DailyIQ
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Sector:Financial ServicesAll sectors
Last updated 3 minutes ago

PFG·Principal Financial Group, Inc.

$.
+. (+.%)
After Hours
High
$112.83
Open
$112.61
Market Cap
24.24B
52W High
$113.86
Low
$110.92
P. Close
$112.22
P/E
15.52
52W Low
$75.00
Fwd P/E
10.91
DailyIQ Est.
$98.93
Technical Score (1D)
91
BUY
News Sentiment
66
BULLISH
Jefferies just lifted its price target for Principal Financial Group to $98 from $91, signaling a modest bullish view that the company’s earnings trajectory may support a higher valuation. This adjustment follows Wells Fargo’s earlier lift to $114 from $100, indicating that multiple analysts see upside potential despite maintaining a hold rating. The concurrent target increases suggest that market participants are reassessing PFG’s growth prospects and risk profile in light of recent financial disclosures. As the next earnings release approaches, traders should watch whether reported results align with the new targets, which could confirm or undermine the optimistic outlook. Regulatory developments in the insurance and financial services sector remain a key watch item, as any policy shifts could materially affect PFG’s profitability. The divergence between Jefferies and Wells Fargo’s targets also introduces uncertainty; monitoring how the market reacts to the differing valuations will help gauge investor sentiment. In the short term, any earnings beat or miss could trigger a swift adjustment in the stock’s price range. Finally, keep an eye on broader market risk appetite, as a tightening environment could dampen the upside implied by the higher targets.
Earnings Summary
Principal Financial Group, a global financial services firm, delivers retirement and income solutions, asset management, and benefits and protection products, anchoring it within the asset management segment of the financial services sector. In the latest reporting period, Principal posted EPS of $2.07 in Q1 2026 versus an estimate of $2.064, a modest beat, while revenue fell to $3.52 billion from $4.46 billion in Q4 2025, missing the $4.07 billion estimate; compared to Q3 2025 revenue of $3.90 billion and Q2 2025 revenue of $3.69 billion, the company’s top‑line growth has slowed, and EPS has slipped from $2.19 in Q4 2025 to $2.07 in Q1 2026. Historically, Principal’s YoY revenue trend has been volatile, with a 9.2 % increase from Q4 2024 to Q4 2025 but a 12.4 % decline from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026; EPS has consistently outperformed expectations in Q4 2024 and Q1 2026, indicating earnings resilience amid revenue swings. Recent analyst commentary notes that Morgan Stanley and Barclays have raised price targets to $112 and $92 respectively, citing a supportive equity backdrop and improved underwriting performance, while Argus Research has cut its target to $113 amid margin pressure; the firm’s recent product expansion into guaranteed lifetime income and the addition of the Nuveen Lifecycle Income Index CIT Series suggest potential fee‑income growth that could offset recent revenue softness. Investors should watch for guidance on premium income, operating margins, fee‑based revenue, and investment portfolio performance in the upcoming Q2 2026 earnings, as well as any commentary on dividend policy and capital allocation, since these metrics will shape the company’s valuation trajectory in the near term.

EPS

EstBeatMiss
$1.73$1.90$2.06$2.23$2.40Q1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q2'26$2.32 - -
Q1'26$2.06$2.07+0.3%
Q4'25$2.25$2.19-2.5%
Q3'25$2.20$2.10-4.5%
Q2'25$1.97$2.16+9.6%
Q1'25$1.83$1.81-1.0%

Revenue

EstBeatMiss
$3.4B$3.7B$4.0B$4.3B$4.6BQ1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q2'26$4.1B - -
Q1'26$4.2B$3.5B-16.0%
Q4'25$4.1B$4.5B+9.5%
Q3'25 - $3.9B -
Q2'25 - $3.7B -
Q1'25 - $4.0B -
Full Earnings BreakdownEstimates, actuals, guidance, and historical context
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Market Data

PFG Stock Snapshot

PFG is currently trading at $112.23, giving Principal Financial Group, Inc. a market cap of 24.24B and a P/E ratio of 15.5. Today's range spans $110.92–$112.83, with shares opening at $112.61 and moving up $0.01 (0.0%) from the prior close. DailyIQ's technical score sits at 91/100 (BUY) with a news sentiment reading of 66/100.

Over the past year PFG has traded between $75.00 and $113.86 - the current price is +49.6% off the 52-week low and -1.4% from the high. 23 analysts cover the stock with a Hold consensus and a mean 12-month target of $103.08 (range $91.00–$125.00), implying downside of -8.2%.

The breakout geometry on PFG is constructive - price at $112.23 (near 52-week highs in $75.00–$113.86), scoring 91/100 (BUY) with bullish sentiment (66/100). (P/E: 15.5) At 24.24B in Financial Services market cap, technical breakouts through prior resistance at this capitalization tier tend to be better validated than in smaller-cap peers - institutional participation means that cleared levels attract follow-through buying rather than immediate fade behavior.

Earnings revision cycles in large-cap Financial Services names tend to compound: when technicals confirm a BUY thesis (91/100) and news sentiment (66/100, bullish) supports the narrative, analyst upgrades follow price rather than lead it. At $112.23 (near 52-week highs), PFG's position within the $75.00–$113.86 annual range suggests there's room for multiple expansion before the stock encounters meaningful technical resistance.