Finance

Swiss Re posts 47% rise in 2025 net profit, but life and health weighs

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on February 27, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: April 2, 2026

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Swiss Re posts 47% rise in 2025 net profit, but life and health weighs
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FRANKFURT, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Reinsurance company Swiss Re said on Friday its 2025 net profit rose 47%, slightly better than expected, and helped by strength in its property and casualty business. The

Swiss Re Achieves 47% Profit Growth in 2025 Amid Challenges

FRANKFURT, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Reinsurance company Swiss Re said on Friday its 2025 net profit rose 47%, slightly better than expected, and helped by strength in its property and casualty business.

The rise came despite a 17% decline in profit at its health and life division, that led it to miss a target for the business.

Financial Performance Overview

Group net profit of $4.762 billion in the period compares with a profit of $3.238 billion a year earlier. Analysts had expected a profit of $4.724 billion, according to a consensus forecast.

Swiss Re warned last year that it would miss the full-year profit target in its life and health division after higher-than-expected claims.

The reinsurer, among the world's largest, had said smaller health portfolios in Australia and elsewhere were underperforming its expectations.

Challenges in Life and Health Division

In October, Swiss Re said it would pause new life and health business in Australia following a sharp rise in claims there after local insurers paid out more in mental health claims and younger people were put on permanent disability.

Profit in the division was $1.274 billion for 2025, down from $1.532 billion in 2024 and short of a target of about $1.6 billion.

(Reporting by Tom Sims and Oliver Hirt, Editing by Friederike Heine and Clarence Fernandez)

Key Takeaways

  • Group net profit rose 47% to about USD 4.8 billion, exceeding forecasts.
  • Property & casualty segment drove strong results, offsetting weakness elsewhere.
  • Life & health division profit fell roughly 17%, missing its target.
  • Swiss Re proposed a 9% dividend boost and USD 1.5 billion share buyback.
  • The group remains resilient with disciplined underwriting and strong capital position.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Swiss Re’s life & health division underperform in 2025?
Life & health net income dropped to about USD 1.27 billion from USD 1.53 billion, missing its ~USD 1.6 billion target due to higher-than‑expected claims and underperforming portfolios in regions like Australia, Israel and South Korea.
How did the property & casualty business support overall profit growth?
The property & casualty reinsurance unit delivered strong underwriting results with net income around USD 2.8 billion and combined ratio ~79‑80 %, significantly boosting group profit.
What shareholder returns did Swiss Re announce?
Swiss Re proposed a 9 % increase in the dividend to USD 8.00 per share and announced a USD 1.5 billion share buyback programme for 2026, including USD 500 million sustainable component.

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