Hong Kong, March 10, 2026, 06:36 HKT
Prudential plc has cut its share total once more, according to a March 9 filing in Hong Kong. The company cancelled 364,056 shares purchased earlier in the week, while 729,486 shares picked up on March 5 and 6 are still pending cancellation.
The update arrives right ahead of Prudential’s full-year 2025 numbers, set for March 18 in Hong Kong. Investors are eyeing new commentary on growth and any details on capital returns. Back in January, Prudential indicated its overarching capital plan aimed to hand out over $5 billion to shareholders between 2024 and 2027—even before counting any cash from the planned ICICI Prudential Asset Management IPO.
Prudential kicked off its $1.2 billion share buyback programme on Jan. 6, setting the end date for Dec. 18, 2026. The plan splits funding: $500 million is earmarked from recurring capital returns, with the other $700 million tied to proceeds from the ICICI Prudential Asset Management listing. “The significant growth opportunities ahead of us have not changed,” CEO Anil Wadhwani said when the buyback was first announced. Prudential plc
According to the latest filing, the March 6 buyback on the London Stock Exchange took place at prices ranging from 10.555 to 11.005 pounds per share, totaling 3.99 million pounds. So far, Prudential has purchased 73.19 million shares under its current authorization, representing roughly 2.81% of the shares outstanding when the mandate started in May 2025.
Prudential, which offers life and health insurance as well as asset-management products throughout Greater China, ASEAN, India, and Africa, posted a new business profit of $1.26 billion for the first half of 2025—a 12% increase. Operating free surplus generation, a cash metric, climbed 14% to $1.56 billion. The company said it remains on course for over 10% growth in all major 2025 targets.
Prudential isn’t alone zeroing in on buybacks. Aviva, for example, kicked off a 350 million pound share repurchase just last week, after reporting a 25% jump in annual operating profit. The move underscores how capital returns still draw attention among insurers, even with wide differences in business mix.
Still, Prudential’s pace on returns isn’t set in stone. Back in January, the company flagged that both timing and structure would hinge on market swings and how execution plays out. Investor materials also make it clear: capital returns are linked to the group’s financial health, regulatory solvency needs, investment prospects, and the broader economic backdrop.
A more complete picture arrives next week. Prudential is set to release its 2025 results at 6:00 a.m. Hong Kong time on March 18, with an analyst Q&A scheduled for later that day.
