Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Ltd (CANHLIFE) reported steady operating performance in Q3 FY26, supported by growth in new business, improving margins, and continued diversification of its product and distribution mix. The quarter forms part of a strong nine-month performance in FY26, marking the company’s first full year as a listed entity. Management remained focused on protection-led growth, capital efficiency, and balance sheet strength.
Premium Growth and New Business Trends
During Q3 FY26, the company continued to report healthy traction in individual new business. For the nine months ended December 2025, Individual Weighted Premium Income stood at ₹1,915.3 crore, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 20.5%. Total Annualised Premium Equivalent increased 22.3% year-on-year to ₹2,095 crore.
Growth was driven by higher contribution from protection and non-par products, alongside stable momentum in unit-linked offerings. The protection segment remained the fastest-growing category, supported by improved affordability following GST-related changes and expansion in the credit life segment. Credit life premiums recorded strong growth, aided by deeper engagement with lending partners.
Profitability and Embedded Value
Value of New Business for 9M FY26 increased 36.8% year-on-year to ₹412.9 crore. VNB margin improved to 19.7%, compared with 17.6% in the previous year period. This reflected a richer product mix and disciplined pricing.
Profit after tax for the nine-month period stood at ₹91.9 crore, up 8.2% year-on-year. Embedded Value increased to ₹6,867.8 crore, with an operating return on embedded value of 18.2% on a rolling twelve-month basis. Assets under management rose 17.2% year-on-year to ₹46,888.8 crore, supported by steady inflows and market-linked gains.
Operational Efficiency and Persistency
Operational metrics improved further during Q3 FY26. The expense ratio declined to 18.7% for the nine-month period, compared with 20.0% in the prior year. This reflected scale benefits and tighter cost control.
Persistency indicators showed consistent improvement. The 13-month persistency ratio increased to 85.6%, while the 61-month persistency ratio rose to 59.2%. These trends indicate better customer retention and improved quality of business sourcing.
The solvency ratio stood at 191% at the end of December 2025, remaining comfortably above regulatory requirements despite growth-related capital consumption.
Business Development and Diversification
Canara HSBC Life continued to diversify both its product portfolio and distribution footprint. Unit-linked products accounted for around 61% of APE, while non-par savings, annuity, and protection products increased their share. The company also launched new participating and guaranteed income products aimed at improving customer stickiness and long-term value.
On the distribution front, the company expanded its bancassurance network through a new partnership with Equitas Small Finance Bank. This added access to nearly 1,000 outlets across multiple states, strengthening presence beyond its core partner banks. Management reiterated its focus on building a balanced channel mix across bancassurance, alternate channels, and digital platforms.
Debenture Issue and Capital Position
During FY26, Canara HSBC Life announced plans to raise ₹250 crore through the issuance of non-convertible debentures. The proposed debenture issue is intended to strengthen the company’s capital base and support future growth without equity dilution. The use of long-term debt aligns with the insurer’s objective of maintaining solvency buffers while funding expansion in protection and annuity segments.
Outlook
Overall, Q3 FY26 results reflected stable execution and improving business quality. Growth in protection, margin expansion, and disciplined capital management remain key positives. The planned debenture issuance provides additional financial flexibility. Performance trends in persistency and product diversification will remain key indicators over the medium term.