Investing in a higher-for-longer world and the ASX sector built to cope

For more than a decade, investors grew accustomed to falling interest rates, low inflation, and cheap capital. That backdrop shaped portfolio construction, valuation frameworks, and expectations about which businesses could thrive.

That era now appears firmly behind us.

The Reserve Bank of Australia's latest decision to hold rates came with clear guidance that inflation remains sticky and further tightening cannot be ruled out. Since then, both two-year and ten-year Australian government bond yields have drifted higher, reinforcing the idea that we are living in a structurally higher-rate, higher-debt world.

In this environment, investors seeking steady compounding are often drawn to businesses with two powerful characteristics: pricing power and balance sheet resilience. 

One industry that quietly ticks both boxes is insurance.

Pricing power in an inflationary world

At its core, pricing power refers to a company's ability to pass higher costs onto customers without suffering a material loss of demand. While many industries struggle to do this consistently, insurance stands apart.

Insurance is rarely loved, but it is widely required. 

Whether it's home and contents, motor, health, life, or business protection, many policies are essential rather than discretionary. As a result, insurers have historically been able to lift premiums in line with — and often ahead of — inflation, with limited impact on overall policy volumes.

This dynamic has been on full display over the past few years. Premium rates across multiple insurance lines have increased meaningfully as claims inflation, natural catastrophe costs, and reinsurance expenses have risen. Yet demand has largely held firm, supporting revenue growth and margin recovery for the better-run insurers.

Higher rates can be a tailwind, not a headwind

Insurance businesses have another structural advantage that is often overlooked. Unlike many capital-intensive companies, insurers typically benefit from rising interest rates.

Premiums are collected upfront, while claims are paid later. In the interim, insurers invest this "float" in conservative portfolios dominated by cash and fixed income. When interest rates rise, the yield on those investments increases, flowing directly through to higher investment income.

Not all insurers are created equal

That caveat is crucial. Insurance is not a one-way bet, and history is littered with examples of poor underwriting, mispriced risk, and capital mismanagement destroying shareholder value.

This is why investors need to differentiate between industry leaders and laggards.

On the ASX, companies such as Insurance Australia Group (ASX: IAG) and QBE Insurance Group (ASX: QBE) are frequently cited as bellwethers for the sector. Broker commentary has pointed to improving margins, rising premium rates, and the potential for earnings upgrades if catastrophe experience normalises over time.

Lessons from Warren Buffett

No discussion of insurance investing would be complete without mentioning Warren Buffett. Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) owned insurance businesses have been a central pillar of its success for decades, providing a steady stream of low-cost capital that Buffett has redeployed into high-quality investments.

That structure is unlikely to be directly replicable by everyday investors. However, the principle is highly relevant.

Buffett has long emphasised the importance of owning quality businesses with durable competitive advantages, strong balance sheets, and management teams that understand risk. Well-run insurers can meet those criteria when they combine disciplined underwriting with the intelligent use of float.

Foolish Takeaway

In a world where inflation remains elevated and interest rates stay higher for longer, insurance may not be exciting, but it can be effective.

For patient investors focused on steady compounding rather than short-term market narratives, high-quality insurers offer a combination of pricing power, defensive demand, and potential upside from higher rates.

As always, selectivity matters. But for those willing to look beyond the obvious growth stories, insurance could remain one of the market's quiet beneficiaries in the years ahead.

The post Investing in a higher-for-longer world and the ASX sector built to cope appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant owns shares in  Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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