Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Leading global insurer Aon plc (AON - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 28, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $3.34 per share on revenues of $4.08 billion.

The third-quarter earnings estimate has witnessed two upward revisions and six downward movements over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates a year-over-year increase of 9.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues suggests year-over-year growth of 2%.

AON beat the consensus estimate for earnings in each of the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 2.7%.

Aon plc price-eps-surprise | Aon plc Quote

Q3 Earnings Whispers for AONOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That’s not the case here.

AON currently has an Earnings ESP of -0.80% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

What’s Shaping AON’s Q3 Results?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Commercial Risk Solutions’ revenues indicates 4.9% growth from $2 billion a year ago, whereas our model predicts a 3% increase. We expect the unit to have witnessed 5% organic revenue growth in the quarter.

The consensus mark for the Health Solutions’ third-quarter revenues suggests nearly 4.5% growth from the year-ago level, while our model estimate indicates an 8% increase. The segment is likely to have been supported by new business growth, strong retention rates and positive market impact.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Reinsurance Solutions' revenues indicates growth of 3.8% from $537 million recorded a year ago, while our model estimate suggests a 5% increase. Favorable retention rates, new business generation and facultative placement growth are expected to have benefited the unit.

The aforementioned factors might have contributed to the company's year-over-year growth, positioning it for an earnings beat. However, the positives are likely to have been partially offset by high expenses due to significant investments in priority areas for long-term growth.

Our model projects total operating expenses to exceed $3.2 billion in the third quarter, driven by higher information technology and other general expenses. Other general expenses are estimated at approximately $435 million.

The consensus estimate for third-quarter revenues in the Wealth Solutions segment suggests a 16.1% decrease from the previous year’s $540 million, whereas our model indicates an 18% decline. The unit is likely to have been affected by weaker advisory demand in the United States.

Stocks That Warrant a LookWhile an earnings beat looks uncertain for AON, here are some companies from the broader Finance space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:

Cincinnati Financial Corporation (CINF - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.51% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cincinnati Financial’s third-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.99 per share. Its earnings beat estimates in three of the past four quarters and missed once, delivering an average surprise of 11.8%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CINF's revenues is pegged at $3.03 billion, indicating a 5.5% increase from the year-ago reported figure.

Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. (SKWD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +7.55% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Skyward Specialty Insurance Group’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $1.22 per share, indicating 16.2% year-over-year growth. The consensus estimate for revenues is pinned at $507.3 million. SKWD beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with the average surprise being 19.4%.

Palomar Holdings, Inc. (PLMR - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.89% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Palomar Holdings’ bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $2.64 per share, indicating 31.3% year-over-year growth. It beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with the average surprise being 13%. The consensus estimate for PLMR’s revenues is pegged at $376.5 million.

Brookstone Capital Management increased its position in shares of Aon plc (NYSE:AON – Free Report) by 4,984.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 97,112 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 95,202 shares during the quarter. Brookstone Capital Management’s holdings in AON were worth $26,878,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. NBT Bank N.A. purchased a new position in AON during the third quarter worth $10,117,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of AON by 173,947.6% during the 3rd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 36,550 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $10,116,000 after acquiring an additional 36,529 shares during the period. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas boosted its position in shares of AON by 434.8% in the third quarter. Smith Chas P & Associates PA Cpas now owns 5,161 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,428,000 after acquiring an additional 4,196 shares during the last quarter. Aire Advisors LLC grew its holdings in AON by 98.9% in the third quarter. Aire Advisors LLC now owns 12,504 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,461,000 after purchasing an additional 6,217 shares during the period. Finally, Axxcess Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in AON by 234.7% in the third quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 22,014 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $6,093,000 after purchasing an additional 15,436 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.14% of the company’s stock.

AON Price Performance Shares of NYSE AON opened at $306.59 on Friday. Aon plc has a 1-year low of $266.33 and a 1-year high of $382.34. The business has a 50-day moving average of $306.20 and a 200-day moving average of $325.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.54. The company has a market capitalization of $65.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.90, a PEG ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.70.

AON (NYSE:AON – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported $3.81 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.80 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.28 billion. AON had a return on equity of 42.13% and a net margin of 22.27%. The company’s revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.49 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Aon plc will post 18.73 EPS for the current fiscal year. AON Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 2nd. AON’s payout ratio is presently 18.08%.

Insider Buying and Selling at AON In related news, General Counsel Darren Zeidel sold 1,900 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $377.76, for a total transaction of $717,744.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel directly owned 11,504 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,345,751.04. This trade represents a 14.17% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Lester Knight purchased 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $327.48 per share, for a total transaction of $6,549,600.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 163,000 shares in the company, valued at $53,379,240. This trade represents a 13.99% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting AON Here are the key news stories impacting AON this week:

Positive Sentiment: Investors are positioning ahead of Aon’s October 28 earnings release. Recent expectations call for third-quarter earnings growth, while Zacks raised its earnings estimate to $3.38 per share. Aon results are due October 28 Zacks raises Aon estimate Positive Sentiment: Aon’s Australian broking channel reportedly manages approximately $35.6 billion in premiums, and an Aon broker won a national industry title. The recognition may reinforce the strength of Aon’s distribution platform and client relationships. Aon broker wins national title Positive Sentiment: QBE Re is reportedly set to partner with Aon on its Cortina initiative, supporting Aon’s efforts to expand underwriting and risk-transfer solutions. QBE Re partnership for Cortina Positive Sentiment: Aon expects UK pension risk settlement activity to rebound after a subdued start to 2026, potentially supporting its retirement and risk-settlement advisory business. UK pension risk settlement outlook Neutral Sentiment: Reports highlighting Aon’s facultative reinsurance capabilities and efficiency point to strategic strengths, but provide limited new financial information ahead of earnings. Aon facultative reinsurance strategy Negative Sentiment: Bank of America reduced its price target for AON to $322 from $339, signaling more limited upside. Zacks also cautioned that Aon lacks the typical combination of factors associated with an earnings beat, increasing pre-report uncertainty. BofA cuts Aon price target Zacks earnings outlook Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have weighed in on AON. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of AON from $416.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, September 14th. Barclays dropped their price objective on AON from $382.00 to $317.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of AON in a research report on Tuesday, September 1st. Mizuho reduced their target price on AON from $366.00 to $324.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on AON from $410.00 to $350.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $367.59.

View Our Latest Report on AON

AON Profile (Free Report)

Aon plc is a global professional services firm that helps organizations manage risk, make informed decisions and improve workforce outcomes. Its services span commercial risk, health, retirement and investments, and data and analytics.

The company provides insurance brokerage and risk-management services, including coverage placement, claims support, risk transfer and consulting. Through its reinsurance business, Aon also serves insurers and other organizations seeking to manage catastrophe, capital and underwriting risks.

Aon’s human capital offerings include employee benefits consulting, retirement advisory services, talent and compensation consulting, and health and workforce solutions.

Read More Five stocks we like better than AON Is Texas Instruments Setting Up for Its Next Big Breakout? Pegasystems’ Q3 Miss Exposed the Problem Standing Between AI and Cash Flow Lam Research’s Earnings Beat Wasn’t the Real Story—Its 2027 Outlook Was Tesla’s Flying-Car Hype Hits an Earnings Reality Check Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AON? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aon plc (NYSE:AON – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for AON Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AON and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Axxcess Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Aon plc (NYSE:AON – Free Report) by 234.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 22,014 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 15,436 shares during the quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in AON were worth $6,093,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in AON. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. boosted its holdings in AON by 258.3% in the first quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 129 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Downshift Financial LLC raised its stake in AON by 15,700.0% during the 3rd quarter. Downshift Financial LLC now owns 158 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 157 shares during the last quarter. Ashurst Perkins Coie Trust Co purchased a new stake in AON during the 3rd quarter valued at $60,000. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of AON during the 1st quarter valued at $61,000. Finally, Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of AON by 23,400.0% during the 3rd quarter. Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 235 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $65,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the period. 86.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at AON
In other AON news, General Counsel Darren Zeidel sold 1,900 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $377.76, for a total value of $717,744.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel owned 11,504 shares in the company, valued at $4,345,751.04. This represents a 14.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Lester Knight acquired 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 2nd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $327.48 per share, for a total transaction of $6,549,600.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 163,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $53,379,240. This trade represents a 13.99% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes
AON has been the topic of a number of research reports. Evercore dropped their price target on AON from $423.00 to $375.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on AON from $410.00 to $350.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 6th. Wolfe Research downgraded AON from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Friday, September 11th. UBS Group reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of AON in a research report on Monday, August 31st. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded AON from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Sunday, September 6th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $367.59.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on AON

AON News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting AON this week:

Positive Sentiment: Aon expects UK pension risk-transfer activity to rebound after a subdued start to 2026. A recovery in pension-risk settlements could support consulting, broking and transaction-related revenue. UK pension risk settlement activity to rebound after subdued start to 2026: Aon
Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised its third-quarter EPS estimate for Aon to $3.38, providing a modestly favorable signal ahead of the earnings release. Longer-range Zacks projections call for $20.05 in fiscal 2027 EPS and $22.33 in fiscal 2028 EPS, above the current-year consensus of $18.73. Zacks lifts Aon plc stock estimate to USD 3.38 for third quarter
Neutral Sentiment: Analysts’ published forecasts span $3.50 to $6.89 in quarterly EPS for fiscal 2027 and $3.89 to $7.63 for fiscal 2028, indicating expectations for continued earnings growth but also significant seasonal variation. Aon analyst earnings estimates
Neutral Sentiment: Aon highlighted greater flexibility and efficiency in facultative reinsurance, reinforcing the product’s role in clients’ risk-transfer strategies. The update supports Aon’s industry positioning but does not provide a specific financial outlook. Aon facultative reinsurance update
Negative Sentiment: Zacks said Aon does not have the necessary combination of factors for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. That raises the risk of a disappointing earnings surprise and is the clearest near-term pressure on the stock. Aon earnings expected to grow: Should you buy?
Negative Sentiment: Aon warned that insurers’ traditional “cash cows” are coming under pressure, while its reinsurance team urged reinsurers to accept more risk. The comments point to a challenging market environment and could weigh on expectations for industry profitability. Aon warns insurers’ former cash cows are under pressure

AON Stock Down 0.8%
AON opened at $294.46 on Thursday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $307.21 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $325.51. The company has a market capitalization of $62.46 billion, a PE ratio of 16.23, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.70. Aon plc has a 1-year low of $266.33 and a 1-year high of $382.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34.

AON (NYSE:AON – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported $3.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.80 by $0.01. AON had a net margin of 22.27% and a return on equity of 42.13%. The firm had revenue of $4.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.28 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.49 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Aon plc will post 18.73 EPS for the current year.

AON Dividend Announcement
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 2nd. AON’s payout ratio is currently 18.08%.

AON Company Profile
(Free Report)

Aon plc is a global professional services firm that helps organizations manage risk, make informed decisions and improve workforce outcomes. Its services span commercial risk, health, retirement and investments, and data and analytics.

The company provides insurance brokerage and risk-management services, including coverage placement, claims support, risk transfer and consulting. Through its reinsurance business, Aon also serves insurers and other organizations seeking to manage catastrophe, capital and underwriting risks.

Aon’s human capital offerings include employee benefits consulting, retirement advisory services, talent and compensation consulting, and health and workforce solutions.

Further Reading

Five stocks we like better than AON
GM Beat and Added a $20 Billion Buyback—Why Did the Stock Fall?
Intercepting Growth: Karman Secures $218M Lockheed Martin Deal
Tech Stocks Took a Hit—These 2 Pharma Stocks Are Near New Highs
Chip Stocks Have Pulled Back—Here’s How 3 Semiconductor ETFs Stack Up for Investors

Receive News & Ratings for AON Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AON and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Diversify Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Aon plc (NYSE:AON – Free Report) by 5,225.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 194,070 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 190,426 shares during the period. AON accounts for approximately 0.8% of Diversify Advisory Services LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest position. Diversify Advisory Services LLC owned 0.09% of AON worth $53,713,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. increased its holdings in AON by 258.3% during the 1st quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 129 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Downshift Financial LLC lifted its holdings in AON by 15,700.0% in the 3rd quarter. Downshift Financial LLC now owns 158 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 157 shares during the period. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in AON in the 1st quarter worth approximately $61,000. Ashurst Perkins Coie Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of AON in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $60,000. Finally, Elevation Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in shares of AON by 35.6% in the 2nd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 221 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $73,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. 86.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at AON In other AON news, Director Lester B. Knight purchased 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $327.48 per share, for a total transaction of $6,549,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 163,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $53,379,240. The trade was a 13.99% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Darren Zeidel sold 1,900 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $377.76, for a total transaction of $717,744.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel owned 11,504 shares in the company, valued at $4,345,751.04. The trade was a 14.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting AON Here are the key news stories impacting AON this week: Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research projects Aon earnings of $20.05 per share in 2027 and $22.33 per share in 2028, compared with the current-year consensus of $18.73. The forecasts suggest continued earnings growth and may support the stock’s recent strength. Zacks Research earnings estimates Positive Sentiment: Aon said improving conditions in Canada’s property-and-casualty insurance market could create more favorable conditions for business decision-makers entering 2027, potentially supporting client activity and brokerage opportunities. Strong Canadian Property and Casualty Market Creates More Favourable Conditions for Business Decision Makers Entering 2027 Neutral Sentiment: Aon highlighted that Canadian insurance rates are easing, while elevated U.S. litigation risks remain a challenge. Lower rates may benefit customers but could limit pricing-related revenue growth for brokers. Canadian businesses see insurance rates ease, but US litigation risks remain a problem Neutral Sentiment: Aon executives said reinsurers need to accept more risk, while the company’s industry outlook warned that traditional insurance “cash cows” are coming under pressure. The comments point to changing market conditions but do not represent a direct earnings revision. Aon’s De Bosini: Reinsurers need to lean towards risk Negative Sentiment: Investor scrutiny of the price tag for Aon’s USI deal continues to pressure the shares, raising concerns about acquisition returns, integration execution and leverage. Aon plc Underperforms Amid Scrutiny Over USI Deal Price Tag Negative Sentiment: Morgan Stanley lowered its price target for Aon to $350, a cautious signal even though the target remains above the recent trading level. Morgan Stanley cuts target to $350 AON Stock Up 2.5% Shares of AON stock opened at $296.95 on Wednesday. Aon plc has a twelve month low of $266.33 and a twelve month high of $382.34. The company has a quick ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. The company’s 50 day moving average is $308.36 and its 200 day moving average is $325.71. The company has a market cap of $62.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.70.

AON (NYSE:AON – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported $3.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.80 by $0.01. AON had a return on equity of 42.13% and a net margin of 22.27%. The company had revenue of $4.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.28 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.49 earnings per share. AON’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Aon plc will post 18.73 EPS for the current year.

AON Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Investors of record on Monday, November 2nd will be issued a $0.82 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 2nd. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. AON’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.08%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Roth Capital set a $380.00 price objective on shares of AON and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 1st. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of AON from $366.00 to $324.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of AON from $383.00 to $323.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of AON from $375.00 to $401.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of AON from $391.00 to $349.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 1st. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AON has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $367.59.

Get Our Latest Research Report on AON

AON Company Profile (Free Report)

Aon plc is a global professional services firm that helps organizations manage risk, make informed decisions and improve workforce outcomes. Its services span commercial risk, health, retirement and investments, and data and analytics.

The company provides insurance brokerage and risk-management services, including coverage placement, claims support, risk transfer and consulting. Through its reinsurance business, Aon also serves insurers and other organizations seeking to manage catastrophe, capital and underwriting risks.

Aon’s human capital offerings include employee benefits consulting, retirement advisory services, talent and compensation consulting, and health and workforce solutions.

Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than AON Aurora Rejects Curaleaf’s Higher Bid, But the Takeover Fight Isn’t Over Centrus Energy Is Building a Nuclear Fuel Powerhouse—Why Is Its Stock Struggling? Halliburton Gains Traction: Multiyear Upcycle Ahead Meta Platforms’ AI Comeback Faces an Earnings Test—And a $10 Billion Charge Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AON? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aon plc (NYSE:AON – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for AON Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AON and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Key Takeaways Aon and EBRD expand Ukraine's war risk insurance facility to improve protection for businesses.The facility has enabled reinsurance coverage through nearly 10,000 policies for goods and vehicles.The facility broadens coverage for gas assets and temporary warehouse inventory while adding local insurers.
Aon plc (AON - Free Report) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are expanding their Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Guarantee Facility (URGF), increasing its guarantee capacity to €150 million from €110 million. Managed by Aon, the program provides reinsurance capacity for Ukrainian insurers covering war-related risks. The expansion comes as attacks on energy, transport and logistics infrastructure disrupt business activity across Ukraine.

The URGF program has facilitated more than €500 million in reinsurance coverage for goods and vehicles through nearly 10,000 policies. UNIVERSALNA and USG are joining existing participants INGO, Colonnade and UNIQA, widening the network of local insurers able to provide protection. The expanded facility also covers gas-related transportation and storage assets and inventory held in temporary warehouses, alongside existing coverage for inland cargo, motor vehicle damage and railway rolling stock.

The program addresses a significant challenge for businesses in conflict zones: access to insurance capacity. The EBRD guarantees eligible losses incurred by MS Amlin on risks underwritten by participating local insurers. Premiums generated so far have exceeded reported claims, and MS Amlin has not called on the guarantee.

For AON, the expansion underscores how its risk advisory and insurance capabilities can connect public institutions, global reinsurers and local insurers. It builds on Aon’s efforts to mobilize capital for Ukraine, including a previously announced $350 million insurance program with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. Such initiatives could support demand for specialized risk-transfer solutions.

Looking ahead, the expanded facility could reinforce Aon’s competitive position in specialized insurance markets where conventional coverage remains limited. Its ability to structure complex risk-transfer solutions could create opportunities in other markets facing geopolitical instability and infrastructure challenges. Stronger institutional partnerships, broader market access and growing demand for tailored risk solutions could support AON’s long-term growth prospects.

AON’s Price PerformanceIn the year-to-date period, Aon’s shares have fallen 22.3% compared with the industry’s decline of 16.6%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AON’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksAON currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the insurance space are Oscar Health, Inc. (OSCR - Free Report) , TWFG, Inc. (TWFG - Free Report) and Mercury General Corporation (MCY - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Oscar Health’s current-year earnings is pinned at $1.83 per share and has witnessed three upward revisions in the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. OSCR beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 45.7%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $18.8 billion, implying 60.8% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TWFG’s current-year earnings is pinned at $1.15 per share and has witnessed three upward revisions in the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. TWFG beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 46.2%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $314.8 million, implying 27.4% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mercury General’s current-year earnings is pinned at $13.25 per share and has witnessed one upward revision in the past seven days against no movement in the opposite direction. MCY beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 70.2%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $6.4 billion, implying 9.5% year-over-year growth.

Brings guarantee scheme through the EBRD from €110 to €150 million to provide reinsurance capacity for international reinsurers and Ukrainian insurance companies to cover war related risks in Ukraine
UNIVERSALNA and USG join three previously announced Ukrainian insurance companies in the program

, /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced the expansion of the highly innovative Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Guarantee Facility (URGF) which has strengthened the war risk insurance market in Ukraine through the provision of reinsurance capacity to private sector insurers.

The expansion of the URGF – which has led to more than €500 million of reinsurance coverage for goods and vehicles across nearly 10,000 policies to date – from €110 to €150 million arrives as Ukraine contends with intensifying Russian attacks on energy, transport, logistics and civilian infrastructure, as well as the renewed blockade of Black Sea ports. The attacks have significantly strained Ukrainian businesses and the economy, and adequate war risk insurance is essential for businesses to manage their risks and ensure that their business activity can continue.

Through the URGF, which is managed by Aon, the EBRD is providing global reinsurer MS Amlin with a guarantee covering losses on war-related risks underwritten by the local Ukrainian insurers participating in the facility. This enables the Ukrainian insurers to benefit from reinsurance coverage and expand their war insurance offering. Premiums generated by these policies have exceeded claims reported to date, and MS Amlin has not called on the EBRD guarantee – a sign that the insurance market for war risk in Ukraine is functioning well.  

With the expansion of the facility, Ukrainian insurance companies UNIVERSALNA (Fairfax Financial Group, Canada) and USG (Vienna Insurance Group) join previously announced local market participants INGO, Colonnade and UNIQA in driving the expansion of the product in the Ukrainian market.

The scope of the facility also expanded with transportation and storage of gas related assets now covered and it opens a new line of business to protect inventory goods in temporary storage in warehouse in addition to inland cargo, motor vehicle damage and railway rolling stock already covered under the scheme. 

The facility is backed by France, the United Kingdom, Norway and TaiwanBusiness–EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund and Switzerland. The additional capacity is supported by donor coverage from the European Union under its Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF).

Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the EBRD, said: "The URGF is a critical tool that helps businesses in Ukraine to manage their risk and continue operating in a war environment. We're pleased to work with our partners to expand the scheme and offer additional support to more companies amidst challenging operating conditions."

Greg Case, President and CEO of Aon, said: "With the war continuing to imperil the Ukrainian economy, war risk insurance is central to sustaining investment and building resilience in Ukraine. We are proud to welcome UNIVERSALNA and USG to the expanded facility, which has already led to more than €500 million of reinsurance coverage for goods and vehicles across nearly 10,000 policies and will now protect more businesses, while preparing the country for recovery and reconstruction."

Martin Burke, Chief Underwriting Officer, MS Amlin, said: "Ukrainian businesses continue to trade and invest despite the conflict, driving strong demand for war-risk insurance. Expanding the facility will allow local insurers to meet more of that demand and provide cover across a broader range of commercial risks. This expansion is an important step towards building a broader, more sustainable market. Bringing in more reinsurers and additional capacity will be vital to supporting Ukraine's economic resilience and longer-term recovery."

Oleksiy Muzychko, CEO of UNIVERSALNA, said: "We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the EBRD and Aon for their continued support. This initiative is especially important for Ukrainian businesses today, and for the agricultural sector in particular. By joining this reinsurance program, we will increase our capacity to provide war risk coverage, enabling more businesses across Ukraine to access the protection they need to sustain operations and contribute to the country's economic resilience."

Pavlo Nelga, CEO of USG, said: "At USG, we strongly believe in the continued resilient development of Ukrainian business, and joining the expanded facility helps us better address current needs in Ukraine. We are grateful to our international partners for their continued support and for upgrading the facility for the Ukrainian insurance market. We look forward to remaining a strong partner in rebuilding the country after the war."

This latest announcement builds on Aon's continued work to assist Ukraine – coordinating more than $500 million in public and private capital to reinforce Ukraine's economy, enable foreign investment during the war and prepare for reconstruction. Over the last three years, Aon announced a $350M, first-of-its kind insurance program with the DFC to build insurance capacity and accelerate new capital investment and economic recovery in Ukraine, called on the (re)insurance industry to remove blanket exclusions for risks originating in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, and organized a €110M ($115M) insurance facility in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and launched a Ukraine Early Careers Program to hire displaced Ukrainians in Aon offices.

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon's newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Media Contact
[email protected] 
International: +1 312 381 3024
Toll-free (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico): +1 833 751 8114

SOURCE Aon plc

, /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, plans to announce third-quarter 2026 results on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in a news release to be issued at 6:30 AM ET.

Aon's President and CEO Greg Case and Interim CFO Nadin Virani will also host a conference call at 8:30 AM ET on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, which will be broadcast live through Aon's Investor Relations website at ir.aon.com. A replay will be available shortly after the live webcast. The earnings release and supplemental slide presentation will also be available on Aon's Investor Relations website.

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up to date by visiting Aon's newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Investor Contact
Hallie Miller
[email protected]

Media Contact
[email protected]
Toll-free (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico): +1 833 751 8114
International: +1 312 381 3024

SOURCE Aon plc

Aon plc (NYSE:AON – Get Free Report) has received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the nineteen analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $391.00.

Several brokerages have weighed in on AON. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of AON from $412.00 to $362.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of AON from $416.00 to $420.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, September 14th. Wolfe Research cut shares of AON from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Friday, September 11th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of AON from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Sunday, September 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “hold” rating on shares of AON in a research note on Tuesday, September 1st.

View Our Latest Stock Report on AON

AON Price Performance AON stock opened at $274.33 on Wednesday. AON has a 1 year low of $266.33 and a 1 year high of $382.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.19 billion, a PE ratio of 15.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.70. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $324.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $328.59. AON (NYSE:AON – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported $3.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.80 by $0.01. AON had a net margin of 22.27% and a return on equity of 42.13%. The firm had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.28 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.49 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that AON will post 18.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AON Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 3rd were paid a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 3rd. AON’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.08%.

Insider Transactions at AON In related news, General Counsel Darren Zeidel sold 1,900 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $377.76, for a total transaction of $717,744.00. Following the sale, the general counsel directly owned 11,504 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,345,751.04. This represents a 14.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Lester Knight acquired 20,000 shares of AON stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $327.48 per share, for a total transaction of $6,549,600.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 163,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $53,379,240. This represents a 13.99% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. 1.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of AON in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of AON by 258.3% during the first quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 129 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the period. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in AON in the 1st quarter valued at $61,000. Reflection Asset Management purchased a new position in AON during the 4th quarter worth $72,000. Finally, Elevation Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of AON by 35.6% in the 2nd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 221 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.14% of the company’s stock.

AON Company Profile (Get Free Report)

Aon plc is a global professional services firm that helps organizations manage risk, make better decisions and improve performance. Its services are organized around risk capital and human capital, combining advisory expertise, data, analytics and insurance-related solutions.

The company provides commercial risk brokerage and consulting, reinsurance brokerage, retirement and investment advisory services, health benefits consulting, talent and compensation consulting, and related technology and data products.

Further Reading Five stocks we like better than AON Constellation Energy’s Google Deal Shows Why Nuclear Uprates Matter for AI Lamb Weston’s Turnaround Is Starting to Look Real These 3 Stocks Got the Most Love From Analysts in September Record French Debt Could Create Opportunities for U.S. Market Operators

Receive News & Ratings for AON Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AON and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Key Takeaways AON launched an insurance program spanning construction, testing, commissioning and early operations.AON provides up to $2.5B for construction, $2.5B for operations and $100M liability outside the U.S.Aon aims to coordinate coverage as linked construction risks can delay work, financing and project revenues. Aon plc (AON - Free Report) recently launched its Power Lifecycle Program, an integrated insurance solution for conventional gas power projects supporting data centers and broader grid demand. The program follows a project from construction works through testing, commissioning phase and early operations.

Clients can also add assessments covering natural catastrophes, climate, cyber, casualty, supply-chain and interruption risks. A London-based carrier panel provides core capacity, while additional local and global insurers broaden the program’s international reach for large projects.

Power has become a bottleneck for expanding digital infrastructure, cloud computing and AI. Gas-generation projects face linked risks: a construction problem can delay work, disrupt financing and push back revenues. Aon’s structure is meant to reduce those gaps by keeping coverage coordinated across the project lifecycle.

The scale is notable: the program offers up to $2.5 billion per project for construction, testing and commissioning, $2.5 billion for operational property damage and business interruption, and up to $100 million of third-party liability outside the United States. Aon’s data-center insurance program separately reached $5 billion in July.

The launch gives Aon another route to capture insurance-broking and advisory demand tied to power and digital infrastructure investments, while also supporting cross-selling with its data-center lifecycle offering.

Per reports, earlier this month, it also introduced the Global Onshore Renewables Facility that reflects the company’s broader push to manage clean-energy risks across construction and operations. The solution targets wind, solar and battery projects, helping developers address project delays, equipment damage, business interruption and liability exposures more efficiently.

Price PerformanceAON shares have declined 21.8% year to date compared with the 18% fall of the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Zacks Rank & Key PicksAON currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Finance space are Assurant, Inc. (AIZ - Free Report) , CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO - Free Report) and Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU - Free Report) . While Assurant currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), CNO Financial and Prudential carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Assurant’s current-year earnings is pegged at $22.28 per share, which indicates 12.7% year-over-year growth. It has witnessed five upward estimate revisions against none in the opposite direction in the past 60 days. AIZ beat earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 17.7%.

The consensus mark for CNO Financial’s current-year earnings is pegged at $4.74 per share, which indicates 16.2% year-over-year growth. It has witnessed two upward estimate revisions against none in the opposite direction in the past 60 days. CNO beat earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 23.2%.

The consensus estimate for Prudential’s current-year earnings is pegged at $14.59 per share, which witnessed 10 upward estimate revisions against none in the opposite direction in the past 60 days. PRU beat earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 10.8%.

New multiline insurance solution offers up to $2.5 billion in coverage across construction and operations for utility and digital infrastructure clients

, /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced the launch of its Power Lifecycle Program (PLP), a new integrated insurance solution designed to support conventional gas power projects from construction through testing, commissioning and into operations.

Reliable power generation is becoming increasingly important as demand for digital infrastructure, cloud computing and artificial intelligence accelerates. PLP is designed to help organizations investing at scale in power generation – whether behind the meter for dedicated digital infrastructure or in front of the meter to serve broader grid demand – address the growing risks associated with power assets required to meet rising energy needs.

"As investment in energy infrastructure continues to grow, organizations require risk solutions that evolve alongside increasingly complex power assets," said Joe Peiser, CEO of Risk Capital, Aon. "Our Power Lifecycle Program provides a coordinated insurance solution from construction, testing and commissioning through to operation. By bringing multiple coverages together within a single lifecycle framework, Aon's Power Lifecycle Program helps clients take a more holistic approach to managing project, operational and infrastructure risk."

A Lifecycle Approach to Power Risk

Developing a conventional power project involves managing interconnected risks across construction, testing, commissioning and early operations – and a loss or interruption at any stage can affect schedules, financing commitments and anticipated revenue – particularly when insurance is arranged separately at each stage. PLP's lifecycle model moves insurance from a series of disconnected placements to a single coordinated risk-transfer strategy that supports a project from site selection and construction through commissioning and ongoing operations. The result is generally better continuity of cover, reduced coverage gaps, improved capital efficiency, and greater confidence for developers, owners, lenders and investors.

Key features of PLP generally include:

Up to $2.5 billion in Erection All Risks and Delay in Startup coverage per project, for the construction, testing and commissioning periods Up to $2.5 billion in Operational Property Damage and Business Interruption coverage per project, for the immediate operational period Up to $100 million of Construction and Operational Third-Party Liability (excluding U.S. Projects) Clients can opt for a tailored risk advisory assessment of the risk to projects from natural catastrophe, climate, cyber, casualty, supply chain and business interruption risks, delivering enterprise resilience from site selection through to portfolio scale. Risk Engineering and Casualty consulting available. The program is underpinned by a lead panel of London-based carriers, combining power-sector expertise with meaningful capacity for global clients. Beyond the lead panel, the balance of capacity is predominantly London-based, complemented by significant participation from key local and global markets, providing the breadth, resilience and reach required to support projects worldwide.

PLP is available to power infrastructure developers, private equity firms funding power project developments, contractors controlling construction cover and power infrastructure owners for both grid-connected standalone conventional gas power projects and dedicated projects supporting data centers.

The launch comes as the rapid expansion of data centers drives significant investment in conventional power generation capacity and builds on Aon's established position supporting digital infrastructure clients through the Data Center Lifecycle Insurance Program that expanded to $5 billion in capacity in July 2026. Together, the two programs reflect Aon's lifecycle approach to helping clients build, operate and scale critical infrastructure with greater confidence.

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon's newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Media Contact
[email protected]
Toll-free (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico): +1 833 751 8114
International: +1 312 381 3024

SOURCE Aon plc

Lester B. Knight, the Chairman of the Board of Aon plc (AON -2.21%), purchased 20,000 shares of Class A Ordinary Stock on September 2, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

80/100

Today's Change

(

-2.21

%) $

-6.87

Current Price

$

304.67

Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value~$6.5 millionShares purchased (indirectly held)20,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)5,227Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)~314,000Post-transaction value$105.51 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($327.48); post-transaction value based on Sept. 2, 2026 market close ($330.88).

Key questionsWhat entities were utilized for this indirect acquisition?
The 20,000 shares were purchased through indirect channels, contributing to an aggregate total of ~314,000 shares held through a Family Partnership, the director's wife, and a personal revocable trust.What is the resulting ownership concentration for the director?
Following the transaction, Lester B. Knight maintains a total position of ~319,000 shares, which represents a 0.15% ownership interest in the company.At what price levels was the capital deployed?
The director executed the purchase at a weighted average price of $327.48 per share, while the stock was priced at $330.88 as of the Sept. 2, 2026 market close.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-09-02)$330.88Market Capitalization$69.8 billionRevenue (TTM)$17.6 billionNet Income (TTM)$3.9 billionCompany SnapshotAon provides comprehensive commercial risk solutions including retail and insurance brokerage, specialty solutions, global risk consulting, captives management, and affinity programs, alongside health solutions encompassing consulting, brokerage, and consumer benefits services.The company operates through a diversified business model generating revenue from Risk Capital and Human Capital segments, leveraging its professional services platform to deliver advisory, brokerage, and consulting services to institutional and corporate clients globally.Aon serves multinational corporations, mid-market enterprises, and institutional clients across the United States, Americas, United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific regions, positioning itself as a leading provider of risk management and human capital solutions.Aon is a global professional services firm with a market capitalization of $69.8 billion and approximately 60,000 employees, generating $17.6 billion in trailing twelve month (TTM) revenue with net income of $3.9 billion. The company maintains a diversified geographic footprint and operates through integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital segments, enabling it to deliver comprehensive solutions across commercial risk, health, and human capital management. Aon's competitive positioning is reinforced by its scale, global distribution network, and integrated service delivery model that addresses complex risk and benefits challenges for institutional clients worldwide.

What this transaction means for investorsThere are multiple reasons a company insider may sell shares in the business. One reason could be the need to raise cash to meet a large personal expense. Another reason could be for a reasonable portfolio diversification unrelated to their outlook for the company. A third reason could be what investors fear most: a bearish outlook on the company's future.

However, there is only one reason an insider buys stock: they believe the share price is going up!

By that investor's rule of thumb, Knight's purchase of six and a half million dollars worth of Aon shares is bullish. Adding to the bullishness is the fact that studies show that, more often than not, an insider purchase predicts a higher share price 30 days later.

Knight became Chairman of Aon in 2008. That track record of 18 years leading the business means he knows Aon inside and out.

Last month, Aon announced it will acquire middle-market broker USI for $17 billion, backed by a loan from KKR Inc (KKR -2.22%). Wall Street reacted poorly to the news, sending Aon shares down after the announcement. They have fallen nearly 15% since.

Knight's sizable purchase is the executive putting his personal money where his mouth is, betting that his vision for the acquisition of USI will bear fruit long term and that buying here will be seen as prescient one day.

Investors would be well advised to take a look at their investment thesis in Aon after a notable by like Knight's.

Aon plc (AON) Presents at KBW Insurance Conference 2026 Transcript

CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC grew its holdings in Aon plc (NYSE:AON – Free Report) by 4,903.4% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 29,470 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 28,881 shares during the period. AON comprises approximately 3.3% of CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC’s holdings in AON were worth $9,775,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. City National Bank of Florida MSD raised its position in AON by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. City National Bank of Florida MSD now owns 867 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $306,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its stake in shares of AON by 5.3% in the second quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 650 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $216,000 after buying an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of AON by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 9,584 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,382,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the period. Aspen Grove Capital LLC lifted its position in AON by 4.8% during the 1st quarter. Aspen Grove Capital LLC now owns 737 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $238,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in AON by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 1,863 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $648,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the period. 86.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting AON Here are the key news stories impacting AON this week:

Positive Sentiment: Aon director Lester Knight purchased 20,000 shares for approximately $6.55 million, increasing his direct holdings by nearly 14%. The sizable insider purchase may signal confidence that the recent weakness has created attractive value. Aon director stock purchase filing Positive Sentiment: Aon executives highlighted strong demand for insurance-linked securities and expect continued growth through year-end and into 2027. A more flexible reinsurance market, supported by approximately $800 billion of capital, could increase transaction activity and benefit Aon’s brokerage and advisory operations. Strong ILS demand and continued growth expected Positive Sentiment: The company urged insurers to use record reinsurance capacity and third-party capital to support growth, reinforcing the potential for expanding demand for Aon’s capital-markets and risk-transfer services. Aon urges insurers to use reinsurance and third-party capital Positive Sentiment: Aon launched a defined-benefit pension “run-on” solution aimed at smaller schemes, broadening its retirement-services offering and potentially creating additional recurring consulting revenue. Aon launches run-on solution Neutral Sentiment: Chief Executive Greg Case will speak at the KBW Insurance Conference on September 10, giving investors a potential catalyst for updates on the USI transaction, organic growth and capital allocation. Aon to speak at the KBW Insurance Conference Negative Sentiment: Analysis of Aon’s planned $17 billion USI acquisition questioned whether roughly $395 million in expected synergies will adequately offset the risks of another debt-funded megadeal. Leverage and integration concerns may be weighing on valuation. Analysis of Aon’s USI acquisition Negative Sentiment: Mizuho lowered its price target while maintaining an outperform rating, adding near-term pressure amid broader uncertainty over valuation and the acquisition’s financing. This caution contrasts with the more bullish view from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. Mizuho forecast for AON Analysts Set New Price Targets AON has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $423.00 price objective on shares of AON in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays raised their price target on shares of AON from $372.00 to $382.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Roth Capital set a $380.00 price target on shares of AON in a research note on Tuesday, September 1st. Piper Sandler cut their price objective on shares of AON from $391.00 to $349.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded AON from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $399.12. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on AON

AON Stock Performance AON stock opened at $322.57 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.54. Aon plc has a 12 month low of $304.59 and a 12 month high of $382.34. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $353.58 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $334.24. The company has a market cap of $68.42 billion, a PE ratio of 17.78, a P/E/G ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.66.

AON (NYSE:AON – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported $3.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.80 by $0.01. AON had a net margin of 22.27% and a return on equity of 42.13%. The company had revenue of $4.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.28 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.49 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Aon plc will post 18.99 earnings per share for the current year.

AON Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Investors of record on Monday, August 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 3rd. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. AON’s dividend payout ratio is 18.08%.

Insider Transactions at AON In related news, Director Lester B. Knight purchased 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $327.48 per share, for a total transaction of $6,549,600.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 163,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $53,379,240. This trade represents a 13.99% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Darren Zeidel sold 1,950 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $372.05, for a total value of $725,497.50. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 13,404 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,986,958.20. This represents a 12.70% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 4,450 shares of company stock worth $1,659,242 in the last three months. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

AON Company Profile (Free Report)

Aon plc is a global professional services firm that provides a broad suite of risk, retirement and health solutions to corporations, institutions and individuals. The company operates primarily as an insurance broker and risk adviser, helping clients identify, quantify and transfer risk across property, casualty, cyber and other areas. Aon also offers reinsurance brokerage and capital market solutions that connect insurers, reinsurers and corporate buyers.

In addition to traditional brokerage activities, Aon delivers consulting and outsourcing services in areas such as human capital, benefits, and retirement plan design and administration.

See Also Five stocks we like better than AON AI Token Costs Are Changing the Hardware vs. Software Debate 3 ETFs That Could Move as Rate Expectations Shift 3 Stocks With September Catalysts Investors Shouldn’t Ignore Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Stock Falls on Weak Comps Despite Margin Gains Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AON? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aon plc (NYSE:AON – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for AON Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AON and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Key Takeaways Marsh sees employer health benefit costs rising 8.2% in 2027 after planned cost-control measures.UnitedHealth can gain as employers seek plan redesign, pharmacy management, analytics and care navigation.Centene targets ICHRA growth with compatible coverage in 13 states in 2026 as employer costs rise. U.S. employers could face another sharp increase in healthcare costs in 2027, according to Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MRSH - Free Report) . A Marsh survey of more than 1,800 employers shows that average health benefit costs per employee could climb 8.2% next year, even after companies take steps to curb the increase. If those measures were not in place, employers estimate costs could rise about 11%. The projected increase would be the steepest since 2003.

Marsh points to expensive new treatments, rising provider charges, greater use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, AI-assisted medical billing and out-of-network payments. GLP-1 usage alone is expected to add about one percentage point to health benefit cost growth in 2027.

Employers are responding by reworking plan structures. Marsh found that 59% of companies plan to make cost-reduction changes to their health plans for 2027, including higher deductibles. Roughly two-thirds of large employers also expect workers to shoulder a larger share of premium costs. Employee paycheck deductions could therefore rise faster than overall employer health benefit expenses.

Aon Echoes the Healthcare Cost WarningAon plc (AON - Free Report) is pointing to a similar buildup in healthcare costs. It recently stated that it expects employer healthcare costs to rise 9.5% before mitigation, citing higher utilization, specialty-drug spending, provider pricing and billing practices. Marsh’s estimate is even steeper at 11% before cost-control actions, easing to 8.2% after planned measures.

Both firms see employers leaning more on data, plan redesign and care steering. Marsh says 12% of large employers plan to offer variable-copay plans, with adoption rising to 18% among companies with at least 20,000 employees. In addition, 58% of large employers rank steering workers toward higher-quality care among their top priorities.

For investors, the spending surge creates two distinct opportunities: stronger demand for benefits consulting and greater need for insurers that can help employers control costs.

For MRSH, this can support demand for benefits consulting, analytics, plan design and cost-management services. Employers facing costly claims and complex pricing need more help balancing affordability with coverage. That can create recurring advisory opportunities, deepen client relationships and increase demand for Marsh’s Health and Benefits expertise.

Marsh currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS stands at $10.44, implying 7.1% year-over-year growth, while the 2027 estimate of $11.38 points to another 9% increase. Both estimates received two upward revisions over the past month and no downward revisions. MRSH also beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 4.1%.

Rising Costs Create Both Risks and Opportunities for Health InsurersRising medical utilization and provider prices can squeeze health insurers when claims costs outpace premium increases. Yet employers looking to control healthcare spending may also place greater value on insurers and service platforms that can improve care management, pharmacy costs, network efficiency and benefit design.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) is well positioned to capture some of that demand through both UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Employers dealing with higher benefit costs may turn to UnitedHealthcare for plan redesign, care navigation and more efficient coverage options. Optum can benefit from increased use of pharmacy management, analytics, value-based care and other services aimed at reducing spending.

Higher drug costs can also support demand for Optum Rx’s purchasing scale and pharmacy capabilities. UnitedHealth’s integrated model can deepen employer relationships, generate recurring revenues and support cross-selling.

UNH’s commercial mix provides another layer of protection. At the end of the second quarter, it had about 22.3 million commercial fee-based members compared with 7.7 million commercial risk members. The larger self-funded base limits direct underwriting exposure to medical-cost volatility. Meanwhile, better cost trends and management actions helped reduce its medical care ratio to 86.7% from 89.4% a year earlier.

UnitedHealth also carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The consensus EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 are $19.82 and $22.54, indicating growth of 21.2% and 13.7%, respectively. The estimates saw two and three upward revisions over the past month, with no downward moves. UNH topped earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 12.1%.

Meanwhile, Centene Corporation (CNC - Free Report) offers a different way to play the same healthcare-cost trend.It has less direct exposure to employer-sponsored coverage because its commercial business is centered on the ACA Marketplace. Still, rising employer healthcare costs could open another growth avenue through Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or ICHRAs.

ICHRAs allow employers to fund employees’ individual health plans instead of offering traditional group coverage.Centene says ICHRA adoption among businesses increased 34% from 2024 to 2025, pointing to growing interest in the model. Centene is positioning Ambetter Health Solutions to participate in that shift. The company is offering ICHRA-compatible coverage in 13 states in 2026. If ICHRA adoption continues to expand, Centene could add members, support premium growth and broaden its commercial reach.

Centene is not insulated from rising medical costs. However, its second-quarter commercial health-benefits ratio improved to 79.2% from 90.6% a year ago, helped by better pricing and risk transfer.

Centene currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The consensus EPS estimate for 2026 is $4.89, implying a 135.1% year-over-year increase, while the 2027 estimate of $5.34 suggests 9.2% growth. Those estimates received two and three upward revisions, respectively, over the past month, with no downward changes. CNC beat earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, posting an average surprise of 151.3%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Key Takeaways Aon is buying USI for $17 billion to expand its U.S. middle-market brokerage footprint.The deal adds specialty insurance and E&S access, plus USI's analytics capabilities to Aon's platform.Aon expects $395 million in annual EBITDA benefits, with EPS accretion projected in 2028. Aon plc (AON - Free Report) is making a major push to strengthen its position in the U.S. insurance brokerage market with a $17 billion acquisition of USI Insurance Services from KKR and other shareholders. USI, the 10th-largest U.S. insurance broker, generates about $3 billion in annual revenues, employs more than 10,500 people and operates nearly 200 offices across the country.

The transaction builds on Aon’s $13.4 billion acquisition of NFP in 2024 and significantly expands its footprint across the more than $40 billion U.S. middle-market segment. Expected to be closed in the fourth quarter of 2026, the acquisition will expand Aon's access to specialty insurance and the Excess & Surplus (E&S) segment while adding USI's proprietary analytics capabilities to Aon's broader data platform.

Aon expects the combination to generate around $395 million in annual net adjusted EBITDA benefits through revenues and cost synergies, with adjusted EPS expected to become accretive in 2028. The opportunity is attractive, but the transaction value leaves little room for operational missteps. Aon is paying $16.7 billion net of certain tax attributes, or about 14.5 times synergized trailing adjusted EBITDA, while funding the purchase with new debt.

Overall, this transaction is strategically strong but financially demanding. Aon is taking on more debt in exchange for a larger platform and stronger growth prospects. While the near-term suspension of share repurchases may weigh on shareholder returns, prioritizing debt repayment should improve financial flexibility. If Aon successfully integrates USI, realizes the planned synergies and steadily reduces leverage, the acquisition could become a meaningful earnings driver and create lasting value for shareholders.

AON’s Stock Price PerformanceShares of AON have lost 4.9% over the past six months compared to the industry’s 9.1% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

AON’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksAON currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Investors interested in the broader Finance space may look at some better-ranked stocks like Lincoln National Corporation (LNC - Free Report) , Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (WTW - Free Report) and The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (THG - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lincoln National’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $7.97 per share, which has witnessed five upward revisions in the past 30 days, with no movement in the opposite direction. LNC beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 10.9%. The consensus estimate for 2026 revenues is pinned at $19.9 billion.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Willis Towers’ 2026 earnings is pegged at $19.82 per share, which has witnessed 11 upward revisions in the past 30 days, with no movement in the opposite direction. WTW beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 3.9%. The consensus estimate for 2026 revenues is pinned at $10.51 billion.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hanover Insurance Group’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $20.17 per share, which has witnessed three upward revisions in the past 30 days, with no movement in the opposite direction. THG beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 27.3%. The consensus estimate for 2026 revenues is pinned at $6.95 billion.

Buffett's latest portfolio additions, trims and cuts in Q3AON NYSE: AON said it has entered a definitive agreement to acquire U.S. middle-market insurance broker USI in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $17 billion, or $16.7 billion net of certain tax attributes. The company expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Greg Case, Aon’s president and chief executive officer, described the transaction as a move to establish what the company calls the premier U.S. middle-market platform. The combined operation would bring together Aon, USI and NFP, which Aon previously acquired, and expand the company’s capabilities in property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk and retirement solutions.

Get AON alerts:

3 Stocks Hedge Funds Scooped Up in Q1Following the closing, USI Chairman and CEO Mike Sicard is expected to become Aon’s president and global CEO of Middle Market. He will lead the combined platform with leadership drawn from USI, NFP and Aon, Case said.

Middle-Market and E&S Expansion Aon said the transaction will deepen its presence in the U.S. middle market, which Case said represents about one-third of the U.S. commercial property-and-casualty market. The company estimated that the segment includes more than 200,000 businesses employing roughly 48 million people and represents an addressable market of more than $40 billion.

USI has approximately $11 billion of property-and-casualty premium placement and 2,800 producers, according to Aon. The combined middle-market platform is expected to generate $6.5 billion in revenue.

The acquisition also expands Aon’s direct access to the excess and surplus, or E&S, insurance market and wholesale distribution. Case said the E&S segment accounts for 26% of U.S. commercial property-and-casualty premiums and has been growing at an 18% compound annual rate. Aon said its existing direct presence in the segment has been limited largely to its Totalis Specialty business.

Andy Marcell, Aon’s deputy CEO and senior executive vice president of Risk Capital and Human Capital, said direct access to E&S markets would give clients greater choice and enable Aon to better serve specialty and wholesale-related business. He also said USI’s brokers would gain access to Aon’s global retail network, including relationships in London and Bermuda.

Financial Terms and Synergy Plans Nadin Virani, Aon’s interim chief financial officer, said the $17 billion purchase price represents a 14.5-times synergized EBITDA multiple. Aon plans to finance the acquisition with newly issued debt across a range of maturities.

The company identified $395 million in expected adjusted EBITDA impacts from revenue and cost synergies across the full middle-market platform. Those plans include:

$321 million in net revenue synergies across 23 work streams, translating to a projected $115 million EBITDA contribution. $280 million in cost synergies from 10 identified work streams, including technology integration, shared services and Aon Business Services capabilities. Opportunities to improve producer productivity and retention, expand cross-selling between risk capital and human capital solutions, and optimize insurance premium placement. Virani said USI would add $3.3 billion in revenue and $1.2 billion in adjusted EBITDA on a fully synergized trailing 12-month basis. Aon expects the transaction to dilute earnings per share in 2027 before becoming accretive in 2028 and thereafter.

The company anticipates $160 million in transaction costs and $550 million in integration costs, with most integration work expected to be completed by the end of 2028. It also expects retention costs of up to $400 million over three years.

Capital Allocation and Integration Aon said it expects to maintain its current credit ratings and return to its leverage objective of 2.8 times to 3 times approximately 24 months after closing. The company does not expect to repurchase shares in the near term as it prioritizes debt repayment, while continuing to fund a stable and growing dividend and invest in growth opportunities.

Case said the company intends to operate an integrated middle-market platform rather than treat the businesses as separate operations. He said the integration would apply lessons from Aon’s acquisition of NFP, including its approach to producer retention, technology and operating infrastructure.

Sicard said the combination would preserve the importance of producer and client relationships while adding access to a broader set of analytics, solutions and international capabilities. He described USI’s technology and data tools as complementary to Aon’s platform, particularly because USI has focused heavily on the U.S. middle market while Aon has extensive experience serving larger risk-management clients.

Case said the deal is intended to support Aon’s goal of organic revenue growth in the mid-single digits or greater over time, citing the potential to provide more solutions to existing clients, gain new clients and increase participation in the E&S market.

About AON (NYSE:AON)Aon plc is a global professional services firm that provides a broad suite of risk, retirement and health solutions to corporations, institutions and individuals. The company operates primarily as an insurance broker and risk adviser, helping clients identify, quantify and transfer risk across property, casualty, cyber and other areas. Aon also offers reinsurance brokerage and capital market solutions that connect insurers, reinsurers and corporate buyers.

In addition to traditional brokerage activities, Aon delivers consulting and outsourcing services in areas such as human capital, benefits, and retirement plan design and administration.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Continue following MarketBeat

Add MarketBeat as your preferred source on Google to see our latest stories in your feed.

Should You Invest $1,000 in AON Right Now?Before you consider AON, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and AON wasn't on the list.

While AON currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

The AI wave will soon hit public markets with Anthropic and OpenAI set to go public later this year. However, you don't have to wait to invest. This report shows seven AI stocks that you can buy today while the big model providers get ready to go public.

Get This Free Report

31.8.2026 19:03

Index Dow Jones -0,64 % na 53216,18 b. S&P 500 -0,47 % na 7675,22 b. Nasdaq Composite -0,34 % na 26311,38 b.

Závěr měsíce se nese v negativní náladě po vyostření konfliktu USA s Iránem, kdy po měsíční pauze znovu mluví zbraně. Cena ropy je na vzestupu po útoku USA na dvě odpaliště raket Iránu. WTI se obchoduje nad hranicí USD 85,5 při růstu 2,5 % a Brent pokořil cenovku USD 90. Z indexu S&P jako jediný roste sektor energií. Přibližně o 1,5 % posilují ExxonMobil i Chevron.

Citelnějším poklesem se obchoduje sektor utilit, kde klesá zejména Edison International (- 24 %) a PG&E Corp (- 19 %). Hlavním důvodem je kalifornská legislativa týkající se odpovědnosti energetických společností za škody při požárech. Kalifornie upravila návrh tak, že neobsahuje očekávanou ochranu utilit před žalobami pojišťoven.

Dnešek je pro Apple (- 1,8 %) posledním dnem pod vedením současného CEO. Tim Cook do vedení společnosti nastoupil v roce 2011. Pochlubit se může například uvedením Apple Watches, anebo AirPods. Cena akcie za jeho působení posílila o 2300 %.

Do nákupního módu se přepnulo Strategy (3,08 %). Společnost reportovala nákup celkem 4 603 Bitcoinů v celkovém objemu cca USD 370 mil.

Z indexu Dow Jones v zeleném teritoriu drží pouze sedm emisí na čele se Salesforce (1,8 %) a naopak nejvíce klesá Alphabet (- 2,2 %).

Index S&P 500 -0,47 % na 7675,22 b. Nejsilnější sektory S&P Změna Nejslabší sektory S&P Změna Energie +1,1 % Komunikační služby -1,7 % Informační technologie +0 % Utility -1,4 % Nezbytná spotřeba -0,4 % Reality -1,3 % Nejsilnější akcie S&P Změna Nejslabší akcie S&P Změna Tesla (TSLA) +5,0 % Edison International (EIX) -24 % Veeva Systems (VEEV) +4,3 % PG&E Corp (PCG) -19 % Crowdstrike Holdings (CRWD) +4,1 % Howmet Aerospace (HWM) -8,7 % Coinbase Global (COIN) +3,8 % Aon (AON) -7,4 % Deere (DE) +3,6 % Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO) -6,6 %
Marek Kameništiak
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení

Aon PLC (NYSE:AON) has agreed to acquire insurance brokerage USI from KKR for $17 billion including debt, the companies said Monday, as Aon expands its reach among medium-sized businesses.

USI provides risk management, health insurance and retirement plan services for businesses and individuals, and reports about $3 billion in annual revenue.

The purchase price is $17 billion, or $16.7 billion on a net basis, reflecting approximately $278 million of certain tax attributes, the companies said.

The net purchase price represents approximately 14.5x on a synergized trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA basis.

Aon expects to fund the transaction, as well as related transaction expenses and other costs, with new debt raised across a range of maturities, subject to market conditions.

"Combining with USI will establish the premier U.S. middle-market platform, deepen our context advantage and position Aon to accelerate organic growth,” Aon CEO Greg Case said in a statement.

The deal marks the latest exit for KKR, which acquired USI along with another investment firm for $4.3 billion in 2017.

The private equity firm recently reported a record $1.29 billion in quarterly asset sales.

Shares of Aon were down 7.3% Monday morning.

Q3 2026 Insurance Labor Market Study Results Reflect Slowing Turnover and Modest Growth The latest iteration of the Semi-Annual U.S. Insurance Labor Market Study, conducted by The Jacobson Group, the leading provider of talent to the insurance industry, and Aon (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, found 89% of respondents intend to increase or maintain staff size in the next 12 months.

“While about half of carriers plan to increase their staff sizes in the next 12 months, it seems many companies are hiring to backfill key positions and bring in new talent, rather than hiring for growth, given revenue expectations,” said Jeffrey Blair, Senior Vice President of Executive Search and Business Development at The Jacobson Group.

“Lower employee turnover, both voluntary and involuntary is a positive trend that may indicate more stability for carriers, but also make recruiting for certain positions more challenging if incumbents are not actively looking to leave their current employer,” added Jeff Rieder, Head of Performance Benchmarking, Strategy and Technology Group, Aon.

Some of the study’s key findings include the following:

In the next 12 months, 49% of insurance carriers plan to increase staff. Eleven percent plan to decrease staff, up from 7% in January and down from 14% one year ago.Technology, underwriting and claims roles remain the industry’s greatest need.Seventy-eight percent of companies expect revenue growth during the next 12 months, up six points from January’s study.Compared to July 2025, recruiting difficulty has decreased in nine of 12 categories. Actuarial, technology and executive roles are the most challenging to fill.During the next six months, 74% of carriers expect most employees to work a hybrid schedule, up three points from January. Seven percent require employees in the office every day, unchanged from January’s study.If carriers follow through on their plans, the industry will see a 0.78% increase in employment during the next 12 months.For more highlights and commentary, view the full results summary and recorded webcast.

The insurance labor market study has been conducted semi-annually since 2009. Collecting revenue and hiring projections from carriers across all sectors of the industry, it provides a valuable look at the insurance labor market outlook and hiring trends.

The study’s next iteration will occur in January 2027. To be alerted when it opens, sign up for labor study notifications.

About The Jacobson Group:

The Jacobson Group is the leading provider of talent to the insurance industry. For more than 50 years, Jacobson has been connecting insurance organizations with professionals at all levels across all industry verticals. Jacobson provides insurance talent solutions to support virtually any human capital need. We offer executive search services and comprehensive staffing solutions, including professional recruiting, temporary staffing and interim experts.

Follow The Jacobson Group on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook.

About Aon:

Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon’s newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Aon UK Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the provision of regulated products and services in the UK. Registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 00210725. Registered Office: The Aon Centre, The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street, London EC3V 4AN. Tel: 020 7623 5500. Aon is not responsible for the content of the third party website.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260825343235/en/

Disclosures I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and have no plans to buy any new positions in the stocks mentioned within the next 72 hours.

Click for the complete disclosure

Private-equity giant KKR has owned USI Insurance since 2017.

Aon is nearing a roughly $17 billion deal, including debt, to acquire insurance brokerage USI from private-equity firm KKR, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.

A deal could be announced as soon as Monday, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

USI is an insurance brokerage and consulting firm based in Valhalla, N.Y., that specializes in risk management, employee benefits and retirement consulting. The company has about $3 billion in annual revenue, according to its website.

KKR bought USI from private-equity firm Onex in 2017 and has since increased its ownership stake, becoming the company's largest shareholder in 2023.

A possible deal for USI would follow a string of prominent exits for KKR, including sales of data-center cooling firm CoolIT and Circor's commercial and defense aerospace business earlier this year. KKR reported a record $1.29 billion in asset sales for the quarter that ended in June.

A USI deal would help Aon — a large insurance broker and consultancy with a market capitalization of $75 billion — extend its reach into midsize businesses and boost earnings per share as soon as 2028, the Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Aon reported second-quarter adjusted earnings of $3.81 per share on July 29, topping Wall Street analysts' estimates. The stock has since fallen by 5.6%, closing at $355.40 on Friday.

Read the complete Wall Street Journal report here.

Builds on the successful acquisition of NFP to advance leading platform in the large and growing U.S. middle market Extends Aon's differentiated capabilities to provide better choice, superior solutions and greater value for clients Expands Aon's access to the Excess & Surplus (E&S) segment, among the fastest-growing areas in U.S. commercial insurance Enhances Aon's industry-leading data platform, deepening its context advantage Following the close of the transaction, USI Chairman and CEO Mike Sicard will serve as President of Aon plc and global CEO of Middle Market for the firm Purchase price of $17.0 billion; transaction expected to deliver $395 million in annual run-rate net adjusted EBITDA impact from revenue and cost synergies across the combined middle-market platform and to be accretive to adjusted EPS in 2028 Aon to host conference call to discuss transaction on August 31, 2026, at 8:00 AM ET , /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire USI from KKR and other shareholders for a total purchase price of $17.0 billion. The transaction establishes the premier platform in the large and growing U.S. middle-market segment, building on the success of Aon's acquisition of NFP in 2024.

USI, a leading provider of property & casualty, employee benefit, personal risk and retirement solutions for the middle market, is the tenth largest U.S. insurance broker with approximately $3 billion in annual revenue and more than 10,500 team members across nearly 200 U.S. offices. Powered by its proprietary USI ONE® platform for analytics, networked resources and strategic planning to inform and advise clients, USI is highly complementary with Aon's one-firm, Aon United strategy and global Aon Business Services operating and technology engine.

"In a time of rising complexity and volatility, creating better outcomes for clients across their risk and people challenges requires a combination of capabilities and expertise supported by proprietary data, analytics and technology," said Greg Case, President and CEO of Aon. "Through the successful execution of our 3x3 Plan to accelerate our Aon United strategy, we have significantly strengthened our firm to build the industry's most differentiated model: what we call our context advantage."

Case added: "Combining with USI will establish the premier U.S. middle-market platform, deepen our context advantage and position Aon to accelerate organic growth. Building on the success of our acquisition of NFP, USI will substantially enhance our middle-market footprint and expand access for our firm in the E&S segment to deliver content, capabilities and expertise to a broader client base, while enabling client leaders to expand relationships and win new business. Our combined data platform will generate richer insight, advance the development of innovative, AI-driven solutions and expand the universe of insurable risk, while further reinforcing the context advantage that differentiates Aon. For nearly two decades, Mike Sicard has built and led a high-performing and integrated team, and I am excited about the opportunities we will create together for our clients, colleagues and shareholders."

Following the close of the transaction, USI Chairman and CEO Mike Sicard will serve as President of Aon plc and global CEO of Middle Market, reporting to Case, and join the Aon Executive Committee.

"Joining Aon represents a truly energizing next chapter for our firm and an opportunity to accelerate our momentum as part of the Aon United platform," said Sicard. "Our firms share strong, one-firm cultures with a deep commitment to working together to bring the best of our capabilities to clients. I look forward to leading Aon's middle-market platform and uniting the strengths of USI, NFP and Aon to deliver a new standard of content, capabilities and service to our clients."

Compelling Strategic and Financial Rationale

Establishes the leading platform in the large and growing U.S. middle-market segment. The addition of USI substantially enhances Aon's presence in the more than $40 billion U.S. middle-market segment. The middle-market segment represents more than one third of U.S. commercial P&C direct written premium. The acquisition will also extend Aon's capabilities across health, talent and Human Capital advisory offerings to provide better choice, superior solutions and greater value for clients. Expands Aon's direct access to the E&S segment, distributed through Managing General Agents, Managing General Underwriters and Wholesalers. USI's emerging wholesale capabilities will strengthen Aon's ability to meet a wider range of client needs and meaningfully participate in the E&S segment, among the fastest-growing areas in U.S. commercial insurance, representing 26% of U.S. commercial P&C premiums. Enhances Aon's industry-leading data platform, deepening its context advantage. The transaction will expand Aon's data ecosystem and augment the firm's proprietary data flow, fidelity and analytics to generate richer insights and deliver differentiated, AI-enabled solutions and drive better client outcomes. Unites organizations with shared one-firm mindsets and proven leadership teams, facilitating a faster, more seamless integration and greater value capture. Powered by its proprietary USI ONE® platform for analytics, USI is highly complementary with Aon's one-firm, Aon United strategy and global Aon Business Services operating and technology engine. With experienced leadership across USI, NFP and Aon, the combined firm will be well positioned to capture the unique value of its middle-market platform. Creates compelling long-term shareholder value with significant synergies, enhanced growth opportunities and larger addressable markets. The combination is expected to accelerate organic growth across Aon's middle-market platform by enhancing client access to value-added capabilities. Building on the firm's demonstrated success in integrating NFP, Aon has a clear path to deliver approximately $395 million in annual run-rate net adjusted EBITDA impact from identified revenue and cost synergies across the combined middle-market platform. Aon expects the acquisition to be accretive to adjusted EPS in 2028 and thereafter. Transaction Details

The purchase price for USI is $17.0 billion, or $16.7 billion on a net basis, which reflects approximately $278 million of certain tax attributes. The net purchase price represents approximately 14.5x on a synergized trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA basis.

Aon expects to fund the transaction, as well as related transaction expenses and other costs, with new debt raised across a range of maturities, subject to market conditions.

The firm expects to maintain its current rating of Baa2 with Moody's and A- with S&P. Aon will continue to execute its disciplined capital allocation strategy, prioritizing de-leveraging, funding a stable and growing dividend and balancing investments for growth with return of excess capital. Consistent with this strategy, the firm does not expect to repurchase shares in the near-term as it prioritizes debt repayment.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Aon and the Board of Directors of USI. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2026. Aon and USI will continue to operate independently until the closing date.

Conference Call, Presentation Slides and Webcast Details

The firm will host a conference call on August 31, 2026, from 8:00-8:45 AM ET. Interested parties can listen to the conference call via a live audio webcast and view the presentation slides at ir.aon.com.

Advisors

BofA Securities and Citi served as financial advisors to Aon on the transaction. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP acted as legal counsel to Aon, McDermott Will & Schulte LLP acted as legal advisor to Aon with respect to regulatory matters and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is acting as financing counsel to Aon.

About USI Insurance Services
USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the United States, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to its clients nationwide. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects more than 10,500 industry-leading professionals from nearly 200 offices to serve clients' needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage®, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom-line impact. For more information about USI, please visit www.usi.com.

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon's newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Media Contacts

Aon
[email protected]
Toll-free (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico): +1 833 751 8114
International: +1 312 381 3024

USI
Nate Forsberg
USI Insurance Services
610-619-5669
[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact
[email protected]

Safe Harbor Statement
This communication contains certain statements related to future results, or states Aon's intentions, beliefs and expectations or predictions for the future, all of which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of Aon's operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that Aon expects or anticipates may occur in the future, including, without limitation, statements about Aon's outlook, expected market and industry conditions, including competitive and pricing trends, the development and performance of Aon's services and products, the expected timing and closing requirements for completing the proposed acquisition, the expected benefits of the proposed acquisition, including advances in the middle-market segment and access to the Excess & Surplus segment, business generation, revenue and cost synergies, increased profitability, the timing of value capture and costs and other anticipated financial impacts of the proposed acquisition, including with respect to credit ratings, expected governance and stakeholder value impacts as a result of the proposed acquisition, Aon's expected cost structure and the outcome of cost-saving or restructuring initiatives, including the impacts of the Accelerating Aon United Program and the integration of USI, Aon's, USI's and the combined firm's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, actual or anticipated legal settlement expenses, future capital expenditures, growth in commissions and fees, changes to the composition or level of our revenues, cash flow and liquidity, expected tax rates, expected foreign currency translation impacts, business strategies, competitive strengths, goals, the benefits of new initiatives, growth of Aon's business and operations, plans and references to future successes are forward-looking statements. Also, when Aon uses words such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "confidence", "conviction", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "intend", "looking forward", "may", "might", "plan", "potential", "opportunity", "commit", "probably", "project", "positioned", "should", "will", "would" or similar expressions, it is making forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or anticipated by the forward-looking statements: the possibility that the proposed acquisition will not be consummated, uncertainties relating to the timing of consummation of the proposed acquisition, failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or to satisfy any of the other conditions to the proposed acquisition, adverse effects on the market price of Aon's securities and on Aon's operating results for any reason, including, without limitation, because of the failure to consummate the proposed acquisition, the failure to realize the expected benefits of the proposed acquisition (including anticipated revenue and cost synergies), the failure to effectively integrate the combined companies following consummation of the proposed acquisition, the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues, negative effects of an announcement of the proposed acquisition, changes in global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax laws, regulations, rates and policies, future business acquisitions or disposals, or any announcement relating to the consummation of or failure to consummate the proposed acquisition on the market price of Aon's securities, significant transaction and integration costs or difficulties in connection with the proposed acquisition and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities, potential litigation associated with the proposed acquisition, the potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the proposed acquisition on relationships, including with suppliers, customers, employees and regulators, and general economic, business and political conditions (including any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak) that affect the combined companies following the consummation of the proposed acquisition.

Any or all of Aon's forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate, and there are no guarantees about Aon's performance. The factors identified above are not exhaustive. Aon and its subsidiaries operate in a dynamic business environment in which new risks may emerge frequently. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made.

In addition, results for prior periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any future period. Further information concerning Aon and its businesses, including factors that could materially affect Aon's financial results, is contained in Aon's filings with the SEC. See Aon's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to Aon and its businesses. These factors may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Aon is not under, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statement that it may make from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, an offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements thereof.

Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures

This communication includes supplemental information not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"), including Aon's organic revenue growth, USI's EBITDA, USI's adjusted EBITDA, synergized adjusted EBITDA, Aon's adjusted diluted net income per share ("adjusted EPS") and certain other noteworthy items that affected results for the comparable periods. Organic revenue growth includes the impact of intercompany activity and excludes foreign exchange rate changes, acquisitions (provided that organic revenue growth includes organic growth of an acquired business as calculated assuming that the acquired business was part of the combined company for the same proportion of the relevant prior year period), divestitures (including held for sale disposal groups, which are adjusted from organic revenue growth upon classification as held for sale, if any), transfers between revenue lines, fiduciary investment income and gains or losses on derivatives accounted for as hedges. Reconciliations to the closest U.S. GAAP measure for each non-GAAP measure presented in this communication are provided in the attached appendices. Supplemental organic revenue growth information and additional measures that exclude the effects of certain items noted above do not affect net income or any other U.S. GAAP reported amounts. EBITDA is net income minus the impact of interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA minus the impact of earnout adjustments and accretion of discount, certain acquisition related tax obligations, certain restructuring costs and management fees. Synergized adjusted EBITDA, presented including the full benefit of estimated run-rate cost and net revenue synergies expected to be substantially realized in the period between the anticipated closing date and 2029, is based on management's estimates, assumptions and projections and has not been prepared in conformance with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X relating to pro forma financial information, and the required pro forma adjustments have not been applied and are not reflected therein. This information should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the historical financial statements of USI. This information does not reflect what USI's financial condition or results of operations would have been had the proposed transaction occurred on or prior to the dates indicated.  Various factors could cause actual future results to differ materially from those currently estimated by management, including, but not limited to, the risks described above and in Aon's filings with the SEC. Management believes that these measures are important to make meaningful period-to-period comparisons and that this supplemental information is helpful to investors. Management also uses these measures to assess operating performance and performance for compensation. Non-GAAP measures should be viewed in addition to, not in lieu of, Aon's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Industry peers provide similar supplemental information regarding their performance, although they may not make identical adjustments. Aon does not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP measures, such as EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and synergized adjusted EBITDA, where Aon believes such a reconciliation would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be misleading and is unable to reasonably predict certain items contained in the corresponding GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various items that have not yet occurred and are out of Aon's control or cannot be reasonably predicted. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors and could have a material impact on U.S. GAAP reported results. For these reasons, Aon is also unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.

SOURCE Aon plc

Fourth straight year of near double-digit increases for U.S. employers Employers now absorb more than 80% of health plan costs as rising expenses increasingly impact workforce and business planning decisions The average employee is expected to spend nearly $5,300 on health care in 2026, reflecting continued pressure on household budgets , /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, revealed today that U.S. employer health care costs are projected to rise 9.5%* in 2027, pushing average costs above $19,000 per employee.

This projection marks the fourth consecutive year of elevated health care cost trends approaching double digits, extending one of the most sustained periods of health care inflation employers have faced in decades.

* Total Employee Costs reflects Premiums from Paycheck and Out-of-Pocket Costs. Medical spending continues to rise as utilization of health care services increases, chronic conditions become more prevalent and the numbers of high-cost claims grow. Prescription drug spending also remains a significant contributor, driven by growing use of specialty medications and continued adoption of GLP-1 therapies. As these treatments expand into new clinical areas such as cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea and chronic kidney disease as emerging oral formulations broaden access and treatment options, employers are facing increasing pressure to balance access, affordability and long-term sustainability.

Additional cost pressure is emerging as providers adopt technologies, including AI, that support more detailed clinical documentation and coding, contributing to higher billed charges in some instances.

"Employers have now experienced several consecutive years of health care cost increases that are approaching double digits," said Mike Pasterick, North America Health Solutions Leader for Aon. "At this level, rising health care costs become much more than a budgeting challenge and influence organizational decisions from benefits strategy and employee affordability to broader workforce and financial planning priorities. Leaders are undergoing pressure to maintain affordable benefits while continuing to invest in attracting, supporting and retaining talent."

The Growing Cost Burden on Employers and Employees

Although health care costs are projected to increase 9.5% in 2027 before mitigation efforts, employers routinely implement plan design changes and cost-management strategies to help offset a portion of those increases.  

The chart detailing Annual Changes to Total Cost of Care reflects actual employer and employee health care costs in 2026 after those actions were taken, providing a view of how rising costs are ultimately shared between employers and employees.

Even after implementing measures to manage costs, employers continue to absorb most of the increase. Employer health care cost increases have more than doubled since 2022, rising from 3.7% to 8.8% in 2026. On average, employers are responsible for about 82% of the plan cost, reflecting ongoing efforts to limit the financial impact on employees.

Plan Cost

2025

2026

Change from
2025 to 2026

Employer Cost

$13,269

$14,432

8.8 %

Employee Premiums from Paycheck  

$2,943

$3,130

6.4 %

Total Plan Cost**

$16,212

$17,562

8.3 %

Employer Subsidy

81.8 %

82.2 %

0.4 %

While average plan costs increased 8.3%, the average tells only part of the story. The middle 50% of employers experienced increases ranging from 5.5% to 11.5%, demonstrating the wide variation in cost pressures organizations are facing.

Employee Costs***

2025

2026

Change from
2025 to 2026

Employee Premiums from Paycheck      

$2,943

$3,130

6.4 %

Employee Out-of-Pocket Costs

$1,966

$2,167

10.2 %

Total Employee Costs

$4,909

$5,297

7.9 %

Employees are also facing growing affordability pressures. In 2026, employees are expected to pay an average of $5,297 for health care coverage, including both payroll contributions ($3,130) and out-of-pocket expenses ($2,167). The increase in out-of-pocket costs can be attributed to the increased utilization of health care services, as well as the enrolment in leaner plan options.

Health Care Inflation Remains a Cross-Industry Challenge

Cost pressures are affecting employers across every sector; all industries experienced significant growth in plan costs from 2025 to 2026. Average employer cost increases ranged from 6.5% to 9.8% across the industries, while total plan cost increases exceed 6% across the board.

Additionally, across all industries, employee contribution increases remained below overall employer and total plan cost increases, indicating that many organizations continue to absorb a significant share of rising health care expense.  

Projected 2025 to 2026 Increase
by Industry

Employer
Cost

Employee
Contributions
from Paycheck

Total

Plan Cost

Manufacturing

7.5 %

5.3 %

7.1 %

Professional Services

8.7 %

3.5 %

7.5 %

Finance and Insurance

9.8 %

4.7 %

8.8 %

Health Care

6.5 %

5.3 %

6.3 %

Retail and Wholesale Trade

7.7 %

6.6 %

7.5 %

Public Sector

8.8 %

7.7 %

8.6 %

Technology and Communications

9.1 %

6.4 %

8.6 %

Looking Ahead: Navigating a New Era of Health Care Costs  

Employers are expected to face continued pressure from rising medical utilization, chronic disease prevalence and growth in drug spending. As these cost drivers evolve, organizations are increasingly focused on strategies that improve health outcomes, enhance the employee experience and address the underlying drivers of spending to manage long-term affordability for both employers and employees.

"The organizations best positioned for the future will be those that can proactively identify emerging risks and take targeted action before costs escalate," said Debbie Ashford, North America Chief Actuary, Health Solutions for Aon. "Health care costs are becoming increasingly difficult to manage through traditional approaches alone. Employers will need better data and deeper insights to understand where costs are rising and how they can make more informed decisions about their health care investments."

To support these efforts, employers are increasingly turning to data and analytics tools that provide greater visibility into network performance, utilization patterns and cost drivers. Solutions such as Aon's Network Analyzer help organizations evaluate potential strategies, improve value and make more informed decisions about long-term health care affordability.

Aon's Health Value Initiative

The historical information and projections shown above were developed using Aon's Health Value Initiative database, which captures health care costs and benefit designs for more than 1,100 U.S. employers representing 7.9 million employees and $135 billion in 2026 health care spend. The projections above are developed after taking plan design changes as well as demographic and geographic population adjustments into account.

To learn more about Aon's Health Solutions, visit https://www.aon.com/home/solutions/health.

* The projection is applicable in a status quo environment when employers do not make changes or implement care management programs. Aon consultants expect many employers to implement cost-saving changes or programs to help mitigate this increase.
** Total plan costs represent the employer's and employee's combined premiums for medical and prescription drug costs but exclude employee out-of-pocket payments such as deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance.
*** Based on the weighted average cost of employers in Aon's analysis in both 2025 and 2026.

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon's newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Media Contact
Haley Robinson
+1 312 381 0159
[email protected] 

Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is solely for information purposes, for general guidance only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although Aon endeavors to provide accurate and timely information and uses sources that it considers reliable, the firm does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of any content of this document and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. There can be no guarantee that the information contained in this document will remain accurate as on the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or entity should make decisions or act based solely on the information contained herein without appropriate professional advice and targeted research.

SOURCE Aon plc

Key Takeaways AON launched Sidecar X with up to $200 million for representation, warranties and tax insurance.AON's M&A pipeline rose 60% in announced transaction volumes, supporting its 2026 outlook.Sidecar X aims to speed up coverage for larger, complex deals while offering clients a 10% premium discount. Aon plc (AON - Free Report) recently launched Sidecar X, an expanded version of its Sidecar platform, to connect insurance capital with complex transaction risks. The platform provides up to $200 million of capacity for representation and warranties and tax insurance.

It has built pre-agreed underwriting and claims frameworks into the offering, reducing the need to negotiate terms from scratch for each placement. The platform combines insurer capital with Aon’s proprietary analytics and market expertise. Sidecar X is available exclusively to Aon’s clients across markets, including the United States, Canada, the UK, EEA and Asia, covering representations and warranties and tax insurance.

The launch addresses a problem in transaction insurance as deals are becoming larger and more complex, while insurers and capital providers are becoming more selective. Sidecar X gives a dedicated capacity that can help clients secure coverage more efficiently for these transactions. The biggest benefits include speed and certainty. Aon is also offering clients a 10% premium discount, which could make insurance attractive in deal processes.

On the second-quarter earnings call, AON pointed out that its M&A pipeline had increased 60% in announced transaction volumes, which management expects to be a tailwind in the second half of 2026. Its Risk Capital revenues rose 5% to $3 billion in the second quarter, while total revenues increased 2% to $4.25 billion.

Sidecar X should support Aon’s transaction business by improving its ability to place larger and more complex risks. The headline capacity expands the risk that Aon can help clients insure, while the premium discount could encourage greater usage. Faster execution may improve Aon’s competitiveness in time-sensitive M&A transactions. For Aon, the opportunity is potentially higher transaction volumes and deeper client engagement strategically.

Price PerformanceAON shares have declined 1.6% in the year-to-date period compared with 3.8% fall of the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Zacks Rank & Key PicksAON currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Investors interested in the broader Finance space may look at some better-ranked players like Horace Mann Educators Corporation (HMN - Free Report) , CNO Financial Group, Inc. (CNO - Free Report) and Ategrity Specialty Insurance Company Holdings (ASIC - Free Report) . While Horace Mann Educators currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), CNO Financial and Ategrity Specialty have a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Horace Mann Educators’ current-year earnings is pegged at $4.78 per share, which has witnessed two upward revisions over the past 30 days and no movement in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the consensus estimate for HMN’s 2026 revenues indicates a 3.9% year-over-year increase.

The consensus mark for CNO Financial’s current-year earnings is pegged at $4.74 per share, which indicates 16.2% year-over-year growth. It has witnessed two upward estimate revisions against none in the opposite direction in the past 30 days. CNO beat earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 23.2%.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ategrity Specialty’s current year earnings is pegged at $2.16 per share, which indicates 34.2% year-over-year growth. It has witnessed one upward estimate revision against none in the opposite direction in the past month. ASIC beat earnings estimates in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 30.2%.

-  Nadin Virani appointed Interim CFO
-  Reaffirms full-year 2026 financial guidance

, /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced that Edmund Reese will transition from his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately, to pursue opportunities outside the firm. Aon appointed Nadin Virani as Interim CFO, effective immediately, and Reese will serve as senior advisor to Aon President and CEO Greg Case, through August 16, 2027, to support the transition.

"I want to recognize Edmund for his many contributions to our firm," said Case. "Through consistent execution of our 3x3 Plan and a relentless and disciplined focus on performance, Edmund has helped to enhance our capabilities, accelerate growth and deliver meaningful value for our shareholders."

"It has been a privilege to serve as CFO of Aon," said Reese. "I am proud of the significant progress we have made building on the firm's strong financial foundation, strengthening our growth engine and enhancing our capacity to invest in long-term value creation. With a winning strategy and an experienced financial leadership team in place, Aon is well positioned to continue delivering strong results and creating value for clients, colleagues and shareholders."

Virani brings deep financial leadership expertise and a wealth of experience in the financial services industry to his new role, having previously served as the firm's Global Head of Corporate Planning and Analytics with oversight of financial planning and analysis, forecasting processes, cash management and budgeting. Prior to joining Aon, Virani served as Head of Corporate Planning and Analytics at Broadridge Financial and General Manager for the Delta Amex Co-Brand portfolio at American Express, where for 18 years he held a number of CFO positions in London, Frankfurt and New York, supporting areas such as international and U.S. lending, loyalty, insurance and merchant pricing.

"As Global Head of Corporate Planning and Analytics and a member of our Aon Executive Committee, Nadin has played a central role in strengthening our financial performance and developing our strategy to drive sustainable growth across our firm," said Case. "His financial expertise and proven leadership will be invaluable as we continue to accelerate our Aon United strategy and create better outcomes for clients and shareholders."

Virani will report to Case and lead Aon's Finance organization, while working closely with the Aon Executive Committee to ensure continuity and oversight of the firm's financial strategy. Aon has also engaged a leading executive search firm to conduct a comprehensive internal and external search for a permanent CFO.

"I am honored to serve as Interim CFO of Aon and build on the strong foundation we have established across our Finance organization," said Virani. "We will remain focused on financial discipline and thoughtful investment in the business as we continue to support Aon's growth and create long-term shareholder value."

Consistent with the update provided in its second quarter earnings release on July 29, 2026, Aon reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance.

About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting Aon's newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.

Media Contact
[email protected]
Toll-free (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico): +1 833 751 8114
International: +1 312 381 3024

SOURCE Aon plc