Helvetia delivers strong results for the first half of 2025 and is on track with its financial targets

"Our strong performance in the first half of 2025 is evidence that we are on the right track with our financial targets. Our diversified business makes us well equipped even for extraordinary events. One of these was the tragic landslide in the Valais village of Blatten, which is a good example of how important it is for us as Helvetia to be there when it matters for our customers", says Fabian Rupprecht, Group CEO of Helvetia, about the 2025 half-year results. He further adds: "Looking ahead, the planned merger with Baloise is the main focus. We are well on track and confident that we will be able to merge into one of Europe's largest insurers towards the end of 2025 as planned."
 
In the first half of 2025 Helvetia generated underlying earnings of CHF 300.8 million, a 5.5% increase on the prior-year period (first half of 2024: CHF 285.2 million). The underlying ROE of 14% is comfortably in the target range. The improvement was driven by non-life insurance and non-insurance. The Group's non-life business once again demonstrated the benefits of its diversified portfolio. In the non-insurance business area, Helvetia significantly increased its underlying earnings year-on-year. This was driven by lower costs, and a strong asset management result following the capital increase in the Helvetia real estate funds. Meanwhile, in the life insurance business, the contractual service margin CSM release, which is the main component of the result, grew by 1% compared to the first half of 2024.
 
The IFRS net income in the first half of 2025 stood at CHF 320.1 million (first half of 2024: CHF 258.6 million). In addition to the higher underlying earnings, non-operating effects demonstrated significant improvement after being negative in the previous year, despite restructuring costs in the first half of 2025. IFRS net income included a positive effect from market fluctuations due to the strong performance of investment funds. Meanwhile, the main reason for the positive year on year change is that FX effects were positive in the first half of 2025 after being negative in the prior year. Positive property revaluations were also supportive in the first half of 2025.
 
Non-life remains primary growth driver
Helvetia Group successfully continued its selective and disciplined growth path with a focus on profitable and capital-light business areas during the first half of 2025. The business volume amounted to CHF 6,960.8 million (first half of 2024: CHF 6,927.2 million). At constant exchange rates, this represents an increase of 1.6%. Measured in Swiss francs, growth was negatively impacted by exchange rate developments and stood at 0.5%. Insurance revenue, which reflects the share of business earned during the reporting period, increased by 3.1% at constant exchange rates to CHF 4,621.3 million (first half of 2024: CHF 4,544.4 million).  
 
As in 2024, the Group's non-life business was the primary growth driver with currency-adjusted business volume growth of 4.0% to CHF 4,509.3 million. This came from a combination of strong growth in profitable lines and a prudent approach in specific lines where Helvetia expects future profitability to be limited. Helvetia posted an increase in all non-life segments on a currency-adjusted basis.
 
Significant improvement from technical excellence
Helvetia posted underlying earnings of CHF 193.4 million in the non-life business in the first half of 2025 (first half of 2024: CHF 185.2 million). The increase comes from a much higher operating insurance service result, due to both a much better underlying technical performance as well as a higher contribution from prior year developments. Measures aimed at boosting technical profitability are clearly helping. While Switzerland was significantly impacted by the tragic event in Blatten, the portfolio overall continued to benefit from its diversification.
 
The Group's combined ratio improved for the same reasons to 93.3% (first half of 2024: 94.5%). The gain comes mainly from the claims ratio, but the cost ratio also improved slightly to 27.0% (first half of 2024: 27.1%).
 
Life business remains stable
The operating insurance service result in the life business increased significantly thanks to a higher CSM release and the absence of negative onerous contract effects from model changes and changes in assumptions in the prior year.
 
New business volume in life developed favourably and Helvetia increased by 12.5% with a new business margin that remains at the attractive prior year level of 4.9%. Helvetia grew in both Group and individual life business, especially in Switzerland and GIAM.
 
The stock of CSM, and thus expected future profits, increased by 1.0% to CHF 4,404.4 million in the first half of 2025 (as of 31 December 2024: CHF 4,362.9 million). The profitable new business written during the reporting period and the expected in-force return slightly outweighed the CSM release.
 
Significant improvement in non-insurance business
The underlying earnings of the non-insurance business area showed a significant improvement compared to the prior year period at CHF -24.9 million (first half of 2024: CHF -37.6 million). The main driver was a change in methodology which has transferred some earnings from non-life. Meanwhile, lower costs and a strong asset management result also had an impact.
 
Excellent capitalization
The SST ratio on 30 June 2025 is estimated to be around 290%, which is a similar strong level to that reported for 31 December 2024. The Group thus continued to report outstanding capitalization.
 
Well on track with financial targets
The planned merger with Baloise may result in the announcement of new targets next year. For now, the focus remains on the independent current strategic plan. The current strategy as well as the integration in Spain are on track. For the integration in Spain as well as the planned merger with Baloise Helvetia expects to receive final confirmation from the authorities by the end of the year. The results of the first half of 2025 give Helvetia confidence that it will achieve its key financial targets, including that of underlying EPS growth of 9 - 11% and an increase in its dividend.