MONTPELIER, Vt. & ADDISON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 3, 2026--
National Life Group was recently ranked second in the Best Whole Life Insurance Companies of 2026 by The Wall Street Journal 1. The list was based on a review of “10 large sellers of whole life insurance to find the best options based on policy fees, the reliability of policy illustrations, access to cash value and complaints against each company about its life insurance” according to the Wall Street Journal’s website.
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“We’re pleased to be cited as One of the Best Whole Life Insurance Companies for the second consecutive year by The Wall Street Journal,” said Mehran Assadi, Chairman, CEO, and President of National Life Group. “At National Life Group, we’ve been providing whole life insurance for generations to bring peace of mind to individuals, families and business owners. It’s a solution that can help build financial confidence and protect their futures.”
National Life Group has offered whole life insurance products through its affiliate, National Life Insurance Company, since 1851. The Wall Street Journal examined its TotalSecure whole life insurance policy for this analysis, citing specific benefits including:
Ratings for this list were based on an analysis of internal policy charges, the reliability of each company’s whole life insurance policy illustrations, access to cash value and complaints about each company’s individual life insurance from 2022 to 2024.
About National Life Group
National Life Group has been keeping promises since 1848, providing access to flexible, secure life insurance and annuities for families, businesses, educators, and first responders nationwide. With an independent, entrepreneurial spirit, our values are to “Do good, Be good, Make good” for our customers, agents, employees, and the communities we serve. Learn more at NationalLife.com.
National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company (NLIC), Montpelier, VT founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest (LSW), Addison, TX chartered in 1955, and its affiliates. Each company is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. LSW is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. NLIC, the flagship of National Life Group was founded in 1848, and all references to 1848 are attributable to NLIC.
Products are issued by National Life Insurance Company and Life Insurance Company of the Southwest.
TotalSecure, form series 20537(0918)/ICC18-20537(0918), Additional Paid-Up Life Insurance Rider, form series 20561(0918)/ICC18- 20561(0918), Children's Term rider, form series 20324(0616)/ICC16-20324(0616), Flex Term Rider, form series 20541(0918)/ICC18-20541(0918), Guaranteed Insurability Option Rider, form series 20562(0918)/ICC18-20562(0918), Term Purchase Provision Rider, form series 20543(0918)/ ICC18-20543(0918), 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-year term insurance riders, form series 20564(0918)/ICC18-20564(0918)/20565(0918)/ICC18- 20565(0918)/20566(0918)/ICC18-20566(0918)/20567(0918)/ICC18-20567(0918), Annual Renewable Term Insurance Rider, form series 20568(0918)/ ICC18-20568(0918), Waiver of Premiums rider, form series 20552(0918)/ICC18-20552(0918), and Accelerated Benefits Riders, form series 8052 (0798)/8095(0399)/8766(0609)/ICC10-8844(0310)/20805(0222)/ICC22-20805(0222)/20806(0222)/ICC2-20806(0222), Alzheimer's form series 20818(0622)(ICC22-20818(0622) are underwritten by Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX.
TotalSecure, form series 20536(0918), Additional Paid-Up Life Insurance Rider, form series 20546(0918), Flex Term Rider, form series 20540(0918), Guaranteed Insurability Option Rider, form series 20544(0918), Term Purchase Provision Rider, form series 20542(0918), 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-year term insurance riders, form series 20569(0918) /20570(09/18)/20571(0918)/20572(0918), Annual Renewable Term Insurance Rider, form series 20573(0918), Waiver of Premiums Rider, form series 20551(0918), Accelerated Benefits Riders, form series 7490(0200)/20006(0511)/9744(0204) are underwritten by National Life Insurance Company.
National Life Group Ranked Second by The Wall Street Journal in Best Whole Life Insurance Companies of 2026
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Target reported another quarter of declining sales and profits as it struggles to regain its footing with customers who are facing higher prices almost everywhere.
But the Minneapolis company on Tuesday offered a solid annual profit outlook that was better than Wall Street had been projecting. It also said it believes net sales will grow every quarter this year.
Target also said comparable-store sales rose to start the current quarter.
Shares rose about 1.5% before the opening bell.
The company earned $2.30 per share, or $1.05 billion, for the three-month period ended Jan. 31. That compares with $2.41 per share, or $1.10 billion, during the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings per share for the most recent quarter was $2.44.
Sales fell 1.5% to $30.45 billion during the latest period. For the full year, sales fell nearly 2% to $104.78 billion.
Analysts were expecting $2.16 per share on sales of $30.46 billion, according to a survey by FactSet.
Comparable sales — sales at established stores and online channels — fell 2.5%, followed by a 2.7% dip in the fiscal third quarter. The latest figure marks 11 quarters out of the past 13 that Target has posted either declines or flattish growth for this measure.
Target’s performance underscores the challenges faced by new CEO Michael Fiddelke, a 20-year company veteran, who succeeded longtime CEO Brian Cornell last month.
Fiddelke is expected to reveal details about his plans to turn around Target on Tuesday during the company’s annual meeting in Minneapolis. Investors are hungry for a return to Target’s former dominance in affordable chic for which it earned it the nickname “Tarzhay” in years past.
Fiddelke takes over with Target’s hometown of Minneapolis a front line of sorts in President Donald Trump’s campaign to curb illegal immigration. Some of the company’s stores have become a flashpoint in a pushback against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The company has faced pressure to take a public stand against the immigration crackdown.
Even before the immigration clashes, Target had been facing protests and boycotts over the company’s decision to roll back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Critics believe it's a betrayal of Target’s philanthropic commitment to fighting racial disparities and promoting progressive values in liberal Minneapolis and beyond.
That is outside of a volatile economic and political environment that has been intensified by an aggressive trade campaign under Trump. The White House is now seeking a global tariff of 15%, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down many of the far-reaching taxes on imports that he had imposed over the last year.
While the pace of inflation has cooled, consumer prices have soared about 25% over the past five years. U.S. companies are facing a hazy outlook with American households hurting, and the Trump administration is trying to work around the Supreme Court ruling to keep his duties in place.
And Target customers have soured on what they see as untended and messy stores with lackluster merchandise.
As the company’s nearly 2,000 store locations have become shipping hubs for online operations, customers say the shopping experience within stores has suffered with staff fulfilling digital orders rather than tending to store aisles.
Target is also facing stiffer competition from Walmart, which has stepped up its focus on fashion and other goods. As many Americans trade down because of inflation, Walmart has gained market share, particularly among households with annual income above $100,000.
Joe Feldman, a senior managing director and the assistant director of research at Telsey Advisory Group, believes that shopper boycotts over Target's pullback from DEI and its lack of a forceful stand against ICE cut into sales. But he said overall, Fiddelke seems to be willing to make changes to improve its operations.
Fiddelke has already reshuffled the leadership team at Target, boosted spending on in-store store staffing and made cuts at distribution facilities and regional offices, according to a memo sent to employees in February.
The company is also reworking its store label brands such as its home goods brand called Threshold. It announced a merchandise collaboration with Roller Rabbit, a brand known for its 1960s-inspired silhouettes and colorful playful prints. The collection of clothing, pajamas and accessories is expected to make its debut at Target this month for a limited time.
Tuesday’s report offered some hopeful signs for the business. Target said that sales and customer traffic accelerated in the final two months of the quarter. And it saw sales growth in food and beverage, beauty and toys for the latest quarter.
Target said that it expects net sales for the year to increase by 2%, which would mean it expects sales to reach $106.88 billion. That’s a bit above analysts’ expectations of $106.7 billion. Target also anticipates earnings per share to be in the range of $7.50 to $8.50. Analysts are expecting $7.30 per share for the year, according to analysts polled by FactSet.
Products sit on display at a Target store, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Edina, Minn. (AP Photo/Anne D'Innocenzio)
Products sit on display at a Target store, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Edina, Minn. (AP Photo/Anne D'Innocenzio)
FILE - The Target logo displayed on a sign outside a store, Nov. 18, 2025, in Salem, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Products sit on display at a Target store, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Edina, Minn. (AP Photo/Anne D'Innocenzio)
