thank Thank you you, and good Dave, for joining us. and morning,
of another nine overall financial the Aflac saying of third by of XXXX strength. earnings, months concluded start and strong in year quarter generation terms in me for capital that first the Let
are Pretax any Financially, ever as in industry. in the Aflac as margins our XX-year as as strong and stable been is history. we've strong
any by is robust. measure capital Our provision
industry. and diversified and and high of return are we Our the investments highest on capital cost have lowest in the the quality among capital
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longer-term As we comes you a know, take to our perspective when it business.
Our stable and Japan that we third this maintaining focus Aflac margins. sensitive products are in insurance interest-rate first similarly with sector protection business core our profitable same and at products. less complement At sector leadership have the on remains time, strong
To that and new will innovative to products our that we want portfolio refine introduce policyholders end, continue and need. existing our product
distribution We continuing our are engage to wide-reaching network. also fully
Our partners. viable as and traditional have to success agencies our alliance do been remain our
out of be of households. to medical four provider continue number insuring one We and Japan's cancer one insurance,
third sector As which sales, for cancer the down down third protection driven in relative and were largely you XX.X% sector were in insurance the saw first to XX.X%, decline the of by quarter, sales the XXXX. products quarter
insurance results sales a through on of As Japan Aflac Post. voluntary of released September we review the reiterated Japan XX, cancer
a to a that includes issues know related X.XXX% with too policies many. one we matter reviewed, of issue is this one While policy even
steadfastly matters and resolve to we to these impacted. the who work tirelessly customers with continue were As such,
Post applications As we the Analyst through a channel. communicated significant the month, in at Japan last experienced Financial we've Briefing decline
XXXX the as date plans investigation on of to given XX% Japan our decline at anticipate of Post very cancer channel year, report sales in that of the the much may Keep Holding strong its Post in the continuation mind Japan end rest that trend refreshed a as December. to Assuming for from product. we a
look While working to peace Japan Japan's challenging line it continue with efforts mind insurance Group Post of protection Aflac's is to to provide our have financial we for into to the visibility forward cancer health citizens full time with and offers. recovery,
Aflac insurance policies and to attach respect then whole With nonstandard medical our year year. products, Japan's to we medical in strategy the of began this a product refreshed the riders existing to medical with June life
in pleased and quarter. insurance of are quarter relative increase into XXXX, sales the to As the a continue with a third expect positive to trend medical result, we fourth we XX.X% a
into factors full all growth expect sector first be premium mid-teens -- earned to in the with sales Japan factors third X%. of continue we the Aflac down year to consideration, range Taking protection sector and in
Now the U.S. operations. turning to
We and of distribution reflect are ongoing our margin The in performance. exceeded both for to investment expectations results financial is the pleased year. nine platform, months the and with customer pretax quarter first these our particularly significant the because continue the for experience. profit This
too to respect they 'XX. off XXXX performance With a have somewhat challenged in been sales in record coming sales,
expected. quarter was weaker than The third
people sales year play. As the seek profitable earned constrain to an grow we some to sales expect to recruiting anticipate elements dynamic the be to This both in which to premium, full fewer flat take of X% macro commission Ultimately, clearly a agent employment are results role. be ultimately, willing and year. independent result, we range There at we in for down are Strong sales degree. to slightly continues XXXX. means
benefit need quarter the review positioned this But Additionally, in for are to second in in opportunity. continue we solutions workplace the keep some the capitalize of a on in to well the workers mind, disruption. short-term and Aflac's partnership resulted convey significant
growing are the much we industry. strategies than well rate broker in at better working a Our are and
overall initial We have been in into the to which account we in Taking perspective, to which health is recover expect advancement encouraged and platform. all by of are long-term put platform in our our stages. direct-to-consumer and distribution partnerships, the the still in XXXX, important to associated factors this
both designed in in growth focused As and Japan. we to the drive on U.S. initiatives we said, remain
to This also that. our approach announcement business, planned to -- prime financial buy-to-build example with our Argus is our Vision dividend & of to is with the increasing in Our do to shares. repurchasing strength and of reinvesting acquisition Dental just acquire a strategy balancing build consistent
its known historically been Aflac organic for growth. has
that recognize is prudent our to we critical line to will However, investment that the bottom growth term. strategy the impact long efficiencies driving for
to competency of At we that the leverage bondholders, of insurance mind, in transactions other distribution growth behalf this our supplemental same and accelerate on amounts requiring and committed strong powerful time, ratios capital we in through strengths our policyholders. buy-to-build brand With capital. look our opportunities to for and enhance core extensive opportunity and measured maintaining shareholders without remain
that course, treasure of Of it dividend record goes we without our saying growth.
consecutive year dividend the quarter's XXXX increases. mark the will With declaration, of XXth fourth
As we dividend our earnings. business our model move of period and is market a track record nice a of stability relative through reminder the volatility, of
reset dividend As the to the basis. Board the cycle we a on year increase quarter year, reserves review first the dividend examine last for right the communicated each quarterly the of and of
tactical be continued allows XXXX. track of We This repurchase billion our $X.X deployment. shares be on to $X.X to to range billion more in of in us range to in the
the power all a stakeholders. way strong earnings capital interest growth on the prudent reflects to of balance our of U.S. and approach our believe will in that the It earnings we in Japan ahead, our underlying also on deploying insurance operations Looking reflect excess
As earnings on share we our ensuring while always, our working to achieve per our promise to objective, we policyholders. also are deliver
turn cover the over who'll Fred? I'll results. program Fred, Now to financial the
