ewsba.se
Life insurance stocks were in focus on Monday, 11 May, with shares trading flat to slightly positive across counters. Shares of SBI Life Insurance edged higher by 0.8%, while ICICI Prudential Life Insurance gained 1.4%, HDFC Life Insurance rose 0.6%, and Life Insurance Corporation of India added 0.5%. Canara HSBC Life Insurance was among the top performers, up 1.6%.
The sector reported a strong start to FY27 in April, with robust growth across key metrics, though performance varied due to base effects.
Among private players, SBI Life Insurance led overall growth, with new business premium (NBP) soaring 80% year-on-year, supported by favourable comparisons with the previous period. Its annualised premium equivalent (APE) increased by 10%, while retail APE skyrocketed by 120%, indicating strong demand in the retail market.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance also demonstrated impressive results, with NBP rising 26% and APE climbing 38%, albeit from a weaker baseline. Retail APE grew by 25%.
HDFC Life Insurance displayed stable performance, with NBP rising 30%, APE increasing 24%, and retail APE rising 25%, aided by favourable comparisons with prior figures.
Max Life Insurance (Axis Max Life) experienced relatively mild growth, with NBP up 18%, APE up 15%, and retail APE up 21%, largely due to a high base.
Canara HSBC Life Insurance reported a 23% growth in New Business Premium (NBP), with Annualised Premium Equivalent (APE) and retail APE both increasing by 10%.
Meanwhile, LIC continued its steady upward trajectory, with NBP rising 38%, APE increasing 31%, and retail APE rising19%, demonstrating ongoing progress at the nation's largest insurer.
Rajesh Bhosale, Equity Technical and Derivative Analyst at Angel One, said the insurance sector continues to remain in a consolidation phase and has underperformed the broader markets.
He noted that subdued volumes and range-bound price action suggest that this underperformance may persist in the near term. Among key stocks in the space, HDFC Life Insurance and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance appear relatively better positioned and could outperform if the sector sees broader traction.
Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, not Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Dhanya Nagasundaram works as a Content Producer at LiveMint, specializing in news related to financial markets, stocks, and business. With over eight years of experience in journalism and content creation, she has honed her skills in data-driven reporting and market analysis. Her focus is on monitoring stock trends, initial public offerings (IPOs), corporate news, policy shifts, and larger economic trends that affect investors and market players. <br><br> At LiveMint, Dhanya consistently writes and produces articles that make complex financial topics accessible to readers. She keeps a close eye on equity markets, commodities, and macroeconomic indicators, assisting audiences in comprehending how global and domestic events influence investment perspectives. Her stories frequently underscore emerging trends within sectors, the IPO market, company earnings results, and market strategies pertinent to both retail and institutional investors. <br><br> Before her tenure at LiveMint, Dhanya accumulated a wealth of professional experience at various companies, including MintGenie, Informist, Cogenics, Chary Publications, KPMG, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. These positions allowed her to establish a solid foundation in financial research, reporting, and content creation. <br><br> Throughout her career, she has explored numerous subjects such as trading strategies, commodities, IPOs, wealth generation, corporate profits, and macroeconomic indicators. Her background in both financial journalism and corporate settings has given her the ability to tackle stories with analytical rigor while ensuring clarity for her audience. Through her contributions, Dhanya strives to deliver insightful, trustworthy, and investor-centric financial content.
Catch all the Business News , Market News , Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.