Zurich reports record operating profit in first half; strong progress toward exceeding all 2025 targets
- Group business operating profit (BOP) up 7% to a record USD 4.0 billion; highest ever return on equity (BOPAT ROE) of 25.0%.
- Net income attributable to shareholders rises 21% to USD 3.0 billion.
- Property & Casualty (P&C) BOP of USD 2.2 billion is up 3% on a like-for-like1 basis, with a combined ratio of 93.6%.
- Commercial P&C returns remain highly attractive with a combined ratio of 91.4%, Retail combined ratio at 96.4%.
- Life BOP at record level of USD 1.0 billion driven by strong growth in Europe.
- Farmers achieves highest ever BOP of USD 1.1 billion, up 12%; Farmers Exchanges2 combined ratio improved by more than 16 percentage points to 95.2%, despite significant catastrophe events.
- Very strong capital position with Swiss Solvency Test (SST) ratio at 232%.3
I am very pleased with these results which reflect excellent performance across all our businesses. This will continue to enable us to deliver strong returns for our shareholders. Market conditions have remained more favorable than anticipated and we observe today many opportunities to profitably grow the business.
Mario Greco, Group Chief Executive Officer
for the six months ended June 30, 2024, unless otherwise stated
(for a more comprehensive set of financial highlights see full media release in PDF).
BOP (in USD billions)
4.0 2023: 3.7 Change in USD: 7%BOPAT ROE
25.0% 2023: 22.9% Change: 2.2ptsNIAS (in USD billions)
3.0 2023: 2.5 Change in USD: 21%Diluted EPS (in USD)
20.8Read full media release
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Media release (Download PDF)
1 Like-for-like comparisons represent the change in local currencies, excluding Argentina (for which top-line and new business metrics are distorted by inflation and currency depreciation) and after adjusting for acquisitions and disposals, for the reclassification of Zurich Global Employee Benefit Solutions from Group Functions and Operations to Life and for the impact of a Life portfolio accounted for with the premium allocation approach in 2024 (previously accounted for with the building block approach).
2 Zurich Insurance Group has no ownership interest in the Farmers Exchanges. Farmers Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Group, provides certain non-claims services and ancillary services to the Farmers Exchanges as its attorney-in-fact and receives fees for its services.
3 Estimated Swiss Solvency Test (SST) ratio, calculated based on the Group’s internal model approved by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA. The SST ratio has to be filed with FINMA by end of April each year and is subject to review by FINMA.
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Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading multi-line insurer serving people and businesses in more than 200 countries and territories. Founded 150 years ago, Zurich is transforming insurance. In addition to providing insurance protection, Zurich is increasingly offering prevention services such as those that promote wellbeing and enhance climate resilience.
Reflecting its purpose to ‘create a brighter future together,’ Zurich aspires to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world. It is targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 and has the highest-possible ESG rating from MSCI. In 2020, Zurich launched the Zurich Forest project to support reforestation and biodiversity restoration in Brazil.
The Group has about 60,000 employees and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN), is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information is available at www.zurich.com.
Disclaimer and cautionary statement
Certain statements in this document are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives of Zurich Insurance Group Ltd or the Zurich Insurance Group (the Group). Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Group’s targeted profit, return on equity targets, expenses, pricing conditions, dividend policy and underwriting and claims results, as well as statements regarding the Group’s understanding of general economic, financial and insurance market conditions and expected developments. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause actual results and plans and objectives of Zurich Insurance Group Ltd or the Group to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements (or from past results). Factors such as (i) general economic conditions and competitive factors, particularly in key markets; (ii) the risk of a global economic downturn, in the financial services industries in particular; (iii) performance of financial markets; (iv) levels of interest rates and currency exchange rates; (v) frequency, severity and development of insured claims events; (vi) mortality and morbidity experience; (vii) policy renewal and lapse rates; (viii) increased litigation activity and regulatory actions; and (ix) changes in laws and regulations and in the policies of regulators may have a direct bearing on the results of operations of Zurich Insurance Group Ltd and its Group and on whether the targets will be achieved. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
All references to ‘Farmers Exchanges’ mean Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange and their subsidiaries and affiliates. The three Exchanges are California domiciled interinsurance exchanges owned by their policyholders with governance oversight by their Boards of Governors. Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries are appointed as the attorneys-in-fact for the three Exchanges and in that capacity provide certain non-claims services and ancillary services to the Farmers Exchanges. Neither Farmers Group, Inc., nor its parent companies, Zurich Insurance Company Ltd and Zurich Insurance Group Ltd, have any ownership interest in the Farmers Exchanges. Financial information about the Farmers Exchanges is proprietary to the Farmers Exchanges, but is provided to support an understanding of the performance of Farmers Group, Inc. and Farmers Reinsurance Company. It should be noted that past performance is not a guide to future performance. Please also note that interim results are not necessarily indicative of full year results.
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