AXA's First-Half Profit Rises 9% as Life and Health Earnings Jump

French insurance group AXA reported a strong first half of 2026, with net income rising 9% to €4.2 billion, helped by higher underlying earnings and favourable market movements. The company said growth in underlying earnings per share was tracking at the top end of its 6% to 8% target range, while it further strengthened the prudence of its reserves. Life and health earnings rose 11%, reflecting management actions across health and protection businesses and solid growth in long-term savings, while property and casualty lines continued to expand their customer base and improve margins. At its specialty unit AXA XL, earnings grew 4% through disciplined management of the underwriting cycle. Chief Executive Thomas Buberl described AXA as an all-weather company able to navigate changing conditions, and the group said it was confident of delivering full-year earnings growth at the upper end of its target range while sustaining profitable organic growth. Shareholders' equity stood at €44.7 billion at the end of June. AXA is due to unveil new financial targets for the 2027 to 2029 period in September, following the recent sale of its asset management arm.