WEST DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (NYSE: AEL), a leading issuer of fixed index annuities (FIAs), today reported fourth quarter 2018 net income of $53.8 million, or $0.59 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $36.8 million, or $0.41 per diluted common share, for fourth quarter 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2018, net income was $458.0 million, or $5.01 per diluted common share, compared to $174.6 million, or $1.93 per diluted common share, for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Non-GAAP operating income¹ for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $90.3 million, or $0.99 per diluted common share, compared to non-GAAP operating income¹ of $74.5 million, or $0.82 per diluted common share, for fourth quarter 2017. For the year ended December 31, 2018, non-GAAP operating income¹ was $425.7 million, or $4.66 per diluted common share, compared to $285.1 million, or $3.16 per diluted common share, for the year ended December 31, 2017. Non-GAAP operating return on average equity excluding average AOCI¹for the year was 18.6% based upon reported results and 15.4% excluding the impact of assumption revisions.

POLICYHOLDER FUNDS UNDER MANAGEMENT UP 1% ON $1.1 BILLION OF SALES

Policyholder funds under management at December 31, 2018 were $51.1 billion, a $441 million or 1% increase from September 30, 2018. Fourth quarter sales were $1.1 billion before coinsurance ceded and $1.0 billion after coinsurance ceded. Gross sales and net sales for the quarter increased 12% and 18%, respectively, from fourth quarter 2017 sales. On a sequential basis, gross and net sales increased 8% and 12%, respectively.

Total sales by independent agents for American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company (American Equity Life) increased 13% sequentially while total sales by broker-dealers and banks for Eagle Life Insurance Company (Eagle Life) decreased by $23 million or 12% sequentially. Sales of FIAs were up 11% sequentially to $1.1 billion driven by a 14% increase in sales for American Equity Life. FIA sales for Eagle Life of $163 million were down $1 million or 1% sequentially.

Commenting on sales, John Matovina, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: “We experienced sequential and year-over-year increases in FIA sales in American Equity Life’s independent agent channel. Our higher new money investment yields allowed us to take several actions late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter to enhance our competitiveness in both the accumulation and guaranteed lifetime income market segments. The launch of AssetShield on October 9^th was successful; and it now joins IncomeShield as one of our two top selling products. In the fourth quarter, combined sales for AssetShield and the Choice series, our other accumulation product in the independent agent channel, were greater than total sales of Choice in the third quarter. Choice and AssetShield accounted for 38% of sales in the fourth quarter compared to 35% of sales in the third quarter. In the guaranteed lifetime income space, we improved the competitive position of the IncomeShield series and our other guaranteed income products by increasing payout factors in early October. The IncomeShield series, which was the third best-selling guaranteed lifetime income product in the independent agent channel in the third quarter, accounted for 33% of our FIA sales in the fourth quarter.”

Commenting on the market environment and the outlook for FIA sales, Matovina added: “The market in each of our distribution channels continues to be challenging. However, we are pleased with our competitive positioning for both accumulation and guaranteed lifetime income products. Business activity in January 2019 was appreciably ahead of January 2018 and we are optimistic that the sales momentum we developed in the fourth quarter will continue in 2019.”

Matovina continued: “In the bank channel, we are seeing meaningful sales from the large bank we referenced in our prior release and continue to expect this relationship to be a key account for Eagle Life. We are also continuing to build out our employee wholesaling model which will be a key initiative for Eagle Life in 2019. Our intent is to use our employee wholesalers to target accounts that do not use third party wholesalers and to complement our third party wholesalers when possible. When accomplished, we will be able to serve banks and broker-dealers in the manner in which they desire while lowering our distribution costs.”

INVESTMENT SPREAD DECLINES ON NON-TRENDABLE ITEMS AND HIGHER COST OF MONEY

American Equity’s investment spread was 2.56% for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to 2.67% for the third quarter of 2018 and 2.75% for the fourth quarter of 2017. On a sequential basis, the average yield on invested assets decreased by 3 basis points while the cost of money rose 8 basis points.

Average yield on invested assets was 4.51% in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to 4.54% in the third quarter of 2018. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decline in the benefit from non–trendable investment income items from 11 basis points in the third quarter to 7 basis points in the fourth quarter. The average yield on fixed income securities purchased and commercial mortgage loans funded in the fourth quarter of 2018 was 5.02% compared to 4.97% in the third quarter of 2018 and 4.61% for the first six months of 2018.

The aggregate cost of money for annuity liabilities of 1.95% in the fourth quarter of 2018 was up 8 basis points from 1.87% in the third quarter of 2018. The benefit from over hedging index linked interest obligations was 3 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to 7 basis points in the third quarter of 2018.

Commenting on investment spread, Matovina said: “The sequential decrease in investment spread in the third quarter primarily reflected an 8 basis point decrease in the benefit from non–trendable investment income items and over-hedging. Our investment spread remained under pressure in the fourth quarter of 2018 due to the escalation of option costs for certain index strategies in the last several quarters that is recognized in the cost of money ratably over the twelve month option period. To counteract this impact, we initiated renewal rate adjustments on certain in-force policies in October in addition to the renewal rate actions we undertook in March. We have flexibility to reduce our crediting rates and could decrease our cost of money by approximately 0.63% through further reductions in renewal rates to guaranteed minimums should the cost of money not return to acceptable levels.”

Matovina went on to say: “Our investment spread should benefit from the higher yields we have been obtaining on investment securities purchases and commercial mortgage loan fundings, expected increases in yields on our floating rate investments and lower option costs. While too late to affect the cost of money for the fourth quarter, we did see option costs come down significantly in December and they have remained lower in January. For all of 2018, we sold $2.1 billion of book value of lower yielding securities, and we anticipate pursuing additional portfolio realignment opportunities in 2019. We continue to expect our portfolio yield, excluding non–trendable items, to increase in future quarters.”

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments, and are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Statements such as “guidance”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “goal”, “objective”, “target”, “may”, “should”, “estimate”, “projects” or similar words as well as specific projections of future results qualify as forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward looking statements can be found in the company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement was made and the company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that other factors not currently anticipated by the company will not materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf.

CONFERENCE CALL

American Equity will hold a conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2018 earnings on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. CT. The conference call will be webcast live on the Internet. Investors and interested parties who wish to listen to the call on the Internet may do so at www.american-equity.com.

The call may also be accessed by telephone at 855-865-0606, passcode 9464918 (international callers, please dial 704-859-4382). An audio replay will be available shortly after the call on AEL’s website. An audio replay will also be available via telephone through February 14, 2019 at 855-859-2056, passcode 9464918 (international callers will need to dial 404-537-3406).

ABOUT AMERICAN EQUITY

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, through its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, issues fixed annuity and life insurance products, with a primary emphasis on the sale of fixed index and fixed rate annuities. American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, a New York Stock Exchange Listed company (NYSE: AEL), is headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, please visit www.american-equity.com.

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to net income, the Company has consistently utilized non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating income per common share – assuming dilution, non-GAAP financial measures commonly used in the life insurance industry, as economic measures to evaluate its financial performance. Non-GAAP operating income equals net income adjusted to eliminate the impact of items that fluctuate from quarter to quarter in a manner unrelated to core operations, and the Company believes measures excluding their impact are useful in analyzing operating trends. The most significant adjustments to arrive at non-GAAP operating income eliminate the impact of fair value accounting for the Company’s fixed index annuity business. These adjustments are not economic in nature but rather impact the timing of reported results. The Company believes the combined presentation and evaluation of non-GAAP operating income together with net income provides information that may enhance an investor’s understanding of its underlying results and profitability.

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company
Unaudited (Dollars in thousands)

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Average Stockholders’ Equity and Return on Average Equity

Return on average equity measures how efficiently the Company generates profits from the resources provided by its net assets. Return on average equity is calculated by dividing net income and non-GAAP operating income for the trailing twelve months by average equity excluding average accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”). The Company excludes AOCI because AOCI fluctuates from quarter to quarter due to unrealized changes in the fair value of available for sale investments.