Principal Financial Group (NYSE:PFG) CEO Deanna Strable-Soethout Sells 8,025 Shares

Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG) CEO Deanna Strable-Soethout sold 8,025 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.56, for a total value of $742,794.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 54,227 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,019,251.12. This represents a 12.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Principal Financial Group Trading Up 2.0%

Shares of Principal Financial Group stock opened at $93.00 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $20.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $68.39 and a 12-month high of $93.09. The business’s 50 day moving average is $88.37 and its 200-day moving average is $83.33.

Principal Financial Group (NYSE:PFG) last issued its earnings results on Monday, October 27th. The company reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.12. Principal Financial Group had a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 14.68%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.05 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Principal Financial Group, Inc. will post 8.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PFG. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Principal Financial Group by 3.5% during the third quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,444 shares of the company’s stock worth $286,000 after buying an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. raised its stake in Principal Financial Group by 22.3% in the 3rd quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 713 shares of the company’s stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC raised its stake in Principal Financial Group by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 5,550 shares of the company’s stock worth $449,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC boosted its holdings in Principal Financial Group by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 13,800 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,144,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the period. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Principal Financial Group by 18.3% during the 3rd quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 907 shares of the company’s stock worth $75,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. 75.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently commented on PFG. Barclays reiterated an “underweight” rating and set a $85.00 price target on shares of Principal Financial Group in a report on Thursday, January 8th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Principal Financial Group from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Principal Financial Group from $74.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $93.00 price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group in a report on Monday, December 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $92.88.

Principal Financial Group Company Profile

Principal Financial Group, commonly known as Principal, is a global financial services company headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. The firm provides a broad range of retirement, investment management and insurance solutions for individual, employer and institutional clients. Its core businesses include retirement plan services and recordkeeping, asset management, and life and disability insurance, supported by distribution through employers, financial advisors and direct channels.

On the retirement side, Principal offers 401(k) and other workplace retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and annuity products designed to help clients accumulate and manage retirement savings.