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Aon plc: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue rose 9%: Total revenue for 2025 was $17.2 billion, up 9%, from 6% organic growth, a 2% acquisitions contribution and a 1% currency benefit. Source
  • Full-year diluted EPS up 36%: Full-year diluted EPS was $17.02 versus $12.49, up 36%. Adjusted EPS rose 9% to $17.07 from $15.60. Source
  • Risk Capital revenue up 7%: Risk Capital revenue rose $171 million, or 7%, to $2.7 billion, and Human Capital revenue fell $16 million, or 1%, to $1.6 billion. Risk Capital operating margin was 29.2%; Human Capital was 35.0%. Source
  • Restructuring program costs up 87%: Accelerating Aon United program expense rose $60 million to $129 million in the fourth quarter, mainly on higher workforce optimization costs. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin up 220 bp: Fourth-quarter adjusted operating margin was 35.5%, up 220 basis points; operating margin was 28.1%, up 180 basis points. Source
  • Full-year adjusted margin 32.4%: Full-year adjusted operating margin was 32.4% versus 31.5%. Risk Capital was 34.3% versus 34.6%; Human Capital was 32.2% versus 29.5%. Source
  • Free cash flow up 14% for 2025: Free cash flow was $3.2 billion for 2025. Capital expenditures rose $45 million to $263 million. Source
  • Debt reduced by $1.9 billion: Management said the company repaid $1.9 billion of debt in 2025 and met its leverage objective in the fourth quarter. Source
  • 3x3 Plan behind results: Management said full-year results reflect execution of the 3x3 Plan, which accelerates the client-centric Aon United strategy. Source

“In the fourth quarter, we delivered 5% organic revenue growth and 16% free cash flow growth, and we achieved all of our full-year objectives, including a second straight year of 6% organic revenue growth.”

Greg Case, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic revenue growth Source2026mid-single-digit or greaterNew
Adjusted operating margin expansion Source202670 to 80 basis pointsNew
Free cash flow growth Source2026double-digit growthNew
Foreign currency impact on EPS Sourcefirst quarter of 2026favorable impact of approximately $0.36 per shareNew
Foreign currency impact on EPS Sourcefull year 2026favorable impact of approximately $0.39 per shareNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: 2026 guidance was introduced, covering organic revenue growth, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EPS and free cash flow growth. Source
  • Ended: The NFP Wealth business was sold in the fourth quarter, and other income of $1.2 billion reflected the gains on that sale. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year revenue rose 9%: Total revenue for 2025 was $17.2 billion, up 9%, from 6% organic growth, a 2% acquisitions contribution and a 1% currency benefit. Source
  • Fourth-quarter organic growth 5%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $4.3 billion, up 4%: 5% organic growth and a 2% currency benefit, offset by a 3% effect from acquisitions, divestitures and other items. Source
  • Full-year diluted EPS up 36%: Full-year diluted EPS was $17.02 versus $12.49, up 36%. Adjusted EPS rose 9% to $17.07 from $15.60. Source
  • Operating income up 13% for year: Full-year operating income was $4.3 billion, up 13%, and operating margin rose to 25.3% from 24.4%. Source

Segments and revenue lines

  • Risk Capital revenue up 7%: Risk Capital revenue rose $171 million, or 7%, to $2.7 billion, and Human Capital revenue fell $16 million, or 1%, to $1.6 billion. Risk Capital operating margin was 29.2%; Human Capital was 35.0%. Source
  • Reinsurance organic growth 8%: Reinsurance organic growth was 8%, with double-digit gains in insurance-linked securities and the Strategy and Technology Group. Source
  • Commercial Risk organic growth 6%: Commercial Risk Solutions organic growth of 6% came from North America, EMEA and Latin America, and the release says market impact was positive. Source
  • Health Solutions growth in core benefits: Health Solutions organic growth was 2%, led by core health and benefits and consumer benefits solutions, with positive market impact. Source
  • Wealth Solutions up 2% organically: Wealth Solutions organic growth of 2% came from Retirement advisory work in the UK and EMEA, partly offset by the NFP Wealth sale. Source

“Our strategic investments in data-driven insights and capabilities through Aon Business Services are enabling us to meet rising client demand in an increasingly complex environment,”

Greg Case, president and CEO

Costs and restructuring

  • Fourth-quarter expenses up 1%: Operating expenses rose $36 million to $3.1 billion, driven by 5% organic growth, currency effects and higher restructuring program costs. Source
  • Restructuring program costs up 87%: Accelerating Aon United program expense rose $60 million to $129 million in the fourth quarter, mainly on higher workforce optimization costs. Source
  • Net restructuring savings of $50 million: Lower expenses from the NFP Wealth sale and $50 million of net restructuring savings in the quarter partly offset the higher program costs. Source
  • Amortization flat in fourth quarter: Amortization and impairment of intangible assets stayed at $185 million in the quarter; full-year amortization and impairment was $778 million versus $503 million. Source
  • Other general expense down 9%: Other general expense fell $37 million to $372 million, mainly on non-recurring gains including portfolio sales. Source

Margins and currency

  • Adjusted operating margin up 220 bp: Fourth-quarter adjusted operating margin was 35.5%, up 220 basis points; operating margin was 28.1%, up 180 basis points. Source
  • Full-year adjusted margin 32.4%: Full-year adjusted operating margin was 32.4% versus 31.5%. Risk Capital was 34.3% versus 34.6%; Human Capital was 32.2% versus 29.5%. Source
  • Currency lifted fourth-quarter EPS: Currency translation added $0.09 per share to diluted EPS and $0.10 per share to adjusted EPS in the fourth quarter. Source

“We are entering 2026 with momentum and are well positioned to continue to deliver for our clients, generate sustainable growth and create long-term shareholder value.”

Greg Case, president and CEO

Cash flow, balance sheet and capital returns

  • Free cash flow up 14% for 2025: Free cash flow was $3.2 billion for 2025. Capital expenditures rose $45 million to $263 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 15%: Operating cash flow was $3.5 billion, helped by adjusted operating income growth and lower NFP transaction costs, partly offset by working capital headwinds. Source
  • Debt reduced by $1.9 billion: Management said the company repaid $1.9 billion of debt in 2025 and met its leverage objective in the fourth quarter. Source
  • 2025 buybacks of $1.0 billion: 2025 repurchases were about 2.7 million shares for $1.0 billion, at an average $365.91. Fourth-quarter buybacks were about 0.7 million shares for $250 million. Source
  • $1.3 billion authorization remains: About $1.3 billion of share repurchase authorization remained at December 31, 2025. Source

2026 plan and strategy

  • 3x3 Plan behind results: Management said full-year results reflect execution of the 3x3 Plan, which accelerates the client-centric Aon United strategy. Source
  • Capital to M&A and shareholder returns: Management expects its balance sheet to support 2026 capital allocation, balancing high-return M&A with capital return to shareholders. Source
  • Net new business and retention drive growth: Management attributed the fourth-quarter organic growth to net new business and ongoing retention. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Investment income SourceFiduciary investment income of $63 million in Q4 2025 versus $76 million in Q4 2024

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: NFP integration costs were $11 million in the fourth quarter versus $40 million a year earlier; the company says NFP will continue to bring some non-recurring integration costs. Source
  • Financial: The effective tax rate rose on a shift in the geographic mix of income and a smaller benefit from discrete items. Source
  • Financial: Adjusted other expense of $21 million reflected an unfavorable currency remeasurement effect and higher non-cash pension expense, partly offset by hedging gains. Source
  • Demand: Talent Solutions saw slower discretionary spend, and some closed sales were delayed. Source
  • Demand: Reinsurance faced a modest unfavorable market impact that partly offset facultative placement growth. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The Q3 release said the company was confident in achieving its full-year 2025 targets; the Q4 release says all full-year objectives were achieved.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.