ATP earns 17.3 billion kroner from investments in first half of year

Denmark’s statutory pension fund ATP earned just over 17.3 billion kroner from its investment portfolio in the first half of 2026, more than double the 7.5 billion kroner recorded in the same period last year.

Listed foreign equities contributed particularly to the return, according to ATP. Chief Executive Martin Præstegaard said he was satisfied with the first-half result but cautioned that short-term performance was not the fund’s main measure of success.

"I am satisfied with the return in the first half of 2026, but in the bigger picture it is not so decisive how the return develops from half-year to half-year," Præstegaard said in a press release. "What matters is the pension we deliver to Danes over 10 and 20 years."

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I am satisfied with the return in the first half of 2026, but in the bigger picture it is not so decisive how the return develops from half-year to half-year.

ATP is a mandatory pension scheme funded by employees working at least nine hours and their employers. People receiving transfer income also belong to the scheme, which has about 5.8 million members. It provides a lifelong, guaranteed monthly payment alongside the state pension. A full ATP pension amounted to 26,000 kroner in 2025.

The half-year results came after ATP announced that it would review its investment strategy. The decision followed recommendations from an external evaluation group. ATP began an independent review in early 2025 after criticism of its investment model, which suffered an unusually large loss of 64.5 billion kroner in 2022.

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What matters is the pension we deliver to Danes over 10 and 20 years.