Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in Principal Financial Group, Inc. $PFG

Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised its position in Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG) by 19.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 35,645 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 5,737 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC’s holdings in Principal Financial Group were worth $2,961,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of PFG. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC grew 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 valued at $449,000 after buying an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in Principal Financial Group by 4.0% during the second quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,035 shares of the company’s stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Gentry Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in Principal Financial Group by 2.2% during the second quarter. Gentry Private Wealth LLC now owns 7,099 shares of the company’s stock valued at $564,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Principal Financial Group by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,425 shares of the company’s stock worth $431,000 after acquiring an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vivid Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Principal Financial Group by 2.4% during the third quarter. Vivid Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,621 shares of the company’s stock worth $632,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.08% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays reaffirmed an “underweight” rating and issued a $85.00 price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $103.00 target price on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Principal Financial Group from $74.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Principal Financial Group from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Principal Financial Group presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $92.88.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Wee Yee Cheong sold 1,887 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.04, for a total value of $160,470.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 81,421 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,924,041.84. This trade represents a 2.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Deanna D. Strable-Soethout sold 8,025 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.56, for a total transaction of $742,794.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 54,227 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,019,251.12. The trade was a 12.89% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 10,212 shares of company stock valued at $931,014. 1.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Principal Financial Group Stock Up 0.8%

PFG opened at $94.76 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.19, a PEG 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. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $89.04 and a 200-day moving average price of $83.57. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $68.39 and a twelve month high of $95.40.

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

Principal Financial Group 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.