ICICI Securities Maintains Buy Rating on ICICI Prudential Life Insurance with Target Price of ₹800
ICICI Securities maintains buy rating on ICICI Prudential Life Insurance with revised target price of ₹800, up from ₹720. The company showed strong recovery in Q3FY26 with APE growth turning positive at 3.60% and VNB growth surging 19.00% year-on-year, compared to negative growth in H1FY26. Margins expanded significantly to 24.40%, up 315 basis points despite input tax credit challenges, supported by GST tailwinds and stronger execution.

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ICICI Securities has maintained its buy rating on ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company with a revised target price of ₹800, representing an upward revision from the previous target of ₹720. The brokerage's optimistic stance is based on the company's strong recovery in key performance metrics during Q3FY26.
Strong Recovery in Key Metrics
The company witnessed a notable turnaround in its Annual Premium Equivalent (APE) and Value of New Business (VNB) growth during Q3FY26. This recovery was primarily driven by GST tailwinds, weak base effects, and enhanced execution capabilities.
| Performance Metric | H1FY26 (YoY) | Q3FY26 (YoY) |
|---|---|---|
| APE Growth | -4.10% | +3.60% |
| VNB Growth | -0.90% | +19.00% |
| Margin | - | 24.40% (+315 bps) |
The transformation from negative growth in the first half to positive momentum in Q3 demonstrates the company's ability to capitalize on favorable market conditions and operational improvements.
Margin Expansion Despite Challenges
Despite facing headwinds from the non-availability of input tax credits, ICICI Prudential managed to expand its margins significantly. The company achieved a margin of 24.40% in Q3, marking a substantial improvement of 315 basis points on a year-on-year basis. This performance underscores the company's operational efficiency and pricing discipline.
Diversified Distribution Strategy
The company maintains a well-balanced and diversified channel mix that sets it apart from industry peers. The distribution strategy significantly reduces business risks through multiple revenue streams.
| Distribution Channel | APE Mix (9MFY26) |
|---|---|
| Agency | 26% |
| Bancassurance | 29% |
| Direct | 14% |
| Partnership Distribution | 13% |
| Group | 17% |
This diversified approach provides stability and reduces dependence on any single distribution channel, creating a competitive advantage in the market.
Investment Outlook and Valuation
ICICI Securities has revised its target price methodology, now valuing the company at 1.7x FY28E Embedded Value compared to the earlier FY27E EV basis. The brokerage highlighted several positive factors including:
- Better growth outlook supported by favorable base effects
- Improved margin trajectory
- Diversified business model reducing concentration risks
However, the research report also noted some concerns including weaker persistency rates and challenges in agency performance that remain areas to monitor. Despite these overhangs, the overall assessment remains positive given the company's strong fundamentals and recovery momentum in key business metrics.
Historical Stock Returns for ICICI Prudential Life Insurance
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -2.51% | -3.57% | +3.61% | +1.59% | +1.47% | +30.39% |
















































