Principal Financial Group (NASDAQ:PFG) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.17 EPS

Principal Financial Group (NASDAQ:PFG) announced its earnings results on Monday. The company reported $2.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.33 by $0.17, Zacks reports. Principal Financial Group had a net margin of 9.93% and a return on equity of 16.61%. The company had revenue of $3.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.11 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.16 earnings per share.

Principal Financial Group Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ PFG opened at $114.09 on Wednesday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $108.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $98.73. Principal Financial Group has a 52-week low of $75.00 and a 52-week high of $114.90. The company has a market cap of $24.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.27.

Principal Financial Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.84 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 3rd. This is a positive change from Principal Financial Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.9%. Principal Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is 46.92%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on PFG. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on Principal Financial Group from $102.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Raymond James Financial downgraded shares of Principal Financial Group from a “strong-buy” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $99.00 to $111.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 19th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $107.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Evercore set a $108.00 price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research note on Monday, April 27th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group from $94.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Principal Financial Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $105.75.

Insider Buying and Selling at Principal Financial Group

In other news, insider Wee Yee Cheong sold 9,183 shares of Principal Financial Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.26, for a total value of $929,870.58. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 77,188 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,816,056.88. The trade was a 10.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders sold a total of 24,666 shares of company stock worth $2,516,588 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Principal Financial Group

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. DV Equities LLC purchased a new stake in Principal Financial Group during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. FWL Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Principal Financial Group in the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new stake in shares of Principal Financial Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $49,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Principal Financial Group in the 4th quarter worth about $81,000. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Principal Financial Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $86,000. 75.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Principal Financial Group News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Principal Financial Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 earnings beat expectations: Principal reported non-GAAP operating earnings of $2.50 per share, up from $2.16 a year earlier and above the $2.33 analyst consensus. Stronger underwriting revenue and margin expansion helped offset higher expenses. PFG Q2 Earnings Beat on Solid Underwriting, Revenues Rise Year Over Year
• Positive Sentiment: Operating performance showed year-over-year growth: Net income attributable to Principal was $403 million, while non-GAAP net income excluding exited businesses reached $535 million. Management’s earnings-call materials emphasized strong earnings growth and operating momentum. Principal Financial Group Q2 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend increased: Principal declared a quarterly dividend of $0.84 per share, up 2.4% from $0.82, supporting the stock’s income appeal. The annualized yield was reported at approximately 2.9%. Principal Financial dips despite Q2 earnings beat, dividend raise
• Neutral Sentiment: Revenue was mixed: Quarterly revenue of $3.99 billion increased from the prior-year period but fell short of the $4.11 billion consensus estimate, limiting the upside from the earnings beat. Principal Financial Group Q2 Earnings Report
• Negative Sentiment: Bank of America remains cautious: The firm raised its price target from $94 to $104 but maintained an “underperform” rating, implying downside from the stock’s recent level. Bank of America price-target update

Principal Financial Group Company Profile

Principal Financial Group (NASDAQ: PFG) is a global financial services company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, that provides a range of retirement, investment and insurance solutions to individuals, employers and institutional clients. The firm’s business is organized around retirement services, asset management, and insurance products designed to help clients plan, invest for, and protect income over the long term.

Principal’s product and service offerings include retirement plan recordkeeping and administration for employer-sponsored plans, individual and group retirement annuities, life and disability insurance, employee benefits solutions, and wealth management services.