Polar Capital reports higher profit and AuM, starts £15 million buyback

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Polar Capital profit & AuM up

Highlights

Polar Capital Holdings reports a 49% rise in statutory profit before tax to £76.9 million and a 43% increase in assets under management to £30.6 billion for the year ended 31 March 2026.
The company launches a £15.0 million share buyback and confirms a new policy from 1 April 2026 to return at least 50% of adjusted core profits via dividends.
Net inflows reach £902 million during FY2026 with £2.3 billion more between 1 April and 19 June 2026, driven by strong demand for Technology, AI, and other specialist strategies.

Full-year results and capital returns

As reported by the London Stock Exchange Regulatory News Service, Polar Capital Holdings PLC posts a 49% rise in statutory profit before tax to £76.9 million for the year ended 31 March 2026, while core operating profit increases 11% to £62.8 million.

Assets under management rise 43% to £30.6 billion at the year-end from £21.4 billion a year earlier, while average AuM for the year increases 14% to £26.0 billion. Adjusted diluted total earnings per share climbs 10% to 57.8 pence.

The company declares a second interim dividend of 32.0 pence per share, unchanged from the prior year, bringing total dividend for the year to 46.0 pence per share. It also initiates a £15.0 million share buyback programme and says a revised shareholder return policy takes effect from 1 April 2026, under which it expects in normal circumstances to return at least 50% of adjusted core profits through an ordinary dividend paid half-yearly.

Flow momentum and strategy outlook

Iain Evans, chief executive officer, says the group delivers £902 million of net inflows during FY2026, marking a second consecutive year of positive net inflows, with £1.4 billion arriving in the final quarter after a more difficult first half. He says momentum continues into FY2027, with net inflows of £2.3 billion between 1 April and 19 June 2026.

Inflows are led by Technology and Artificial Intelligence strategies, while the company also cites client demand across Healthcare, Smart Energy, Japan Value and Global Absolute Return. Polar Capital says investment performance improves across its core range, with 74% of UCITS AuM ranking in the top two quartiles over one and three years, 85% over five years and 100% since inception.

The company says it is refining its growth plan around specialist active management, selective investment in data and AI, and tighter discipline over where it deploys capital and resources. Evans says the group still faces structural headwinds affecting active equity managers, but sees a more supportive backdrop for differentiated specialist firms.

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