Brown & Brown 2026 Market Trends Report sees softening commercial rates, more capacity, carrier competition

Rhea-AI Summary

Brown & Brown (NYSE: BRO) released its 2026 Market Trends Report on Feb 11, 2026, highlighting softer commercial rates, increased capacity and stronger carrier competition favoring well-prepared buyers with positive claims histories. The report reflects combined expertise following Brown & Brown’s 2025 acquisition of Risk Strategies and surveys commercial, employee benefits and personal insurance dynamics.

Key themes include persistent large-loss risk (wildfire, cyber), targeted underwriting pressure in catastrophe-exposed regions, cost-control shifts in benefits, and opportunity where enhanced risk management attracts capacity.

Positive

• Post-acquisition scale: combined specialty expertise broadens market reach
• Increased capacity and heightened carrier competition creating buyer opportunities
• Buyers with strong risk management and positive claims histories gain negotiating leverage

Negative

• Persistent large-scale loss events (wildfire, cyber) sustaining underwriting pressure
• Catastrophe-exposed regions face tighter requirements and ongoing pricing pressure
• Transportation and hospitality industries encounter less favorable coverage dynamics

News Market Reaction – BRO

+3.75%

1 alert

+3.75% News Effect

On the day this news was published, BRO gained 3.75%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Suggests careful preparation, positive claims history can favor buyer renewal

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO) (“the Company”) today announced the release of the 2026 edition of its Market Trends report. A comprehensive analysis of emerging market shifts, this year’s report finds that rate conditions are shifting in favor of buyers who prepare thoroughly for the renewal process and have a positive claims history. The report also highlights industries and product lines where rate trends will remain firm and terms challenging.

The first Market Trends report issued since the Company’s 2025 acquisition of Risk Strategies offers a combination of deep knowledge and broad perspective from both organizations’ specialists to deliver strategic insight into the critical developments currently shaping commercial coverage, employee benefits and personal insurance.

“The dynamism of today’s insurance market and the ever-changing economic factors being managed by customers make this type of insight invaluable for planning,” explained Steve Hearn, executive vice president, chief operating officer and president of the Retail segment. “I’m excited to see how the combination of Brown & Brown and Risk Strategies’ specialty knowledge has deepened our ability to provide insight into the factors shaping the risk and liability markets.”

While the market has broadly seen an influx of capital and capacity, each market segment examined in this year’s Market Trends report faces unique challenges that shape the process of obtaining coverage with terms and rates that meet customer needs. Among the observations:

Commercial Insurance - Heightened carrier competition is creating new opportunities for those with strong risk management practices. Large-scale loss events such as wildfires and cyber incidents remain a persistent challenge. Industries like transportation and hospitality, and operations in risk-prone regions, face less favorable market dynamics in securing effective coverage.

Employee Benefits – A continued shift to control rising costs without compromising benefit quality or relevance is putting an incremental focus on deploying digital health tools, from virtual primary care to cost transparency platforms. Balanced with cost management, fostering a culture that attracts and retains talented, engaged individuals remains essential.

Personal Insurance - Climate volatility, higher loss severity, regulatory change and evolving carrier strategies all mandate stronger preparation, clearer documentation and more deliberate risk management. While capacity is expanding and underwriting is stabilizing in select areas, catastrophe-exposed regions continue to face tighter requirements and sustained pricing pressure, particularly for properties exposed to wildfire and severe convective storm activity.

Beyond data and specialist insight, the Brown & Brown Market Trends Report provides a meaningful perspective for businesses, employers and those seeking measured insights into the issues at play in today’s insurance markets. Brown & Brown combines deep specialty experience and global market reach to deliver enhanced knowledge and broader solutions in an age of complexity and opportunity.

To review the report in full, please visit https://www.bbrown.com/us/insight/market-trends-report-2026-outlook/.

About Brown & Brown Inc.

Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm delivering comprehensive and customized insurance solutions and specialization since 1939. With a global presence spanning 700+ locations and a team of more than 23,000 professionals, we are dedicated to delivering scalable, innovative strategies for our customers at every step of their growth journey. Learn more at BBrown.com.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to future results. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only Brown & Brown’s current belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Brown & Brown’s control. It is possible that Brown & Brown’s actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further information concerning Brown & Brown and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect Brown & Brown’s financial results and condition, as well as its other achievements, is contained in Brown & Brown’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this release, and Brown & Brown does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which Brown & Brown hereafter becomes aware.

For more information:

Jenny Goco
Vice President of Public Relations & Communications
(386) 333-6066

FAQ

What did Brown & Brown (BRO) say in its Feb 11, 2026 Market Trends Report about commercial insurance rates?

Commercial rates are softening in places, creating buyer opportunity for prepared clients. According to the company, increased capacity and carrier competition favor buyers with strong risk management and positive claims histories, though some segments still face firm rates due to loss exposure.

How does Brown & Brown’s 2025 acquisition of Risk Strategies affect the 2026 Market Trends Report for BRO?

The acquisition broadened specialist expertise and market perspective informing the report. According to the company, combining teams delivers deeper insight across commercial, benefits and personal lines, improving strategic guidance for clients seeking coverage in complex markets.

What does the report say about personal insurance and catastrophe-exposed regions for BRO clients?

Catastrophe-exposed regions continue to face tighter terms and pricing pressure. According to the company, climate volatility and higher loss severity mean stronger documentation, risk management and stricter underwriting, especially for wildfire- and storm-prone properties.

How will heightened carrier competition impact buyers according to Brown & Brown’s 2026 report?

Heightened carrier competition creates new opportunities for prepared buyers with strong risk controls. According to the company, carriers are offering capacity where risk management is proven, enabling better terms for those demonstrating robust mitigation and claims histories.

What employee benefits trends did Brown & Brown (BRO) highlight in the 2026 Market Trends Report?

Employers are prioritizing cost control while preserving benefit quality through digital health tools. According to the company, adoption of virtual primary care and cost-transparency platforms is increasing as organizations balance savings with talent attraction and retention goals.

Which industries did Brown & Brown identify as facing more challenging market dynamics in the 2026 report?

Transportation and hospitality were singled out as facing less favorable dynamics for securing effective coverage. According to the company, operations in risk-prone regions and industries with large-loss exposure encounter tighter underwriting and higher difficulty obtaining preferred terms.