Prudential annual profit rises 41% amid solid revenue, lifts dividend

(Alliance News) - Prudential PLC on Wednesday reported strong annual profit growth, boosted by ...

Alliance News 20 March, 2025 | 12:54AM
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(Alliance News) - Prudential PLC on Wednesday reported strong annual profit growth, boosted by higher insurance revenue with robust performance across key Asian markets, prompting an increased dividend.

The London-based insurance firm & asset manager said pretax profit increased 41% to USD2.95 billion in full-year 2024 from USD2.10 billion a year prior.

Basic earnings per share after tax were 84.1 US cents, up 35% from 62.1c.

Insurance revenue increased 11% to USD10.36 billion from USD9.37 billion as insurance service expense rose 9.1% to USD7.76 billion from USD7.11 billion.

New business profit fell 1.5% to USD3.08 billion from USD3.13 billion. However, at constant exchange rates, it was 11% higher.

Prudential announced a second interim dividend of 16.29 cents per share, up 15% from 14.21c. This increases the total dividend for the year by 13% to 23.13c from 20.47c.

Additionally, the company had completed USD1.05 billion in share buybacks as of March 14 under the USD2 billion programme announced in June 2024. Prudential said it now expects the scheme to complete by the end of 2025 instead of the middle of 2026 as previously anticipated.

Chief Executive Officer Anil Wadhwani said: "The long-term growth trends inherent in our Asia and Africa markets are reasserting themselves, creating significant opportunities for us. Insurance penetration rates in Asia are low and there is continued, and growing, demand for long term savings and protection products across our markets, alongside a need for wealth management and retirement planning, particularly in our higher income Asian market."

Specifically, insurance business profit grew 5.6% to USD3.42 billion from USD3.24 billion. Meanwhile, asset management profit rose 8.6% to USD304 million from USD280 million.

Profit in Hong Kong rose 5.5% to USD1.07 billion, Singapore rose 19% to USD693 million, Growth & Other markets fell 7.8% to USD688 million, Mainland China fell 1.4% to USD363 million, Malaysia rose 11% to USD338 million, and Indonesia jumped 21% to USD268 million.

Corporate expenditure was 3.0% higher at USD237 million from USD230 million, while interest payable on core structural borrowings was down 0.6% at USD171 million from USD172 million.

Other expenditures fell by 8.5% to USD387 million from USD423 million.

"We are well positioned to capitalise on this growth opportunity [in Asia]. Our focus is on writing quality new business alongside managing our in-force business and improving variances by enhancing operational delivery and serving our customers’ needs. We have seen good progress in 2024 with improved cash signatures for new business, growth in the number of active agents in the second half and actions undertaken to improve our variances through implementing better health claims management, improving persistency and modernising our IT infrastructure to capture economies of scale," CEO Wadhwani added.

In 2025, Prudential said it expects to grow new business profit, adjusted operating profit EPS, and operating free surplus generated from in-force insurance and the asset management business by more than 10%.

Prudential shares closed 0.3% lower at 773.32 pence each in London on Wednesday.

By Elijah Dale, Alliance News reporter

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Securities Mentioned in Article

Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
Prudential PLC 777.40 GBX 0.41

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