Suncorp to Pay Special Dividend, Launch Buyback After Underlying Earnings Rise 4.5%

By David Winning

SYDNEY--General insurer Suncorp said it would pay a special dividend and launch a new share buyback after lifting underlying earnings by 4.5% in the 2026 fiscal year.

Suncorp report a net profit of 1.03 billion Australian dollars (US$730 million) in the 12 months through June, down from A$1.82 billion a year ago. Cash earnings totaled A$1.04 billion in the period.

Chief Executive Steve Johnston said the result was achieved during a year when Suncorp exceeded its A$1.77 billion natural hazard allowance by A$254 million and paid out more than A$10 billion in claims.

Suncorp said growth in underlying earnings to A$1.64 billion in fiscal 2026 reflected premium growth and good control of expenses, noting it achieved an underlying insurance trading ratio of 11.8%.

Directors of the company declared a special dividend of A$0.10 per share on top of an ordinary final dividend of A$0.52 per share. Suncorp said it also intends to launch a share buyback worth up to A$250 million in the 2027 fiscal year after completing repurchases of some A$400 million of stock in fiscal 2026.

Write to David Winning at david.winning@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 11, 2026 18:01 ET (22:01 GMT)