Assets of 131 listed companies jump by 10 billion dinars to 190.14 billion

Tarek Arabi

Balance sheet figures released for 131 companies listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange for the first half of 2026 reveal notable resilience demonstrated by these firms in the face of the exceptional repercussions of the US-Israeli-Iranian war, along with the accompanying geopolitical disruptions and economic volatility that have impacted various markets in the region.

The total asset base of the 131 companies recorded a jump of 10.04 billion dinars during the first half of the year, representing an annual increase of 5.58%. Data showed that the total value of assets for these 131 companies reached 190.14 billion dinars by the end of June, compared to 180.09 billion dinars at the end of the first half of 2025, an increase of 10.04 billion dinars.

The companies included in the statistics spanned 13 economic sectors, reflecting the significant diversity in the composition of the Kuwait Stock Exchange. This included nine banks, 42 financial services companies, eight insurance companies, 26 real estate companies, 19 industrial sector companies, 11 consumer services companies, five energy companies, four telecommunications companies, two companies each in the basic materials and consumer goods sectors, and one company each in the technology, healthcare, and utilities sectors.

Profits bolstered the positive picture reflected by asset movements, as the profits of the companies included in the statistics rose by 7.94% annually during the first half of the current year, reaching 1.36 billion dinars. This growth confirms that the expansion of balance sheets was not merely an accounting increase in asset size, but occurred alongside a clear ability to generate profits.

Net profit for the second quarter of the current year recorded an exceptional jump of 89.72% on an annual basis, reaching 969.58 million dinars. This performance reflects an improvement in companies' ability to achieve returns and seize available market opportunities, even during a period marked by unprecedented regional conditions.

Ten listed companies reinforced this positive image by making decisions to distribute interim half-year dividends worth 306.74 million dinars. This step reflects the availability of liquidity and the ability to reward shareholders while companies continue to strengthen their financial positions.

Data showed that asset growth was not confined to a limited number of activities but extended to nine out of the 13 sectors listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange. This reflects the broad scope of the financial strength possessed by Kuwaiti companies and the diversity of growth sources within the market.

The insurance sector led the list of fastest-growing sectors in assets, with an annual increase of 16.82%, reflecting the expansion of the financial base of insurance companies and their growing capacity to support their activities and strengthen their positions to keep pace with market needs.

The energy sector came in second with growth of approximately 15.19%, benefiting from the sector's strategic importance and its pivotal position in the Kuwaiti economy. Meanwhile, assets in the basic materials sector rose by 13.68%, reflecting the strength of activities related to production chains and raw materials.

The real estate sector recorded asset growth of 10.63%, while telecommunications sector assets rose by 10.04%, jointly confirming the ability of real estate and telecommunications activities to maintain their investment appeal and strengthen their financial bases despite economic changes.

Consumer services sector assets increased by 8.66%, while the banking sector bolstered its asset base by 7.36%. Financial services sector assets rose by 5.58%, and the technology sector recorded growth of approximately 2.12%.

These distributions reveal that financial strength was not limited to traditional sectors but also included modern, service, and consumer sectors, thereby providing the Kuwaiti economy with a more diversified base capable of distributing risks and enhancing growth opportunities.

The banking sector confirmed its position as the largest component of the Kuwaiti market in terms of asset size, accounting for 73.65% of the total assets of the 131 companies, valued at 140.03 billion dinars at the end of June 2026.

The financial services sector ranked second with assets totaling 24.93 billion dinars, holding a share of 13.11% of total assets, thereby confirming the expansion of the non-banking financial institutions' base and their increasing role in the market.

The telecommunications sector came in third with assets totaling 8.02 billion dinars, representing a 4.2% share, followed by the real estate sector with assets of 7.35 billion dinars and a share of 3.86%.

The industrial sector recorded assets valued at 3.40 billion dinars, while the insurance sector's assets reached 2.94 billion dinars, and the consumer services sector recorded 1.58 billion dinars, reflecting the expansion of the asset base and its distribution across a wide range of economic activities.

Data showed that seven listed sectors recorded assets exceeding one billion dinars, collectively accounting for more than 99% of the total assets of the disclosed companies. This reflects the substantial financial base upon which companies listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange rely.

Among sectors with assets under one billion dinars, the energy sector led with assets of 721.38 million dinars, followed by the utilities sector with 428.13 million dinars, and the consumer goods sector with assets of 365.47 million dinars.

Healthcare sector assets amounted to 292.01 million dinars, while the basic materials sector recorded assets of approximately 67.30 million dinars. The technology sector ranked last with assets of 13.74 million dinars.

These figures confirm that the Kuwait Stock Exchange does not rely on a single economic activity but includes an integrated system of companies distributed across various sectors. This provides the market with greater capacity to withstand fluctuations and capitalize on opportunities arising at each economic stage.

Data showed that 16 listed companies recorded assets exceeding one billion dinars by the end of June, with a total value estimated at 171.18 billion dinars, representing 90.03% of the total assets of the 131 disclosed companies.

This high percentage reflects the degree of financial concentration among large companies, which form a fundamental pillar of the Kuwaiti market and possess financial and operational capabilities that enable them to continue investing, expanding, and enhancing their ability to cope with changes.

Conversely, 115 listed companies recorded assets in the millions by the end of the first half of the current year, with a total value of 18.96 billion dinars, accounting for 9.97% of the total asset value.

This structure reveals a broad base of companies of varying sizes, reflecting the diversity of the market between large companies, medium-sized institutions, and smaller entities. It provides an environment that allows for business model diversity and varied investment opportunities.

Data confirmed that the upward trend in assets was not confined to large companies, as 100 listed companies succeeded in increasing their asset volume by 7.92%, equivalent to 13.49 billion dinars.

The assets of these companies reached approximately 183.90 billion dinars by the end of the first half of 2026, compared to 170.41 billion dinars at the end of the same period last year, reflecting the broad scope of growth and its spread across a wide base of companies.