Swedish pension company Alecta saw its defined contribution pension arrangement, Optimal Pension, return 5.8 per cent in the first half of 2026, its half-year report has revealed.

The scheme has a portfolio with a 60 per cent allocation to equities, with all asset classes in the portfolio contributing to the positive return.

Its equity investments in the portfolio returned 8.5 per cent, while its fixed income investments returned 1.6 per cent and its alternative investments returned 1.8 per cent in the first half of the year.

The overall positive return represents an improvement from the first half of 2025, when Alecta Optimal Pension returned 2.6 per cent, while its five-year average was 6 per cent.

Meanwhile, Alecta’s collective consolidation level for its defined benefit pension arrangement was 168 per cent at the end of June 2026, up from 161 per cent at the end of June 2025.

This positive development was also driven by the strong performance in the capital markets.

Alecta’s solvency ratio increased by 10 percentage points year-on-year to 207 per cent, the report noted.

“During the first half of 2026, uncertainty in the world has continued and capital markets have fluctuated up and down,” Alecta CEO, Peder Hasslev, explained.

“After a weaker first quarter, the recovery was strong later in the spring. Our solvency remains very good and our cost level is low. Alecta has delivered a stable return and secure pension payments to our customers.”

In March 2026, Alecta was issued a warning with a fine of SEK 50m by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority for how previous investments in Heimstaden Bostad were made.

“In 2023, a comprehensive improvement program was initiated with a focus on governance, risk management and competence within our asset management,” said Hasslev.

“All measures in the program were implemented in 2025 and have been part of our processes and working methods within asset management in 2026. Maintaining the positive change we have created requires continued hard work.”

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