AP
Aon plc (AON)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 delivered 11% total revenue growth to $4.155B, 6% organic growth, and 19% adjusted EPS growth to $3.49; free cash flow rose 59% to $732M, underscoring strong earnings conversion .
- Results were broad-based across solution lines; adjusted operating margin expanded 80 bps to 28.2% on ABS-driven operating leverage and $35M restructuring savings; management reaffirmed full-year 2025 guidance .
- Versus consensus, Aon posted an EPS beat ($3.49 vs $3.41*) and a slight revenue miss ($4.155B vs $4.163B*); EBITDA was essentially in line ($1.207B vs $1.212B*) .
- Catalysts: reaffirmed margin expansion (80–90 bps) and double-digit FCF growth, NFP integration synergies tracking ($80M 2025 revenue synergies; $350M run-rate restructuring by 2026), and AI-enabled analytics (Broker Copilot) supporting sustained organic growth .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Broad-based organic growth: Commercial Risk, Reinsurance, and Health each delivered 6% organic growth; Wealth grew 3%, with strong international health and NFP contributions .
- Margin expansion and cost actions: Adjusted operating margin up 80 bps to 28.2%; $35M restructuring savings in Q2; lower interest expense YoY; deleveraging to 3.4x leverage ratio .
- Strategic innovation and AI: Launch of Broker Copilot and first-of-its-kind Aon Surge Stop Loss in cyber reinsurance; “Broker Copilot augments predictive broking, enabling Aon brokers to match capital to risk” (Greg Case) .
What Went Wrong
- Other income normalization: Other income fell to $56M from $236M due to prior-year gains; adjusted other expense increased to $32M .
- Lower fiduciary investment income: $66M vs $75M in Q2 2024; lower rates offset higher balances .
- Reinsurance market headwinds: April 1 property renewals saw rate declines of 5–20%; modest unfavorable market impact partly offset by ILS/facultative growth .
Financial Results
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We delivered strong second quarter results, including 6% organic revenue growth, 19% growth in adjusted EPS, and 59% free cash flow growth… powered by Aon Business Services… we remain confident in our outlook and are reaffirming our full-year 2025 guidance.” — Greg Case, CEO .
- “Adjusted operating margin was up 80 bps to 28.2%... restructuring savings totaled $35 million in the quarter… we remain on track to deliver $150 million in restructuring savings for the full year and… $350 million in run rate savings by 2026.” — Edmund Reese, CFO .
- “Broker Copilot augments predictive broking, enabling Aon brokers to match capital to risk in an unparalleled manner… Aon Surge Stop Loss enables enhanced protection against cumulative cyber losses.” — Greg Case, CEO .
Q&A Highlights
- M&A services: Tailwind modest off a low base; Q2 pipelines “better, but not back”; company not dependent on M&A for mid-single-digit growth trajectory .
- Talent and new hires: Revenue-generating headcount up 6%; expected 30–35 bps contribution to 2025 organic growth from 2024 hiring cohort; ongoing investment in priority areas (construction, energy, health) .
- Capital allocation: Strong FCF (59% in Q2) supports deleveraging (on track to 2.8–3.0x by Q4’25), disciplined tuck-ins (NFP closed 8 deals, $20M EBITDA through June), and $1B share buybacks for FY25 .
- Reinsurance mix: Double-digit growth in ILS and facultative; treaty growth with strong retention; offerings are complementary; rapid expansion of ILS solutions for corporates (109 deals in 2024; ~100 YTD 2025) .
- Legal environment: Management reiterated stance against supporting practices that exacerbate social inflation in the U.S.; noted broader industry recognition of the issue .
Estimates Context
Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- EPS beat on broad-based organic growth and ABS-driven margin expansion; adjusted EPS $3.49 vs $3.41* consensus; revenue essentially in line/slightly below .
- Execution under 3x3 Plan remains intact: reaffirmed mid-single-digit+ organic growth, 80–90 bps adjusted margin expansion, and double-digit FCF growth for FY25 .
- NFP integration is a tangible growth lever: $80M FY25 revenue synergies on track, strong producer retention, and tuck-in M&A pipeline supporting middle-market expansion .
- Operating leverage and cost actions: $35M Q2 restructuring savings; on track for $150M FY25 and $350M run-rate by 2026, enhancing multi-year earnings power .
- Near-term modeling items: Q3 interest expense (
$210M) and other expense ($25–$32M) guidance, adjusted tax rate (FY25 19.5%–20.5%) and modest FX headwind ($0.05 on FY25 adjusted EPS) . - Reinsurance mix dynamics: property pricing softness balanced by double-digit ILS/fac growth and analytics demand; expect continued support at July renewals .
- Strategic moat expanding via AI and analytics: Broker Copilot and analyzers increase win rates and pricing insight—supporting sustained mid-single-digit+ organic growth .