The Hartford reported strong first-quarter 2026 results, driven by robust core earnings and improved net income, reflecting solid underwriting discipline and investment income. The company demonstrated consistent performance across its segments, particularly in Business Insurance and Personal Insurance, while Employee Benefits showed strong sales growth.
Net income available to common stockholders increased 36% to $851 million ($3.04 per diluted share), up from $625 million ($2.15 per diluted share) in Q1 2025.
positiveCore earnings increased 36% to $866 million ($3.09 per diluted share), up from $639 million ($2.20 per diluted share) in Q1 2025.
positiveTrailing 12-month core earnings ROE of 20.3% and net income ROE of 23.0% show strong profitability.
positiveBusiness Insurance written premiums increased 6% to $3,904 million, with an underlying combined ratio of 89.2.
positivePersonal Insurance underlying combined ratio improved 4.7 points to 85.0, and underlying loss and loss adjustment expense ratio improved 4.6 points to 58.0.
positiveEmployee Benefits saw a 53% increase in fully insured ongoing sales, driven by group disability and life products.
positiveNet investment income increased 13% to $739 million, driven by higher LP income and reinvesting at higher rates.
positiveReturned $617 million to stockholders in Q1 2026, including $450 million in share repurchases and $167 million in dividends.
positivePersonal Insurance written premiums decreased 6% to $862 million, impacted by a competitive market.
attentionEmployee Benefits expense ratio increased 1.3 points to 26.7%, driven by higher staffing and technology costs.
attentionBusiness Insurance experienced a change from net favorable prior year development (PYD) to net unfavorable PYD of $30 million, primarily due to an increase of $70 million in general liability reserves for legacy sexual molestation and abuse exposures.
attentionGlobal Specialty combined ratio increased 1.4 points to 90.7%, primarily due to a 4.6 point change from favorable to unfavorable PYD.
attentionMargin expansion indicates improving profitability and operational efficiency. Measured in basis points (bps): 100 bps = 1.0%.
| Segment | Current | Prior Yr | YoY | % Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Business Insurance | N/A | — | — | — |
Personal Insurance | N/A | — | — | — |
Employee Benefits | N/A | — | — | — |
Hartford Funds | N/A | — | — | — |
| Total Revenue | $0.00M | — | — | 100.0% |
Segment performance shows business unit health and growth drivers.
Special items are non-recurring events that may distort period-over-period comparisons. Analysts typically adjust for these when calculating normalized earnings.
The Hartford's first quarter 2026 results were strong with core earnings of $866 million, building on continued momentum from the past few years.
Our underwriting discipline, breadth and depth of distribution relationships, and customer-centric focus position us well to navigate a dynamic environment.
Our ongoing investments in innovation and technology continue to strengthen our business processes and further differentiate The Hartford in the marketplace.
Commentary excerpts from earnings call transcripts provide management's perspective on performance, strategy, and outlook. Always review full transcripts for complete context.
Operational metrics provide insight into business drivers and customer engagement beyond traditional financial measures.