Principal Financial Group (NYSE:PFG) Price Target Raised to $96.00

Principal Financial Group (NYSE:PFG) had its target price increased by Bank of America from $95.00 to $96.00 in a research note released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. Bank of America currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

Several other research firms have also recently issued reports on PFG. Barclays reissued an “underweight” rating and issued a $85.00 price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on Principal Financial Group from $94.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 23rd. UBS Group upped their target price on Principal Financial Group from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and set a $103.00 price target on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Principal Financial Group from $74.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $93.22.

Principal Financial Group Stock Performance

Shares of Principal Financial Group stock opened at $90.51 on Tuesday. 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 stock’s fifty day moving average is $91.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $84.57. Principal Financial Group has a 52 week low of $68.39 and a 52 week high of $97.88. The company has a market capitalization of $20.16 billion, a PE ratio of 13.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 0.89.

Principal Financial Group (NYSE:PFG) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The company reported $2.19 earnings per share 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. As a group, analysts expect that Principal Financial Group will post 8.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Principal Financial Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced 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. This is a boost from Principal Financial Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 11th. Principal Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 60.72%.

Insider Activity at Principal Financial Group

In other news, CEO Deanna D. Strable-Soethout sold 7,340 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.00, for a total value of $697,300.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 136,828 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,998,660. This trade represents a 5.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders have sold 24,965 shares of company stock worth $2,352,460 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 1.08% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Principal Financial Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Traub Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Principal Financial Group in the second quarter worth $26,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Principal Financial Group in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Hilton Head Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Principal Financial Group in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Capital A Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Principal Financial Group by 5,533.3% during the 2nd quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 338 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 332 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Curio Wealth LLC increased its position in Principal Financial Group by 37,800.0% during the 2nd quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 379 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 378 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.08% of the company’s stock.

Principal Financial Group Company Profile

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.