Chicago-based insurer CNA Financial has reported Q2 2026 net income of $321 million, up from $299 million in the prior-year quarter, as stronger investment returns helped offset pressure on underwriting performance as the firm continued to focus on disciplined growth and reserve prudence.
CNA’s net investment income for the quarter increased to $701 million, driven by gains from limited partnerships and common stock as well as higher income from fixed-income securities and other investments.
CNA CEO Douglas Worman said the results reflected “deliberate and disciplined growth” alongside strong investment income and underwriting performance, adding that the firm remained focused on maintaining conservative loss assumptions and pursuing opportunities where risk-adjusted returns were attractive.
Looking at CNA property and casualty (P&C) operations, core income was $426 million in Q2 2026, compared with $448 million in the same quarter of 2025.
CNA’s P&C combined ratio deteriorated to 96.5% in Q2 2026 from 94.1% a year earlier, with catastrophe losses contributing 2.3 points, up from 2.4 points in the prior-year period. Catastrophe losses were $60 million pretax in Q2 2026, versus $62 million in Q2 2025.
Meanwhile, premium growth accelerated during Q2 2026, with P&C net written premiums rising 4% year on year to $2.97 billion.
Growth was reportedly supported by an 11% increase in new business, which reached a record $718 million, while retention remained at 83%.
Outside P&C, CNA’s Life & Group segment recorded a core loss of $10 million in Q2 2026, compared with core income of $1 million in the prior-year quarter. Corporate & Other reported a core loss of $92 million in Q2 2026, improving from a $114 million loss a year earlier.
Worman concluded, “Looking ahead, we remain focused on disciplined growth strategies and maintaining a prudent reserve posture while investing smartly in the business. We are gaining momentum in operationalising artificial intelligence with efficiency and effectiveness solutions deployed and embedded into the core workflows across our organisation.
“We are pleased with our second quarter property reinsurance renewals, which were oversubscribed at favourable terms and remain economically accretive to the organisation. With a strong balance sheet and disciplined execution, we are well positioned to continue to capitalise on attractive opportunities with focused specialisation in the areas where we do business.”
