Insurance heats up: Top 10 best-performing insurance stocks of 2025 so far 

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So far in 2025, the Nigerian insurance sector, tracked by the NGX Insurance Index, has delivered an impressive year-to-date gain of 74.18%, ranking as the second-best performing sector after consumer goods at 86.11%.

The index, which opened the year at 719.9, has ridden on a hefty market volume of over 19 billion shares, smashing through the 1,100-point mark and now sitting firmly at 1,250.6.

Much of this surge has come in the third quarter, after a moderate second quarter and a bearish first quarter in which the sector fell 2.71% to 698.5 as price activity in some stocks stalled.

In August alone, the NGX Insurance Index is up over 40%, a surge that has briefly made it the market’s top performer earlier in the month.

That being said, here are the top 10 insurance stocks that have led the sector’s bullish run in 2025, among many others also posting gains this year.

Regency Alliance (69.33%)

Regency Alliance Plc ranks 10th with a year-to-date return of 69.33%.

The year began at N0.75, but the first quarter was sluggish, with the stock sliding to N0.66.

April pushed the decline to N0.59 before momentum returned in May.

However, Q2 still closed with a 3% loss, but Q3 is proving much stronger, with Regency up 25% in July and 58.8% so far in August.

• For Q3 2025, Regency is projecting a pretax profit of N1.06 billion on forecast revenue of N5.8 billion, a target that could keep the bullish spark alive.

Cornerstone Insurance (77.78%)

Cornerstone Insurance Plc takes the 9th spot with a year-to-date growth of 77.78%.

It opened January at N3.60, but early trading was unsteady, closing the month at N3.47 and dipping further to N3.07 in April.

Momentum returned in May and strengthened in June as the price broke past N4.00 to N4.28.

July held gains at a slower pace, but the stock has already jumped 39% in August, likely driven by its H1 2025 results showing insurance revenue up 44.37% to N24.4 billion, paid claims rising to N9.9 billion from N2.2 billion in 2024, and premiums up 25.86% to N30 billion.

AXA Mansard (78.66%)

At number 8, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc boasts a year-to-date gain of 78.66%.

The stock began 2025 at N8.20 and inched up just 4.88% by Q1’s end, before adding a 7.56% lift in Q2. But Q3 has been transformative.

In July, it opened at N9.25, traded over 74 million shares, and smashed past N11 to close the month at N11.70.

Following its H1 2025 results in late July, which showed insurance revenue rising to N81.1 billion from N65.6 billion, premiums up 21.67% to N98.2 billion, and claims up 54.12% to N39.3 billion, the stock has climbed to N14, gaining 25% in early August.

International Energy Insurance (85.53%)

International Energy Insurance Plc secures the 7th position with an 85.53% year-to-date return.

Starting at N1.70, it climbed to N2.01 in February, only to retreat sharply to N1.45 in April.

The rebound began in May, and by June it was back to N1.71.

July proved the breakout month, up 38.01% to N2.36, with August already pushing past N3, a 32% surge. For Q3, the company is targeting a gross premium of N7.6 billion and a pretax profit of N1.5 billion.

Linkage Assurance (109.49%)

With a year-to-date leap of 109.49%, Linkage Assurance Plc sits comfortably in 6th place.

It opened at N1.07 and saw just one monthly decline, in February.

By midyear, performance stood at 30.51%. But Q3 has been explosive, adding over 60% so far, with August shaping up to be its best month yet.

Much of the surge came after its H1 2025 report in late July, showing insurance revenue up 16.18% to N12.5 billion, received premiums at N15.9 billion, and claims down to N2.8 billion from N4.5 billion in December 2024.

Custodian Investment (136.55%)

Custodian Investment Plc claims the 5th spot with an impressive 136.55% year-to-date climb.

Opening at N17.10, the stock has closed every month in the green.

• Gains accelerated in Q2 with a 38.97% jump after a 14.04% Q1 rise.
• July took the rally further, touching N36 at its peak.

In H1 2025, insurance service revenue climbed to N89.3 billion from N60.9 billion, while pretax profit improved to N30.4 billion from N25.7 billion a year earlier.

Sovereign Trust Insurance (142.86%)

Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc ranks 4th with a 142.86% year-to-date gain.

After starting at N1.12, it slipped to N1.00 in January and dipped further to N0.98 in Q1. The turnaround began in May, gathering strength into June.

However, Q3 has been its strongest phase yet, with July and August combined adding 102.99%.

This rally may have been fueled by its H1 2025 performance: insurance revenue grew 45% to N34 billion, while pretax profit rose 36% to N1.5 billion.

AIICO Insurance (144.76%)

AIICO Insurance Plc takes 3rd place with a year-to-date growth of 144.76%.

It opened at N1.43 and remained muted through H1, reaching just N1.58 by June. Then Q3 arrived with a bang: July pushed it past N2, and August has so far seen it soar to N3.50.

Investors were likely influenced by its H1 2025 results, which showed insurance revenue up 34% to N65.4 billion, premiums up 8.17% to N94 billion, and paid claims rising to N43.3 billion from N42.5 billion in 2024.

NEM Insurance (201.37%)

NEM Insurance Plc comes in 2nd with a stellar 201.37% year-to-date gain.

It started at N10.95 and ended each month higher, climbing to N17.90 by the end of Q2 before surging 84% in Q3 to reach N33 in August.

Its H1 financials revealed premiums up to N96.8 billion from N66 billion, claims more than doubling to N20.5 billion from N9.1 billion, and insurance revenue soaring 65.86% to N75.4 billion.

Mutual Benefits Assurance (378.69%)

Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc tops the list with a staggering 378.69% year-to-date return.

Trading for 2025 began in March at N0.61, surging 72% in its debut month.

• April saw a 14% dip, but the stock regained momentum in May, closing June at N1.10.
• July was explosive, jumping to N1.82, and August has already shattered N2, now at N2.92 and eyeing N3.

The company’s H1 2025 report, showing insurance revenue up 44.58% to N41.1 billion, premiums up 38.09% to N47.2 billion, and claims nearly doubling to N22 billion, appears to have ignited investor confidence in Q3.