Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ Sells 6,481 Shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. $PFG

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ reduced its holdings in shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG) by 12.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 45,483 shares of the company’s stock after selling 6,481 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ’s holdings in Principal Financial Group were worth $3,771,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Capital Management Corp VA raised its holdings in shares of Principal Financial Group by 19.2% during the third quarter. Capital Management Corp VA now owns 172,736 shares of the company’s stock valued at $14,322,000 after purchasing an additional 27,857 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its position in Principal Financial Group by 160.3% in the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 48,902 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,978,000 after purchasing an additional 30,118 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd raised its stake in Principal Financial Group by 41.5% during the 3rd quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 127,368 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,504,000 after buying an additional 37,357 shares during the last quarter. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Principal Financial Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $18,526,000. Finally, Capital Fund Management S.A. purchased a new position in shares of Principal Financial Group in the 2nd quarter worth $1,486,000. Institutional investors own 75.08% of the company’s stock.

Principal Financial Group Trading Up 3.9%

Principal Financial Group stock opened at $95.76 on Friday. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $68.39 and a 12-month high of $97.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.34, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 0.89. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $91.42 and a 200 day moving average of $85.17. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

Principal Financial Group (NYSE:PFG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The company reported $2.19 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.22 by ($0.03). Principal Financial Group had a return on equity of 14.68% and a net margin of 9.74%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.94 earnings per share. Principal Financial Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.010-9.260 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Principal Financial Group, Inc. will post 8.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Principal Financial Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be issued a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 11th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. This is an increase from Principal Financial Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.79. Principal Financial Group’s payout ratio is currently 60.72%.

Insider Transactions at Principal Financial Group

In other news, CEO Deanna D. Strable-Soethout sold 7,340 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.00, for a total value of $697,300.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 136,828 shares in the company, valued at $12,998,660. The trade was a 5.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 24,965 shares of company stock valued at $2,352,460. Corporate insiders own 1.08% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently commented on PFG. Barclays reiterated an “underweight” rating and set a $85.00 price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Piper Sandler upped their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $94.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 23rd. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Morgan Stanley set a $93.00 target price on shares of Principal Financial Group in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $74.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average price target of $93.22.

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.