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What occurred to Aviva (LSE: AV.) shares at the moment (5 March)? I see one other nice set of outcomes, one other dividend rise, one other share buyback, and one other pleased shareholder. The latter is me, and I hope there are lots extra of us. However the share value fell 2.5% quickly after the market opened.
Does it imply traders had been anticipating what we noticed, and had been upset? Or is the valuation excessive sufficient on the present value? Let’s have a look how the 2025 full yr went.
“Outstanding”
Within the phrases of CEO Amanda Blanc, Aviva achieved “an outstanding performance in 2025, our fifth consecutive year of strong, profitable growth.” Working revenue is up 25% to £2.2bn. And working earnings per share (EPS) gained 17% to 56p — although bottom-line reported EPS got here in decrease at 26.9p.
The enterprise is clearly throwing off loads of money. There’s a brand new share buyback price as much as £350m, anticipated to occur between March and August.
And the board lifted its annual dividend by a powerful 10%, to 39.3p per share – properly forward of analyst forecasts. On the day prior to this’s closing value for Aviva shares, that’s a dividend yield of 5.9%. So we’ve got a dividend forward of the FTSE 100 common, and a progressive rise effectively forward of inflation.
And to show again to the enthusiastic CEO, she instructed us: “We have achieved our 2026 financial targets one year early, highlighting the rapid and sustained progress we are making.” She added that Aviva is “highly committed to growing our dividend.” And that appeals to long-term dividend traders like me.
What’s it price?
The primary hazard in all probability centres on the cyclical nature of the insurance coverage sector, and Aviva’s present valuation. On the reported EPS determine, we’re a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 24. Even on the upper working EPS, we’re nonetheless a a number of near 12.
A couple of years in the past, Aviva shares had been on a P/E of solely round six or seven. However proper now? I’m unsure I see sufficient security margin in that to deal with one other cyclical downturn.
It’s certainly not positive we’ll have a downturn. And if we do, it won’t occur within the coming decade. However over all of the years I’ve been following the sector, it’s proven essentially the most ups and downs I can bear in mind out of any within the FTSE 100. However you understand, each downturn got here again up once more.
Stronger firm now
In 2025, Aviva maintained its primary place within the UK insurance coverage market and quantity three in Eire, with over 12m prospects. And within the UK and Eire collectively, gross written premiums rose by 27% — by a mix of quantity and profitability.
Amanda Blanc actually has labored wonders for Aviva. It’s far more centered and environment friendly than it was when she took over in 2020.
Even when Aviva won’t be on a screaming low-cost valuation now, I just like the underlying firm. We would see a weak spell for the shares, however I’m holding. I believe long-term traders ought to take into account shopping for, particularly on any dips.
