitable Holdings returned $320 million to shareholders in the quarter and reaffirmed its 60–70% payout ratio target for the year. Ongoing buybacks and dividends, weighed against merger-related cash needs, will indicate the firm’s financial flexibility. Broader equity market performance and interest rates will also influence asset values and investment-related earnings in coming quarters.
Using AI Tools in My Research Process
I often turn to Tickeron’s AI Screener when evaluating financial names like this one. The platform lets me quickly filter for stocks with similar fundamentals, technical patterns, and performance metrics, which helps me place individual results in a broader industry context without spending hours on manual screens. It has become a regular part of how I cross-check ideas before digging deeper into filings or management commentary.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Contributor
Sergey Savastiouk, Ph.D. has a degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow University and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, manager, and mathematician. His professional expertise is in applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, system and pattern analysis, and software and hardware system integration. He has served as the CEO of several hi-tech start-up companies and nonprofit organizations, which has given him proven capabilities in business strategy for high-tech start-up companies, market assessment, company formation, team building, product development, marketing, and sales. He has published numerous articles in journals and magazines on related fields. As a retail investor, he spent 15 years developing his proprietary trading and quantitative algorithms (now Tickeron’s A.I.), which brought him significant returns in trading the stock market. His current work and goal in founding Tickeron is to bring professional, sophisticated stock market analysis capabilities to retail investors via an easy-to-use interface.
Momentum Indicator for EQH turns positive, indicating new upward trend
EQH saw its Momentum Indicator move above the 0 level on October 26, 2026. This is an indication that the stock could be shifting in to a new upward move. Traders may want to consider buying the stock or buying call options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 89 similar instances where the indicator turned positive. In 61 of the 89 cases, the stock moved higher in the following days. The odds of a move higher are at 69%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
Following a +3.49% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where EQH advanced for three days, in 232 of 351 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 66%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 152 of 251 cases where EQH Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 61%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator may be shifting from an upward trend to a downward trend. In 41 of 65 cases where EQH's Stochastic Oscillator exited the overbought zone, the price fell further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 63%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for EQH turned negative on November 02, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 47 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 33 of the 47 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 70%.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where EQH declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 67%.
EQH broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 22, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 9 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is seriously undervalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: EQH's P/B Ratio (-7.927) is slightly lower than the industry average of (2.420). P/E Ratio (-16.368) is within average values for comparable stocks, (-3.848). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (0.030) is also within normal values, averaging (1.319). Dividend Yield (0.022) settles around the average of (0.268) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (1.452) is also within normal values, averaging (15.694).
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 32 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating low risk on high returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 80, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 41 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. EQH’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 98 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to worse than average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 100 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating weak sales and an unprofitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
Notable companies
Industry description
Market Cap
High and low price notable news
Volume
Fundamental Analysis Ratings
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
Advertisement
General Information
a financial conglomerate
Industry InvestmentManagers
Advertisement