Principal Financial Group (PFG) Competitors

Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC) and Principal Financial Group (NASDAQ:PFG) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, media sentiment, earnings, risk, valuation, institutional ownership and profitability.

Is MFC or PFG a better dividend stock?

Manulife Financial pays an annual dividend of $1.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.1%. Principal Financial Group pays an annual dividend of $3.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.8%. Manulife Financial pays out 67.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Principal Financial Group pays out 65.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Manulife Financial has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years and Principal Financial Group has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years. Manulife Financial is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Does the media refer more to MFC or PFG?

In the previous week, Manulife Financial had 5 more articles in the media than Principal Financial Group. MarketBeat recorded 7 mentions for Manulife Financial and 2 mentions for Principal Financial Group. Manulife Financial's average media sentiment score of 1.37 beat Principal Financial Group's score of 0.00 indicating that Manulife Financial is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
Manulife Financial	5 Very Positive mention(s)	1 Positive mention(s)	1 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive
Principal Financial Group	0 Very Positive mention(s)	1 Positive mention(s)	1 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Neutral

Which has more risk and volatility, MFC or PFG?

Manulife Financial has a beta of 0.99, indicating that its share price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Principal Financial Group has a beta of 0.99, indicating that its share price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Which has stronger valuation & earnings, MFC or PFG?

Manulife Financial has higher revenue and earnings than Principal Financial Group. Manulife Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Principal Financial Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Manulife Financial	$38.90B	1.37	$4.11B	$1.91	16.39
Principal Financial Group	$16.13B	1.13	$1.57B	$4.67	17.36

Do insiders & institutionals have more ownership in MFC or PFG?

52.6% of Manulife Financial shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.1% of Principal Financial Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.0% of Manulife Financial shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of Principal Financial Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Is MFC or PFG more profitable?

Manulife Financial has a net margin of 9.58% compared to Principal Financial Group's net margin of 6.89%. Manulife Financial's return on equity of 15.84% beat Principal Financial Group's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Manulife Financial	9.58%	15.84%	0.75%
Principal Financial Group	6.89%	14.85%	0.53%

Do analysts recommend MFC or PFG?

Manulife Financial currently has a consensus price target of $48.50, suggesting a potential upside of 54.92%. Given Manulife Financial's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Manulife Financial is more favorable than Principal Financial Group.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Manulife Financial	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	1 Strong Buy rating(s)	3.00
Principal Financial Group	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	0 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	0.00

Summary

Manulife Financial beats Principal Financial Group on 14 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.