Investors will be keen to discover if insurer Direct Line Insurance (DLG) has continued its positive start to the year when it reports first-half results on 4 September after a tumultuous 12 months.

The business delivered a strong first quarter, with double-digit written premium growth in Motor, Home and Commercial businesses and overall growth of 15% for ongoing operations.

Chief executive Adam Winslow, who only took charge in March, has already made significant senior hires to reinvigorate the business and presented a bold new business strategy at the firm's Capital Markets Day on 10 July.

This included a return to price-comparison websites, making at least £100 million of gross run-rate cost savings by the end of 2025 and targeting a 13% net insurance margin in 2026.

The company also announced a new capital allocation framework and a policy to pay around 60% of operating earnings as a regular dividend, while an improving solvency capital ratio is expected to provide scope for additional shareholder returns.

Analysts at Jefferies noted that while management were reluctant to provide a timeframe for returning to a 180% solvency ratio, they believed there was potential for ‘material’ special capital returns by 2026.

Investors will no doubt want to see tangible evidence of this progress given the board rejected a £3.2 billion takeover approach from Belgian insurer Ageas (AGS:EBR) in March.

UK UPDATES OVER THE NEXT 7 DAYS

INTERIM RESULTS & TRADING UPDATES

2 Sept: Ashtead Technology, Concurrent Technologies, Kainos Group 

3 Sept: Ashtead, DS Smith, Johnson Service Group, Michelmersh, Midwich Group, Stv Group, Uniphar, Watches of Switzerland

4 Sept: Ascential, Cairn Homes, Dalata Hotels, Direct Line, Hilton Food Group, James Cropper

5 Sept: Alfa Financial Software, Bakkavor, Churchill China, Currys, Jet2, Safestore, Speedy Hire, Vistry, WAG Payment Solutions, XPS Pensions

FINAL RESULTS

2 Sept: XP Factory

3 Sept: Alumasc, Craneware, Manolete Partners

4 Sept: Barratt Developments

5 Sept: Ashmore Group, Genus

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