Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Boosts Stock Holdings in Principal Financial Group, Inc. $PFG

Key Points

• Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH boosted its stake in Principal Financial Group by 49.2% to 207,809 shares, now owning about 0.09% of the company worth $18.37 million.
• Principal Financial Group raised its quarterly dividend to $0.82 (up from $0.80), implying a ~3.3% yield with an ex-dividend date of June 1 and a payout ratio of 45.78%.
• The company reported quarterly EPS of $2.20 with a 10.1% net margin and 16.3% ROE, while analysts hold a consensus "Hold" rating and an average price target of $93.78.

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH lifted its stake in shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:PFG - Free Report) by 49.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 207,809 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 68,524 shares during the quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned 0.09% of Principal Financial Group worth $18,374,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of PFG. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Principal Financial Group during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. FWL Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Principal Financial Group in the third quarter valued at $32,000. Rialto Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Principal Financial Group by 3,754.5% in the fourth quarter. Rialto Wealth Management LLC now owns 424 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 413 shares during the last quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Principal Financial Group by 315.7% in the fourth quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 424 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Principal Financial Group in the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.08% of the company's stock.

Principal Financial Group Stock Performance

NASDAQ PFG opened at $99.34 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.27 and a quick ratio of 0.27. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $71.54 and a 1 year high of $101.54. The company has a market capitalization of $21.52 billion, a PE ratio of 14.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a fifty day moving average of $91.71 and a two-hundred day moving average of $88.70.

Principal Financial Group (NASDAQ:PFG - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 18th. The company reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Principal Financial Group had a net margin of 10.10% and a return on equity of 16.30%. The company had revenue of $4.58 billion during the quarter. As a group, analysts expect that Principal Financial Group, Inc. will post 9.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Principal Financial Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 1st will be paid a $0.82 dividend. This is a boost from Principal Financial Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 1st. Principal Financial Group's payout ratio is currently 45.78%.

Insider Transactions at Principal Financial Group

In other Principal Financial Group news, CEO Deanna D. Strable-Soethout sold 9,300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.12, for a total value of $884,616.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 144,168 shares in the company, valued at $13,713,260.16. This represents a 6.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Bank of America dropped their target price on Principal Financial Group from $96.00 to $92.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. UBS Group increased their target price on Principal Financial Group from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $103.00 target price on shares of Principal Financial Group in a report on Monday, January 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued a "hold" rating and issued a $92.00 target price on shares of Principal Financial Group in a report on Thursday, March 26th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Principal Financial Group from $85.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Principal Financial Group has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $93.78.

Principal Financial Group News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Principal Financial Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 earnings topped expectations and profitability strengthened: EPS beat estimates (reported ~$2.07/sh) as fee income and AUM growth drove profit and margin expansion, supporting near-term earnings momentum. PFG Q1 Earnings Top Estimates, Revenues Decline Y/Y, Dividend Up
• Positive Sentiment: Management signaled confidence in its 2026 targets after Q1 margin gains — reiterating 9%–12% EPS growth and a 15%–17% ROE target — which supports the stock’s re-rating on expectations of sustainable profitability improvement. Principal signals confidence in 2026 targets...
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend raised: the board approved a quarterly payout of $0.82 (up 2.5%), implying a ~3.3% yield — a shareholder-friendly move that supports income-focused investor demand.
• Neutral Sentiment: The full Q1 earnings call transcript is available for details on segment performance and capital deployment — useful for investors wanting color on sustainability of fee income and reserve trends. PFG Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue declined year-over-year and missed consensus materially (reported ~$3.52B vs. ~4.11B consensus), reflecting weaker top-line activity despite margin gains — a risk if revenue trends persist. View Press Release

Principal Financial Group Profile

Principal Financial Group NASDAQ: PFG is a global financial services company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, that provides a range of retirement, investment and insurance solutions to individuals, employers and institutional clients. The firm's business is organized around retirement services, asset management, and insurance products designed to help clients plan, invest for, and protect income over the long term.

Principal's product and service offerings include retirement plan recordkeeping and administration for employer-sponsored plans, individual and group retirement annuities, life and disability insurance, employee benefits solutions, and wealth management services.

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