The Hartford (NYSE:HIG) posted second‑quarter 2026 results that exceeded analyst expectations. Adjusted earnings per share were $3.42, above the consensus estimate of $3.21, while revenue reached $7.26 billion, marginally higher than the $7.24 billion forecast and representing a 5 % year‑on‑year increase from $5.96 billion in Q2 2025. Net income available to common shareholders climbed 31 % to $1.3 billion, or $4.68 per diluted share, compared with $990 million ($3.44 per share) in the comparable prior‑year quarter. Core earnings were $945 million ($3.42 per diluted share), a 1 % rise from $932 million a year earlier.
Property & Casualty written premiums grew 3 % in the quarter, driven by a 5 % increase in the Business Insurance segment. Business Insurance reported a combined ratio of 91.4 % and an underlying combined ratio of 89.3 %. Personal Insurance posted a combined ratio of 90.1 % and an underlying combined ratio of 86.3 %, improving 1.7 percentage points versus the prior year. Employee Benefits generated fully insured ongoing premium growth of 5 % and delivered a core earnings margin of 7.4 %; however, its loss ratio rose to 72.5 % from 69.1 % due to higher group disability claim incidence.
Net investment income rose 22 % to $800 million, up from $658 million a year ago, reflecting higher income from limited partnerships and a larger base of invested assets.
The board authorized a new $4.2 billion share‑repurchase program, representing a 27 % increase over the previous authorization, effective from 1 August 2026 through the end of 2028. In the quarter the company returned $615 million to shareholders, comprising $450 million of share repurchases and $165 million of dividends. The stock showed no after‑hours movement following the release.
Chairman and CEO Christopher Swift said the results “reflect the strength of our franchise, the breadth of our distribution relationships and our commitment to a superior customer experience.”