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Prudential Boosts Shareholder Returns Amid Strong H1
27 Aug
Summary
- First-half profit rose significantly, driven by new business.
- Shareholder returns increased, with buyback program expanding.
- Company focuses on long-term savings, protection, and growth.
Prudential reported broad-based growth in the first half of 2026, showcasing increased new-business profit, operating earnings per share, capital generation, and dividends. The insurer's core strategy, led by CEO Anil Wadhwani, remains focused on long-term savings and protection offerings, coupled with disciplined capital management and an expanding distribution network in Asia and Africa.
This period saw new-business profit climb 8% to $1.4 billion, with adjusted operating profit per share up 17%. Gross operating free surplus generation also saw a 15% rise to $1.8 billion. Prudential returned $1 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks in the first half.
The company announced an expected increase of approximately $300 million to its previously announced $1.2 billion share repurchase program for 2026. Prudential reaffirmed its commitment to returning over $7 billion to shareholders between 2024 and 2027.
