Equitable Holdings (EQH) Is Up 8.1% After Q2 Loss And Aggressive Buybacks Has The Bull Case Changed?

Equitable Holdings, Inc.

Equitable Holdings, Inc.

EQH

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  • In August 2026, Equitable Holdings, Inc. reported second-quarter 2026 results showing revenue of US$1,658 million versus US$2,362 million a year earlier and a net loss of US$453 million, while six-month revenue declined to US$5,888 million and net income improved to US$168 million from a loss in the prior-year period.
  • Over the same quarter, Equitable completed US$366 million of share repurchases, bringing total buybacks under its February 2024 program to about US$2.81 billion, highlighting an ongoing emphasis on returning capital to shareholders even as quarterly results remained under pressure.
  • We will now examine how weaker quarterly revenue and loss figures, alongside substantial completed buybacks, may influence Equitable Holdings’ investment narrative.

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Equitable Holdings Investment Narrative Recap

To own Equitable Holdings, you need to be comfortable with a business that is leaning on long term retirement demand and capital returns while accepting volatile earnings. The latest quarter’s revenue drop and net loss are a setback, but the announced Corebridge merger remains the primary near term catalyst, with earnings variability and product mix pressures still the key risks. On balance, this quarter does not appear to materially change either.

The completion of roughly US$2.81 billion of buybacks under the February 2024 program is most relevant here, because it directly affects how much flexibility Equitable has to fund growth and absorb any margin pressure from a changing annuity and asset management mix. For investors focused on the Corebridge deal, this capital deployment record sits alongside the merger terms when weighing how future ownership and earnings power might look.

However, investors should also be aware that increasing reliance on offshore and alternative capital structures could become a bigger issue if...

Equitable Holdings' narrative projects $18.0 billion revenue and $2.2 billion earnings by 2029. This requires 19.2% yearly revenue growth and roughly a $3.2 billion earnings increase from -$982.0 million.

Uncover how Equitable Holdings' forecasts yield a $61.00 fair value, a 18% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

EQH 1-Year Stock Price Chart
EQH 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Three fair value estimates from the Simply Wall St Community span from about US$0.19 to over US$358,000 per share, showing just how far apart individual views can be. You see this difference most clearly when you set those opinions against the current focus on capital returns and the Corebridge merger, and then think about what that might mean for Equitable’s future earnings profile and risk exposure.

Explore 3 other fair value estimates on Equitable Holdings - why the stock might be worth less than half the current price!

Decide For Yourself

Don't just follow the ticker - dig into the data and build a conviction that's truly your own.

  • A great starting point for your Equitable Holdings research is our analysis highlighting 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.
  • Our free Equitable Holdings research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate Equitable Holdings' overall financial health at a glance.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.