Want to see RGA full AI Analyst Report?
Risk Overview Q2, 2026
Risk Distribution
51% Finance & Corporate
19% Macro & Political
11% Legal & Regulatory
11% Production
5% Tech & Innovation
3% Ability to Sell
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.
Risk Change Over Time
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
Risks removed
Risks added
Risks changed
Reinsurance Group Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
Risk Highlights Q2, 2026
Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 19 Risks
Finance & Corporate
With 19 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
37
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 32
37
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 32
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Jun 2026
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Jun 2026
Number of Risk Changed
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 0
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 0
See the risk highlights of Reinsurance Group in the last period.
Risk Word Cloud
The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 37
Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 19/37 (51%)Above Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights4 | 10.8%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
Issuing additional shares may dilute the value or affect the price of our common stock.Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
Certain provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws, in Missouri law and in applicable insurance laws, may delay or prevent a change in control, which could adversely affect the price of our common stock.Certain provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws, as well as Missouri corporate law and state insurance laws, may delay or prevent a change of control of RGA, which could adversely affect the price of our common stock. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws contain some provisions that may make the acquisition of control of RGA without the approval of our board of directors more difficult, including provisions relating to the nomination, election and removal of directors and limitations on actions by our shareholders. In addition, Missouri law also imposes some restrictions on mergers and other business combinations between RGA and holders of 20% or more of our outstanding common stock. These provisions may have unintended anti-takeover effects, including to delay or prevent a change in control of RGA, which could adversely affect the price of our common stock.
Before a person can acquire control of a U.S. insurance company, prior written approval must be obtained from the insurance commission of the state where the domestic insurer is domiciled. Under U.S. state insurance laws and regulations, any person acquiring 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of a corporation, such as our common stock, is presumed to have acquired control of that corporation and its subsidiaries. Similar laws in other countries where we operate limit our ability to effect changes of control for subsidiaries organized in such jurisdictions without the approval of local insurance regulatory officials. Prior to granting approval of an application to directly or indirectly acquire control of a domestic or foreign insurer, an insurance regulator in any jurisdiction may consider such factors as the financial strength of the applicant, the integrity of the applicant's board of directors and executive officers, the applicant's plans for the future operations of the domestic insurer and any anti-competitive results that may arise from the consummation of the acquisition of control.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
Defaults, downgrades or other events impairing the value of our fixed maturity securities portfolio may reduce our earnings.We are subject to the risk that the issuers, or guarantors, of fixed maturity securities we own may default on principal and interest payments they owe us. Fixed maturity securities represent a substantial portion of our total cash and invested assets. The occurrence of a major or prolonged economic downturn, acts of corporate malfeasance, widening risk spreads, or other events that adversely affect the issuers or guarantors of these securities could cause the value of our fixed maturity securities portfolio and our net income to decline and the default rate of the fixed maturity securities in our investment portfolio to increase. A ratings downgrade affecting issuers or guarantors of particular securities, or similar trends that could worsen the credit quality of issuers, such as the corporate issuers of securities in our investment portfolio, could also have a similar effect. With economic uncertainty, credit quality of issuers or guarantors could be adversely affected. Any event reducing the value of these securities could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
With respect to unrealized losses, we establish deferred tax assets for the tax benefit we may receive in the event that losses are realized. The realization of significant realized losses could result in an inability to recover the tax benefits and may result in the establishment of valuation allowances against our deferred tax assets. Realized losses or impairments may have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4
We could be forced to sell investments at a loss to cover policyholder withdrawals, recaptures of reinsurance treaties or other events.Some of the products offered by our insurance company customers allow policyholders and contract holders to withdraw their funds under defined circumstances. Our insurance subsidiaries manage their liabilities and configure their investment portfolios to provide and maintain sufficient liquidity to support anticipated withdrawal demands and contract benefits and maturities under reinsurance treaties with these customers. While our insurance subsidiaries own a significant amount of liquid assets, a portion of their assets are relatively illiquid. Unanticipated withdrawal or surrender activity could, under some circumstances, require our insurance subsidiaries to dispose of assets on unfavorable terms, which could have an adverse effect on us. Reinsurance agreements may provide for recapture rights on the part of our insurance company customers. Recapture rights permit these customers to reassume all or a portion of the risk formerly ceded to us after an agreed-upon time, usually ten years, subject to various conditions.
Recapture of business previously ceded does not affect premiums ceded prior to the recapture but may result in immediate payments to our insurance company customers and a charge to income for costs that we deferred when we acquired the business but are unable to recover upon recapture. Under some circumstances, payments to our insurance company customers could require our insurance subsidiaries to dispose of assets on unfavorable terms.
Accounting & Financial Operations6 | 16.2%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
We may not pay dividends on our common stock.Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
Our investments are reflected within the consolidated financial statements utilizing different accounting bases and accordingly we may not have recognized differences, which may be significant, between cost and fair value in our consolidated financial statements.Certain of our principal investments are in fixed maturity securities, short-term investments, mortgage loans, policy loans, funds withheld at interest and other invested assets. The carrying value of such investments is described in "Investments" in Note 2 – "Significant Accounting Polices and Pronouncements" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Investments not carried at fair value in our consolidated financial statements – principally, mortgage loans, policy loans, real estate joint ventures and other limited partnerships – may have fair values that are substantially higher or lower than the carrying value reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Each of such asset classes is regularly evaluated for impairment under the accounting guidance appropriate to the respective asset class.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 3
The determination of the amount of allowances and impairments taken on our investments is highly subjective and could materially affect our financial condition or results of operations.The determination of the amount of allowances and impairments vary by investment type and is based upon our periodic evaluation and assessment of known and inherent risks associated with the respective asset class. Such evaluations and assessments are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available. Management updates its evaluations regularly and reflects changes in allowances and impairments in operations as such evaluations are revised. For example, the cost of our fixed maturity securities is adjusted for impairments in value deemed to be impaired in the period in which the determination is made. The assessment of whether impairments have occurred is based on management's case-by-case evaluation of the underlying reasons for the decline in fair value. Inherent in management's evaluation of the security are assumptions and estimates about the operations of the issuer and its future earnings potential. There can be no assurance that our management has accurately assessed the level of impairments taken, or allowances reflected in our financial statements and their potential impact on regulatory capital. Furthermore, additional impairments or additional allowances may be needed in the future.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 4
Our valuation of fixed maturity and equity securities and derivatives include methodologies, estimations and assumptions that are subject to differing interpretations and could result in changes to investment valuations that may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.Fixed maturity, equity securities and short-term investments, which are primarily reported at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets, represent the majority of our total cash and invested assets. As described in Item 8. "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 13
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities,"we have categorized these securities into a three-level hierarchy, based on the priority of the inputs to the respective valuation technique.
During periods of market disruption, including periods of significantly rising or high interest rates, rapidly widening credit spreads or illiquidity, it may be difficult to value certain of our securities if trading becomes less frequent or market data becomes less observable. There may be certain asset classes that were in active markets with significant observable data that become illiquid due to the financial environment. As such, valuations may include inputs and assumptions that are less observable or require greater estimation resulting in values that may be different than the value at which the investments may be ultimately sold. Further, rapidly changing or disruptive credit and equity market conditions could materially impact the valuation of securities as reported within our consolidated financial statements and the period-to-period changes in value could vary significantly. Decreases in value may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
The reported value of our investments, including our relatively illiquid asset classes and, at times, our high-quality, generally liquid asset classes, do not necessarily reflect the lowest current market price for the asset. If we were forced to sell certain of our assets in disruptive or volatile market conditions, there can be no assurance that we will be able to sell them for the prices at which we have recorded them, and we may be forced to sell them at significantly lower prices.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 5
Changes in accounting standards may adversely affect our reported results of operations and financial condition.Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP. If we are required to adopt revised accounting standards, it may adversely affect our reported results of operations and financial condition. For a discussion of the impact of new accounting pronouncements issued but not yet implemented, see Item 8. "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 3
New Accounting Standards ."
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 6
We make assumptions when pricing our business relating to mortality, morbidity, lapsation, investment returns, expenses and other factors, and significant deviations in experience compared to our initial expectations could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.Our business exposes us to mortality, morbidity, lapse and other risks. Our risk analysis and underwriting processes are designed with the objective of controlling the quality of the business and establishing appropriate pricing for the risks we assume. Among other things, these processes rely heavily on our underwriting and due diligence, our analysis of mortality, longevity and morbidity trends, lapse rates, investment returns, and expenses and our understanding of medical impairments and their effect on mortality, longevity or morbidity.
We expect mortality, longevity, morbidity and lapse experience to fluctuate somewhat from period to period but believe that they should remain reasonably predictable over a period of many years. For example, mortality, longevity, morbidity or lapse experience that is less favorable than the rates that we used in pricing a reinsurance agreement may cause our net income to be less than otherwise expected because the premiums we receive for the risks we assume may not be sufficient to cover the claims and expected profit margin. Furthermore, even if the total benefits paid over the life of the contract do not exceed the expected amount, unexpected increases in the incidence of deaths or illness can cause us to pay more benefits in a given reporting period than expected, adversely affecting our net income in any particular reporting period.
We utilize assumptions, estimates and models to evaluate our business, results of operations and financial condition, and develop scenarios to evaluate our potential exposure to mortality claims, potential investment portfolio losses and other risks associated with our assets and liabilities. The scenarios and related analyses are subject to various assumptions, professional judgment, uncertainties and the inherent limitations of any statistical analysis, including the use and quality of historical internal and industry data. Consequently, actual losses may differ materially from what the scenarios may illustrate. This potential difference could be even greater for events with limited or unmodelled annual frequency.
We regularly review our reserves and associated assumptions as well as actual compared to expected experience as part of our ongoing assessment of our business performance and risks. If we determine that our reserves are insufficient to cover actual or expected policy and contract benefits and claims as a result of changes in experience, assumptions or otherwise, we would be required to increase our reserves and incur charges in the period in which our assumptions are updated. The impacts of assumption updates and variances from expected experience are reflected as future policy benefits remeasurement gains or losses, and may result in income statement volatility. Income statement volatility related to assumption updates and variances from expected experience may cause income statement volatility primarily in capped and floored cohorts.
Unfavorable assumption updates and variances from expected experience may be significant, and this could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and may require us to generate or fund additional capital in our businesses.
As discussed in more detail below, our financial condition and results of operations may also be adversely affected if our actual investment returns and expenses differ from our pricing and reserve assumptions. Changes in economic conditions may lead to changes in market interest rates or changes in our investment strategies, either of which could cause our actual investment returns and expenses to differ materially from our pricing and reserve assumptions.
Debt & Financing6 | 16.2%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
Changes in equity markets, interest rates and volatility affect the profitability of variable annuities with guaranteed living benefits that we reinsure, which may have a material adverse effect on our business and profitability.Debt & Financing - Risk 2
The availability and cost of collateral, including letters of credit, asset trusts and other credit facilities, as well as regulatory changes relating to the use of captive insurance companies, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.Regulatory reserve requirements in various jurisdictions in which we operate may be significantly higher than the reserves required under GAAP. Accordingly, we reinsure, or retrocede, business to affiliated and unaffiliated reinsurers to reduce the amount of regulatory reserves and capital we are required to hold in certain jurisdictions.
As described in "Item 1. Business – B. Corporate Structure – U.S. Regulation", Regulation XXX and principles-based reserves (commonly referred to as PBR) requires U.S. life insurance companies to hold a relatively high level of regulatory reserves on their financial statements for various types of life insurance business. Based on the assumed growth rate in our current business plan and the increased level of regulatory reserves associated with some of this business, we expect the amount of our required regulatory reserves and our need to finance these reserves may continue to grow. Changes in laws and regulations and our ability to retrocede certain business may impact our reserving requirements and thus our financial condition and results of operations.
In many cases, for us to reduce regulatory reserves on business that we retrocede, the affiliated or unaffiliated reinsurer must provide an equal amount of regulatory-compliant collateral. The availability of collateral and the related cost of such collateral in the future could affect the type and volume of business we reinsure and could increase our costs. We may need to raise additional capital to support higher regulatory reserves, which could increase our overall cost of capital. If we, or our retrocessionaires, are unable to obtain or provide sufficient collateral to support our statutory ceded reserves, we may be required to increase regulatory reserves. In turn, this reserve increase could significantly reduce our statutory capital levels and adversely affect our ability to satisfy required regulatory capital levels, unless we are able to raise additional capital to contribute to our operating subsidiaries. Furthermore, term life insurance is a particularly price-sensitive product, and any increase in insurance premiums charged on these products by life insurance companies, in order to compensate them for the increased statutory reserve requirements or higher costs of insurance they face, may result in a significant loss of volume in their life insurance operations, which could, in turn, adversely affect our life reinsurance operations. We may not be able to implement actions to mitigate the effect of increasing regulatory reserve requirements.
In addition, we maintain credit and letter of credit facilities with various financial institutions as a potential source of collateral and excess liquidity. Our ability to utilize these facilities is conditioned on our satisfaction of covenants and other requirements contained in the facilities. Our ability to utilize these facilities is also subject to the continued willingness and ability of the lenders to provide funds or issue letters of credit. Our failure to comply with the covenants in these facilities, or the failure of the lenders to meet their commitments, would restrict our ability to access these facilities when needed, adversely affecting our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Debt & Financing - Risk 3
Defaults on our mortgage loans or the mortgage loans underlying our investments in mortgage-backed securities and volatility in performance of our investments in real estate related assets may adversely affect our profitability.A portion of our investment portfolio consists of assets linked to real estate, including mortgage loans on commercial properties, lifetime mortgages, investments in commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") and residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"). Delinquency and defaults by third parties in the payment or performance of their obligations underlying these assets could reduce our investment income and realized investment gains or result in the recognition of investment losses. Mortgage loans are stated on our balance sheet at unpaid principal balance, adjusted for any unamortized premium or discount, deferred fees or expenses, and are net of valuation allowances established as of the balance sheet date. Such valuation allowances are based on the excess carrying value of the loan over the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's original effective interest rate, the value of the loan's collateral if the loan is in the process of foreclosure or is otherwise collateral-dependent, or the loan's market value if the loan is being sold. CMBS and RMBS are stated on our balance sheet at fair value. The performance of our mortgage loan investments and our investments in CMBS and RMBS, however, may fluctuate in the future. An increase in the default rate of our mortgage loan investments or the mortgage loans underlying our investments in CMBS and RMBS could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Further, any geographic or sector concentration of our mortgage loans or the mortgage loans underlying our investments in CMBS and RMBS may have adverse effects on our investment portfolios and consequently on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition. Events or developments that have a negative effect on any particular geographic region or sector may have a greater adverse effect on our investment portfolios to the extent that the portfolios are concentrated. Moreover, our ability to sell assets relating to such particular groups of related assets may be limited if other market participants are seeking to sell at the same time.
Debt & Financing - Risk 4
The defaults or deteriorating credit of other financial institutions could adversely affect us.We have exposure to many different industries and counterparties and routinely execute transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including brokers and dealers, insurance companies, commercial banks, investment banks, investment funds and other institutions. Many of these transactions expose us to credit risk upon default of our counterparty. In addition, with respect to secured and other transactions that provide for us to hold collateral posted by the counterparty, our credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral we hold cannot be liquidated at prices sufficient to recover the full amount of our exposure. We also have exposure to these financial institutions in the form of unsecured debt instruments, derivative transactions and equity investments. There can be no assurance that losses or impairments to the carrying value of these assets would not materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Debt & Financing - Risk 5
The liquidity and value of some of our investments may become significantly diminished.There may be illiquid markets for certain investments we hold in our investment portfolio as result of changes in interest rates, reduced liquidity in the financial markets or a slow down in the U.S. or global economy. These investments include privately-placed fixed maturity securities, options and other derivative instruments, mortgage loans, policy loans, limited partnership interests, and real estate equity, such as real estate joint ventures and funds. Additionally, markets for certain of our investments that are currently liquid may experience reduced liquidity during periods of market volatility or disruption. If we were forced to sell certain of our investments into illiquid markets, prices may be lower than our carrying value in such investments. This could result in realized losses which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition, as well as our financial ratios, which could affect compliance with our credit instruments and rating agency capital adequacy measures.
Debt & Financing - Risk 6
Interest rate fluctuations and economic disruptions could negatively affect the income we derive from the difference between the interest rates we earn on our investments and interest we pay under our reinsurance contracts.Significant changes in interest rates expose reinsurance companies to the risk of reduced investment income or actual losses based on the difference between the interest rates earned on investments and the credited interest rates paid on outstanding reinsurance contracts. Both rising and declining interest rates can negatively affect the income we derive from these interest rate spreads. During periods of rising interest rates, we may be contractually obligated to reimburse our clients for the greater amounts they credit on certain interest-sensitive products. However, we may not have the ability to immediately acquire investments with interest rates sufficient to offset the increased crediting rates on our reinsurance contracts. During periods of falling interest rates, our investment earnings will be lower because new investments in fixed maturity securities will likely bear lower interest rates. We may not be able to fully offset the decline in investment earnings with lower crediting rates on underlying annuity products related to certain of our reinsurance contracts. Our asset/liability management programs and procedures may not reduce the volatility of our income when interest rates are rising or falling, and thus changes in interest rates may affect our interest rate spreads.
Changes in interest rates, reduced liquidity in the financial markets or a slowdown in U.S. or global economic conditions have adversely affected, and, in the future, may also adversely affect the values and cash flows of the assets in our investment portfolio. Our corporate fixed income portfolio has been, and in the future may be, adversely impacted by delayed principal or interest payments, ratings downgrades, increased bankruptcies and credit spreads widening in distressed industries and individual companies. Our investments in mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities have been, and in the future could be, negatively affected by delays or failures of borrowers to make payments of principal and interest when due or delays or moratoriums on foreclosures or enforcement actions with respect to delinquent or defaulted mortgages. Market dislocations, decreases in observable market activity or unavailability of information may restrict our access to key inputs used to derive certain estimates and assumptions made in connection with financial reporting or otherwise, including estimates and changes in long-term macro-economic assumptions relating to estimated expected credit losses.
Corporate Activity and Growth3 | 8.1%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
If our investment strategy is unsuccessful, we could suffer losses.Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2
Acquisitions and significant transactions involve varying degrees of risk that could affect our profitability.We have made, and may in the future make, acquisitions, either of selected blocks of business or other companies, such as our reinsurance transaction with subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc. that closed on July 31, 2025. In connection with these transactions our employees, outside consultants and legal advisors evaluated important and complex actuarial, investment, business, finance, tax, accounting, legal and regulatory issues. Our due diligence efforts may not have been complete or accurate and may not have identified all relevant facts, which could prevent us from realizing the anticipated benefits of any such transaction. To the extent that our assumptions about a transaction prove to be materially inaccurate, our counterparties to those transactions do not meet their obligations to us, or we experience difficulty in integrating the risks assumed, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The success of these acquisitions depends on, among other factors, our ability to appropriately price and evaluate the risks of the acquired business through our due diligence efforts, as well as the availability and cost of funding sufficient to meet increased capital needs, the ability to fund cash flow shortages that may occur if anticipated revenues are not realized or are delayed and the possibility that the value of investments acquired in an acquisition may be lower than expected or may diminish due to credit defaults or changes in interest rates and that liabilities assumed may be greater than expected (due to, among other factors, less favorable than expected mortality or morbidity experience). Depending on our excess capital position and ratings profile and market conditions at the time, in connection with acquisitions, we may from time to time seek long-term debt, preferred security or common equity financing. Additionally, acquisitions may expose us to other operational challenges and various risks, including the ability to integrate the acquired business operations and data with our systems. A failure to successfully manage the operational challenges and risks associated with or resulting from significant transactions, including acquisitions, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3
Our risk management policies and procedures could leave us exposed to unidentified or unanticipated risk, which could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.Our risk management policies and procedures, designed to identify, monitor and manage both internal and external risks, may not adequately predict future exposures, which could be significantly greater than expected. In addition, these identified risks may not be the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
There are inherent limitations to risk management strategies because there may exist, or develop in the future, risks that we have not appropriately anticipated or identified. If our risk management framework proves ineffective, we may suffer unexpected losses and could be materially adversely affected. As our businesses change and the markets in which we operate evolve, our risk management framework may not evolve at the same pace as those changes. As a result, there is a risk that new business strategies may present risks that are not appropriately identified, monitored or managed. In times of market stress, unanticipated market movements or unanticipated claims experience resulting from adverse mortality, morbidity or policyholder behavior, the effectiveness of our risk management strategies may be limited, resulting in losses. In addition, under difficult or less liquid market conditions, our risk management strategies may be less effective and/or more expensive because other market participants may be using the same or similar strategies to manage risk under the same challenging market conditions.
Past or future misconduct by our employees or employees of our vendors could result in violations of law, regulatory sanctions and serious reputational or financial harm and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective. There can be no assurance that our controls and procedures designed to monitor associates' business decisions and prevent us from taking excessive or inappropriate risks will be effective. We review our compensation policies and practices as part of our overall risk management program, but it is possible that our compensation policies and practices could inadvertently incentivize excessive or inappropriate risk taking, which could harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
Macro & Political
Total Risks: 7/37 (19%)Above Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment2 | 5.4%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
Weak conditions in global capital markets and the economy, as well as inflation, may materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.Economy & Political Environment - Risk 2
Difficult conditions in the global capital markets and the economy generally may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and statutory capital position are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the economy generally, both in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world. A recession in the U.S. or other countries, poor economic conditions, major central bank policy decisions, prolonged or elevated inflation, volatility and disruptions in capital markets or financial asset classes and geopolitical upheaval (including trade disputes) can have an adverse effect on our business because of our exposure to credit and equity markets and because our investment portfolio and some of our liabilities are sensitive to changing market factors. Additionally, disruptions in one market or asset class can also spread to other markets or asset classes.
Concerns over U.S. fiscal policy and the trajectory of the U.S. national debt could have severe repercussions to the U.S. and global credit and financial markets, further exacerbate concerns over sovereign debt and disrupt economic activity in the U.S. and elsewhere. As a result, our access to, or cost of, liquidity may deteriorate. Because of uncertainty regarding U.S. national debt, the market value of some of our investments may decrease, and our capital adequacy could be adversely affected. Political and economic uncertainties and weakness and disruption of the financial markets around the world, such as geopolitical upheaval and deteriorating economic and political relationships between countries have led and may continue to lead to concerns over capital markets access. In addition, there may be ongoing risks around the world related to interest rate fluctuations, slowing global growth, commodity prices and the devaluation of certain currencies. These events and continuing market upheavals may have an adverse effect on us, in part because we have a large investment portfolio and are also dependent upon customer behavior. Our revenues may decline in such circumstances and our profit margins may erode. In addition, upon prolonged market events, such as a global credit crisis, we could incur significant investment-related losses. Even in the absence of a market downturn, we are exposed to substantial risk of loss due to market volatility.
Our investments and derivative financial instruments are subject to risks of credit defaults, changes in foreign exchange rates, and changes in market values. Periods of macroeconomic weakness or recession, heightened volatility or disruption in the financial and credit markets could increase these risks, potentially resulting in other-than-temporary impairment of assets in our investment portfolio. We are also subject to the risk that cash flows generated from the collateral underlying the structured products we own may differ from our expectations in timing or amount. In addition, many of our classes of investments, but in particular our alternative investments, may produce investment income that fluctuates significantly from period to period. Any event reducing the estimated fair value of these securities, other than on a temporary basis, could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows. Difficult financial, economic and geopolitical conditions could cause our investment portfolio to incur material losses.
International Operations1 | 2.7%
International Operations - Risk 1
Our international operations involve inherent risks.Natural and Human Disruptions3 | 8.1%
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1
Our business, results of operations and financial condition have been, and may continue to be, adversely affected by epidemics and pandemics and responses thereto.Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 2
The occurrence of various events may adversely affect the ability of RGA and its subsidiaries to fully utilize any net operating losses ("NOLs") and other tax attributes.RGA and its subsidiaries may, from time to time, have a substantial amount of NOLs and other tax attributes, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to offset taxable income and gains. If a corporation experiences an ownership change, it is generally subject to an annual limitation, which limits its ability to use its NOLs and other tax attributes. Events outside of our control may cause RGA (and, consequently, its subsidiaries) to experience an "ownership change" under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code and the related Treasury regulations and limit the ability of RGA and its subsidiaries to utilize fully such NOLs and other tax attributes. If we were to experience an ownership change, we could potentially have higher U.S. federal income tax liabilities than we would otherwise have had, which would negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 3
Catastrophic events could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operations.Our operations are exposed to the risk of catastrophic events including natural disasters, war or other military action, and terrorism or other acts of violence. An increase in policyholder claims resulting from such events could cause substantial volatility in our financial results or otherwise impact our business, financial condition and operations. Catastrophic events could also disrupt the economies in the affected area, which could impact our ability to write new business, value of our investments, changes in interest rates and other market factors.
The impact of an increase in global average temperatures could cause changes in weather patterns, resulting in more severe and more frequent natural disasters such as forest fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and storm surges and may, over the longer term, impact disease incidence and severity, food and water supplies and the general health of impacted populations. These climate change trends are expected to continue and may impact nearly all sectors of the economy to varying degrees. We cannot predict the long-term impacts of climate change for us and our clients, but such trends may adversely impact our mortality and morbidity rates and also may impact asset prices, financial markets and general economic conditions.
Capital Markets1 | 2.7%
Capital Markets - Risk 1
Adverse capital and credit market conditions and access to credit facilities may significantly affect our ability to meet liquidity needs, access to capital and cost of capital.Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 4/37 (11%)Below Sector Average
Regulation1 | 2.7%
Regulation - Risk 1
Our insurance subsidiaries are highly regulated, and changes in these regulations could negatively affect our business.Litigation & Legal Liabilities1 | 2.7%
Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1
Litigation and regulatory investigations and actions may result in financial losses or harm our reputation.Taxation & Government Incentives1 | 2.7%
Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 1
We could be subject to additional income tax liabilities.Environmental / Social1 | 2.7%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
Restrictions on the use of personal data and "big data" techniques could adversely affect our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.Production
Total Risks: 4/37 (11%)Above Sector Average
Employment / Personnel1 | 2.7%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
Managing key employee attraction, retention and succession is critical to our success.Supply Chain1 | 2.7%
Supply Chain - Risk 1
We rely significantly on third parties for various services, and we may be held responsible for obligations that arise from the acts or omissions of third parties.Costs2 | 5.4%
Costs - Risk 1
A downgrade in our ratings or in the ratings of our insurance subsidiaries could adversely affect our ability to compete.Costs - Risk 2
RGA is an insurance holding company, and our ability to pay principal, interest and dividends on securities is limited.RGA is an insurance holding company, with our principal assets consisting of the stock of our insurance subsidiaries, and substantially all of our income is derived from those subsidiaries. Our ability to pay principal and interest on any debt securities or dividends on any preferred or common stock depends, in part, on the ability of our insurance subsidiaries, our principal sources of cash flow, to declare and distribute dividends or advance money to RGA. We are not permitted to pay common stock dividends or make payments of interest or principal on securities that rank equal or junior to our subordinated debentures and junior subordinated debentures, until we pay any accrued and unpaid interest on such debentures. Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to various statutory and regulatory restrictions, applicable to insurance companies generally, that limit the amount of cash dividends, loans and advances that those subsidiaries may pay to us. Covenants contained in certain of our debt agreements also restrict the ability of certain subsidiaries to pay dividends and make other distributions or loans to us. In addition, more stringent dividend restrictions may be adopted, as discussed above under "Our insurance subsidiaries are highly regulated, and changes in these regulations could negatively affect our business."
As a result of our insurance holding company structure, upon the insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding-up of one of our insurance subsidiaries, all creditors of that subsidiary would be entitled to payment in full out of the assets of such subsidiary before we, as shareholder, would be entitled to any payment. Our subsidiaries would have to pay their direct creditors in full before our creditors and investors, including holders of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities of RGA, could receive any payment from the assets of such subsidiaries.
Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 2/37 (5%)Below Sector Average
Innovation / R&D1 | 2.7%
Innovation / R&D - Risk 1
The development and adoption of artificial intelligence and its use and anticipated use by us or by third parties on whom we rely, may increase the operational risks discussed above or create new operational risks that we are not currently anticipating, which may otherwise adversely impact usCyber Security1 | 2.7%
Cyber Security - Risk 1
The failure in cyber or other information security systems, including a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality, integrity or privacy of sensitive data residing on such systems, as well as the occurrence of unanticipated events affecting our disaster recovery systems and business continuity planning, could impair our ability to conduct business effectively.Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 1/37 (3%)Below Sector Average
Competition1 | 2.7%
Competition - Risk 1
We operate in a highly competitive and dynamic industry and competition and other factors could adversely affect our business.See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
FAQ
What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
1. Financial & Corporate
- Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
- Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
- Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
2. Legal & Regulatory
- Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
- Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
- Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
- Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
3. Production
- Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
- Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
- Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
- Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
4. Technology & Innovation
- Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
- Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
- Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
- Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
5. Ability to Sell
- Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
- Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
- Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
- Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
6. Macro & Political
- Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
- Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
- International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
- Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.