Aviva's first-half profit beats expectations
The insurer said Direct Line is already adding scale and profitability as it targets £225 million in cost savings by 2028.
- On Friday, August 14, 2026, insurer Aviva reported a 24% surge in operating profits to £1.33 billion for the six months ending June 30, driven by its £3.7 billion acquisition of Direct Line.
- Dame Amanda Blanc, group chief executive of Aviva, said the firm is making "very good progress with the integration of Direct Line," having quickly improved profitability and grown price comparison website sales.
- Despite operating gains, bottom-line interim profits nearly halved to £418 million from £819 million a year earlier, impacted by hedging for interest rate and equity exposures alongside Direct Line integration and restructuring costs.
- The FTSE 100 firm now expects to strip out £225 million in costs by 2028, though Aviva has signalled that up to 2,300 jobs could go under these cost-cutting plans.
- Citing "slowing market growth," Aviva lowered its full-year operating profit outlook for the health division to £90 million, while analysts at Hargreaves Lansdown called the first half "impressive.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Aviva H1’26 operating profit exceeds £1.3bn as GI premiums increase 29%
British insurer Aviva has announced its financial results for the first half of 2026, reporting Group operating profit of £1.326 billion, up 24% from £1.068 billion in H1 2025. Total general insurance (GI) premiums increased 29% to £8.093 billion, up from £6.29 billion reported for the same period last year. The Group’s undiscounted combined operating ratio (COR) improved to 93.3% in H1 2026, compared to 94.6% in H1 2025. On a discounted basis, …
Aviva profits jump following Direct Line acquisition
FTSE 100 insurance giant Aviva reported its operating profit for the first half of this year to be up 24 per cent, driven by the group’s “strong progress” following its acquisition of Direct Line in 2025. The London-listed insurer, which offers home, car, and life insurance in the UK and serves approximately 25 million customers, said its overall operating profit surged to £1.3bn for the period ended 30 June 2026, up from £1.068bn a year earlie…
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