Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG) Shares Sold by International Private Wealth Advisors LLC

International Private Wealth Advisors LLC decreased its position in Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG) by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,812 shares of the company’s stock after selling 123 shares during the quarter. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Principal Financial Group were worth $242,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of PFG. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in shares of Principal Financial Group by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 6,602,298 shares of the company’s stock valued at $569,844,000 after acquiring an additional 152,774 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Principal Financial Group by 1.0% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,905,124 shares of the company’s stock valued at $306,393,000 after purchasing an additional 39,854 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in shares of Principal Financial Group by 2.9% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,903,138 shares of the company’s stock worth $149,301,000 after purchasing an additional 53,516 shares in the last quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd boosted its position in shares of Principal Financial Group by 27.2% in the third quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd now owns 540,212 shares of the company’s stock worth $46,404,000 after buying an additional 115,569 shares during the period. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers grew its stake in shares of Principal Financial Group by 0.5% in the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 478,129 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,509,000 after buying an additional 2,487 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.08% of the company’s stock.

Principal Financial Group Stock Performance

NYSE:PFG traded up $0.14 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $86.78. 105,388 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,128,768. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.85 billion, a P/E ratio of -96.27, a P/E/G ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.20. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $85.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $82.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $71.37 and a 52 week high of $91.97.

Principal Financial Group (NYSE:PFG) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.02 by ($0.26). Principal Financial Group had a negative net margin of 1.47% and a positive return on equity of 14.67%. The business had revenue of $3.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.92 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.72 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Principal Financial Group, Inc. will post 7.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Principal Financial Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 2nd will be paid a $0.73 dividend. This is an increase from Principal Financial Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. This represents a $2.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 2nd. Principal Financial Group’s payout ratio is presently -320.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on PFG shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on Principal Financial Group from $88.00 to $86.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Principal Financial Group from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $73.00 to $76.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, July 18th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group from $75.00 to $77.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Principal Financial Group from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $85.58.

Principal Financial Group Company Profile

Principal Financial Group, Inc provides retirement, asset management, and insurance products and services to businesses, individuals, and institutional clients worldwide. The company operates through Retirement and Income Solutions, Principal Asset Management, and Benefits and Protection segments. The Retirement and Income Solutions segment provides retirement, and related financial products and services.