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Investing.com - Investec (LON:INVP) has downgraded ICICI Lombard (NSE:ICIL) (ICICIGI:IN) from Buy to Hold, while lowering its price target to INR2,150.00 from INR2,200.00 due to competitive pressures in the insurance sector.
The insurer reported just 1% year-over-year growth in gross direct premium income (GDPI) for the first quarter, though this figure reached 4.8% when excluding the impact of 1/n accounting. The company’s combined ratio deteriorated by 60 basis points year-over-year to 102.9%.
Despite competitive challenges, ICICI Lombard achieved 29% year-over-year profit after tax growth, exceeding Investec’s estimates by 13%, primarily driven by higher investment income from capital gains. The company posted a 20.5% return on equity for the quarter, with its float growing 9% year-over-year and 4% quarter-over-quarter.
Investec cited sector growth concerns and competitive intensity as near-term headwinds for the company, leading the firm to project modest earnings growth of 12% for fiscal year 2026 and just 5% for fiscal year 2027.
The downgrade reflects Investec’s view that ICICI Lombard’s current valuation at 34 times fiscal year 2027 price-to-earnings ratio is fair given the weak earnings growth outlook.
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