PFG
Financial ServicesPrincipal Financial Group, Inc. · Asset Management · $22B
What is Principal Financial Group, Inc.?
Principal Financial Group is a large-cap financial services company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. It serves businesses, individuals, and institutional clients across retirement, asset management, and insurance — operating in both domestic and select international markets.
Principal generates revenue through four core segments: Retirement and Income Solutions, Principal Global Investors, Principal International, and U.S. Insurance Solutions. The retirement segment administers defined contribution plans such as 401(k) and 403(b) accounts, pension plans, and individual retirement accounts. The asset management arm manages equity, fixed income, real estate, and alternative strategies. The international segment extends pension and life insurance products across Latin America and Asia, while the insurance segment covers specialty benefits including group dental, vision, and life coverage.
Principal Financial Group was incorporated in its current public form in 2001 and is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.
- Defined contribution plan administration (401k, 403b)
- Institutional asset management across equity and fixed income
- International pension and life insurance accumulation products
- Specialty group benefits including dental and vision insurance
- Pension risk transfer and nonqualified executive benefit plans
Is PFG a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates PFG as Below Average overall.
Among the five pillars, Risk stands out as the clearest relative strength — suggesting the business carries a manageable risk profile compared to many peers in the financial services sector. Valuation is rated Attractive, meaning the stock may not be pricing in a premium relative to its fundamentals.
Growth and Moat are both rated Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation and constrained expansion prospects. Quality comes in at Neutral, offering little offset to those structural concerns.
Pro members can view the complete pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics behind each rating at uqs-score.com. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does PFG pay dividends?
Yes — Principal Financial Group, Inc. pays a dividend.
Principal Financial Group pays a regular dividend, consistent with its positioning as a mature financial services company. Dividend-paying insurers and retirement-focused firms often return capital to shareholders as organic growth opportunities remain measured. Investors seeking income exposure in the financial sector may find PFG's dividend cadence relevant, though the overall UQS profile warrants careful review alongside yield.
When does PFG report earnings?
Principal Financial Group reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed large-cap equities.
The company's Growth pillar is rated Weak, suggesting recent results have not demonstrated meaningful acceleration relative to sector peers. Risk is rated Good, which may indicate earnings have been relatively stable even if top-line expansion has been limited.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Principal Financial Group's investor relations page directly.
PFG Price History
+75.2% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Principal Financial Group, Inc.?
Based on Principal Financial Group, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
PFG Long-term Outlook
PFG's fundamental outlook reflects a business navigating a mature market with limited near-term growth catalysts. The Weak Growth pillar suggests the company's expansion trajectory — both domestically and internationally — faces structural headwinds. However, the Good Risk rating indicates the balance sheet and operational profile are not under acute stress. The Attractive Valuation label may reflect the market's tempered expectations rather than a compelling re-rating opportunity on its own.
Growth drivers
- International pension market expansion across Latin America and Asia
- Aging workforce demographics driving defined contribution plan demand
- Institutional asset management mandates in alternative investments
Key risks
- Weak competitive moat leaves market share vulnerable to larger asset managers
- Interest rate sensitivity across insurance and retirement product lines
- Limited pricing power in commoditized group benefits markets
PFG vs Peers
Principal Financial Group competes in the global retirement and insurance space alongside several regional and international peers.
NN Group is a European-based insurer with a focus on life insurance and retirement products across the Netherlands and other European markets, giving it a distinct geographic and regulatory profile compared to PFG.
Brookfield Wealth Solutions focuses on reinsurance and annuity solutions backed by Brookfield's alternative asset platform, differentiating it through asset-liability matching strategies tied to real assets.
iA Financial is a Canadian insurer offering life, health, and wealth management products, competing with PFG primarily in the individual insurance and group benefits space across North America.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Principal Financial Group do?
Principal Financial Group provides retirement savings, asset management, and insurance products to businesses, individuals, and institutional clients. Its four segments cover defined contribution plans, institutional investment management, international pension products, and U.S. specialty group benefits such as dental and vision insurance.
Does PFG pay dividends?
Yes, Principal Financial Group pays a regular dividend. As a mature financial services company, it returns capital to shareholders through consistent dividend distributions. Investors should review the current yield and payout history on Principal's investor relations page for the most up-to-date figures.
When does PFG report earnings?
Principal Financial Group follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence. For exact release dates and scheduled calls, check the company's investor relations page, as our data source does not cover forward-looking earnings dates.
Is PFG a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates PFG as Below Average overall. While Risk is rated Good and Valuation is Attractive, the Weak Growth and Weak Moat pillars raise meaningful questions about the company's competitive positioning and expansion trajectory. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is PFG overvalued?
UQS Score's Valuation pillar rates PFG as Attractive, suggesting the stock is not trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals. However, an attractive valuation alone does not offset concerns flagged in the Growth and Moat pillars. Context matters — see the full analysis for Pro members.
How does PFG compare to its competitors?
PFG operates alongside peers such as NN Group, Brookfield Wealth Solutions, and iA Financial. Each competitor brings a distinct geographic focus or product mix. PFG's broad U.S. retirement and international presence differentiates it, though its Weak Moat rating suggests limited structural advantages over rivals.
What is PFG's market cap bracket?
Principal Financial Group is classified as a large-cap company. This places it among the more established players in the financial services sector, typically associated with greater liquidity and institutional coverage than mid- or small-cap peers.
Who founded Principal Financial Group?
Principal Financial Group traces its roots to the Bankers Life Association, founded in 1879. The company reorganized and went public in its current corporate form in 2001. Full founding history is widely available through the company's official corporate timeline.
Is PFG a long-term quality investment?
From a long-term quality perspective, PFG's UQS profile presents a mixed picture. The Good Risk rating suggests operational stability, but Weak Growth and Weak Moat scores indicate the business may struggle to compound value at an above-average rate over time. Long-term investors should weigh these factors carefully.
What is the main competitive advantage of Principal Financial Group?
Principal's scale in defined contribution plan administration and its international retirement footprint across Latin America and Asia represent potential differentiators. However, UQS Score rates PFG's Moat as Weak, suggesting these advantages may not translate into durable pricing power or market share protection relative to larger asset managers.
What sector does PFG belong to?
PFG belongs to the Financial Services sector. Within that sector, it operates across retirement solutions, institutional asset management, and insurance — making it a diversified financial company rather than a pure-play insurer or asset manager.
Is PFG a growth stock or value stock?
Based on UQS pillar labels, PFG leans toward value territory — the Valuation pillar is rated Attractive while Growth is rated Weak. This profile is more consistent with a value-oriented or income-focused holding than a high-growth opportunity in the financial services space.
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Pro Analysis
PFG — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 48.3 | 59.3 | 28.0 | 36.7 | 35.7 | 91.9 | -0.1 |
| May 12, 2026 | 48.4 | 59.3 | 28.0 | 36.4 | 35.7 | 93.1 | -1.2 |
| May 7, 2026 | 49.6 | 51.1 | 28.0 | 36.4 | 62.2 | 88.5 | 0.0 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 49.6 | 51.1 | 28.0 | 36.4 | 62.2 | 88.0 | -0.1 |
| Apr 24, 2026 | 49.7 | 51.1 | 28.0 | 37.0 | 62.2 | 88.0 | -0.1 |
| Apr 21, 2026 | 49.8 | 51.1 | 28.0 | 37.3 | 62.2 | 88.0 | +0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 49.7 | 51.1 | 28.0 | 36.8 | 62.2 | 88.1 | -1.8 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 51.5 | 51.1 | 28.0 | 36.8 | 62.2 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | 51.5 | 51.1 | 28.0 | 37.1 | 62.2 | 100.0 | -0.1 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 51.6 | 51.1 | 28.0 | 37.7 | 62.2 | 100.0 | — |
PFG — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 59.3/100 (25%)Principal Financial Group, Inc. shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 36.6/100 (20%)Principal Financial Group, Inc. shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 35.7/100 (15%)Principal Financial Group, Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 92.0/100 (15%)Principal Financial Group, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 28/100 (25%)Principal Financial Group, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for PFG.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the PFG UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Principal Financial Group, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Principal Financial Group, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Principal Financial Group, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.