Lancashire Holdings well-positioned for next year on "healthy" 2026
Lancashire Holdings PLC on Wednesday said it remained on track to deliver a return on equity in the high teens for 2026, leaving the group well positioned for next year.
The Hamilton, Bermuda-based insurer said gross premiums written for the nine months ended September 30 fell 1.1% to USD1.81 billion from USD1.83 billion the previous year.
Reinsurance accounted for USD969.5 million, down 6.0% from USD1.03 billion, while insurance accounted for USD836.5 million, up 5.3% from USD794.3 million.
Lancashire said insurance growth was driven primarily by energy and marine lines, alongside the continued build-out of its US franchise, it said. A planned reduction in inward property business resulted in lower reinsurance gross premiums written.
Insurance revenue rose 0.7% to USD1.41 billion from USD1.40 billion, reflecting "premium earnings from prior underwriting years where the business saw substantial growth", the company said.
Lancashire described the third-quarter loss environment as "relatively benign", citing a lack of catastrophic events and the group's limited exposure to the Middle East.
The company declared a special dividend of 75 cents per common share, representing an aggregate distribution of around USD182 million.
Chief Executive Officer Alex Maloney said: "Managing the cycle is central to how Lancashire has always operated and our increased diversification across products and geographies gives us additional flexibility.
"The group's healthy performance for the year to date means that we remain on track to meet our 2026 full year guidance of a high-teens return on equity.
"We head into 2027 from a position of strength. I am confident that our outstanding teams, collective expertise, increased relevance to our clients and brokers, distinctive culture, and robust capital base will ensure we continue to deliver attractive returns across the cycle."
Lancashire Holdings shares were up 0.6% at 698.50 pence on Wednesday morning in London.
Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.