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Top 7% of insurers outperform on profitability and total shareholder return
In ACORDs 2026 study of 210 insurers, Digital Competitors posted indexed relative profit of 135.7 and 10-year TSR of 254%, while the S&P 500 was 186% for the same period.
ACORD found that only the top echelon of insurers has managed to beat the industry digital maturity benchmark on both profitability and total shareholder return, with the gap widening among carriers compared with prior years. In its 2026 Insurance Digital Maturity Study, the New York-based standards body classified just 7% of insurers as “Digital Competitors,” and that tier was the only one to clear the study average on both measures, according to Insurance Business.
The study covered 210 insurers worldwide, representing more than half of the global market, about 60%, and roughly $4 trillion in gross written premium. Digital Competitors showed indexed relative profit of 135.7 versus 102.5 for the study average, and 10-year TSR of 254% versus 202% for the study group and 186% for the S&P 500, while all four lower tiers fell below the average on profit.
ACORDs framework evaluates eight digital capabilities across the value chain, including customer platforms, data analytics, infrastructure, operations, automation, investment, business models, and culture. ACORD research leadership said success depends on capabilities working in harmony across the organization, and highlighted data and analytics paired with process automation as a highest-impact combination.
The report also links digital maturity to operational outcomes, saying leading carriers push 70% to 90% or more of routine customer interactions through digital or no-touch channels. It also points to faster quote-to-bind and claims cycle times supported by straight-through processing, automated data capture and rule-based handling, and AI embedded in day-to-day workflows for triage, routing, and prioritization, with people handling oversight and complex exceptions.
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