Crestline Management LP Buys 3,453 Shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG)

Crestline Management LP increased its holdings in Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG - Free Report) by 21.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,588 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 3,453 shares during the quarter. Crestline Management LP's holdings in Principal Financial Group were worth $1,516,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Centiva Capital LP purchased a new position in Principal Financial Group in the fourth quarter worth about $3,301,000. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its position in shares of Principal Financial Group by 13.9% during the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 30,607 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,369,000 after buying an additional 3,731 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its position in shares of Principal Financial Group by 27.6% during the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 469,424 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,338,000 after buying an additional 101,579 shares in the last quarter. Alteri Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Principal Financial Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $259,000. Finally, Aptus Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Principal Financial Group by 12.4% during the 4th quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,109 shares of the company's stock valued at $241,000 after buying an additional 344 shares in the last quarter. 75.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Principal Financial Group Price Performance

NYSE:PFG traded up $0.06 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $78.90. The stock had a trading volume of 933,060 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,315,237. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a current ratio of 0.29. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $68.39 and a 52 week high of $91.98. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $78.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $81.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.69 billion, a PE ratio of 11.81, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.01.

Principal Financial Group (NYSE:PFG - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The company reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.83 by ($0.02). 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 posted $1.65 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side 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 company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be paid a $0.76 dividend. This is an increase from Principal Financial Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.85%. Principal Financial Group's payout ratio is presently 65.10%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Principal Financial Group from $68.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Principal Financial Group from $80.00 to $76.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Principal Financial Group from $65.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on Principal Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $93.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and set a $91.00 price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Principal Financial Group currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $83.54.

Principal Financial Group Company Profile

Principal Financial Group, Inc provides retirement, asset management, and insurance products and services to businesses, individuals, and institutional clients worldwide. The company operates through Retirement and Income Solutions, Principal Asset Management, and Benefits and Protection segments. The Retirement and Income Solutions segment provides retirement, and related financial products and services.