CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp Boosts Stock Position in Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG)

CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp lifted its holdings in Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG - Free Report) by 4.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 109,318 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,309 shares during the quarter. CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp's holdings in Principal Financial Group were worth $9,223,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Curio Wealth LLC bought a new position in Principal Financial Group during the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Principal Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Navigoe LLC purchased a new position in shares of Principal Financial Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of Principal Financial Group by 144.3% during the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 540 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 319 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MorganRosel Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Principal Financial Group during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $46,000. Institutional investors own 75.08% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group from $80.00 to $76.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $68.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $86.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Principal Financial Group from $67.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price objective on Principal Financial Group from $93.00 to $80.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. 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 issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Principal Financial Group has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $83.85.

Principal Financial Group Stock Down 0.5%

NYSE PFG traded down $0.42 on Wednesday, reaching $80.42. 226,114 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,324,090. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $68.39 and a 12 month high of $91.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a current ratio of 0.29. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $77.46 and a 200-day moving average price of $79.53. The company has a market cap of $18.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.04, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.00.

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 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 quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.65 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Principal Financial Group, Inc. will post 8.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Principal Financial Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.76 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 2nd. This is an increase from Principal Financial Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.78%. Principal Financial Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 65.10%.

About Principal Financial Group

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.