Principal Financial Group, Inc. $PFG Shares Sold by Vanguard Group Inc.

Vanguard Group Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG) by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 27,131,356 shares of the company’s stock after selling 213,708 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 12.18% of Principal Financial Group worth $2,249,461,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of PFG. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. lifted its stake in Principal Financial Group by 22.3% during the third quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 713 shares of the company’s stock valued at $59,000 after buying an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Principal Financial Group by 2.5% during the second quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 5,550 shares of the company’s stock valued at $449,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the period. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Principal Financial Group by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 9,389 shares of the company’s stock valued at $778,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Principal Financial Group by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,425 shares of the company’s stock worth $431,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the period. Finally, Vivid Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Principal Financial Group by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vivid Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,621 shares of the company’s stock worth $632,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the period. 75.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on PFG shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $103.00 price target on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $74.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Barclays reaffirmed an “underweight” rating and set a $85.00 price target on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley set a $93.00 price target on Principal Financial Group in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price objective on Principal Financial Group from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average price target of $93.22.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Deanna D. Strable-Soethout sold 7,340 shares of Principal Financial Group stock in a transaction on Friday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.00, for a total transaction of $697,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 136,828 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,998,660. This trade represents a 5.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 24,965 shares of company stock worth $2,352,460. Company insiders own 1.08% of the company’s stock.

Principal Financial Group Stock Performance

NYSE:PFG opened at $92.38 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $91.30 and a 200 day moving average price of $85.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.58 billion, a PE ratio of 13.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 0.89. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $68.39 and a 12-month high of $97.88.

Principal Financial Group (NYSE:PFG) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The company reported $2.19 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.22 by ($0.03). Principal Financial Group had a return on equity of 14.68% and a net margin of 9.74%.During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.94 EPS. Principal Financial Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.010-9.260 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Principal Financial Group, Inc. will post 8.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Principal Financial Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be issued a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 11th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. This is an increase from Principal Financial Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Principal Financial Group’s payout ratio is currently 60.72%.

About Principal Financial Group

Principal Financial Group, commonly known as Principal, is a global financial services company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. The firm provides a broad range of retirement, investment management and insurance solutions for individual, employer and institutional clients. Its core businesses include retirement plan services and recordkeeping, asset management, and life and disability insurance, supported by distribution through employers, financial advisors and direct channels.

On the retirement side, Principal offers 401(k) and other workplace retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and annuity products designed to help clients accumulate and manage retirement savings.