Principal Financial Group stock weighs a 17 percent EPS gain

Principal Financial Group (ISIN US74251V1026) closed at USD 114.77 on Nasdaq on September 25, 2026, up 0.54 percent for the session and 5.29 percent below its 52-week high of USD 121.18. The latest operating picture combines a 17 percent adjusted EPS increase with pressure on asset-management flows.

EPS growth beats expectations

In the second quarter of 2026, adjusted non-GAAP EPS rose 17 percent year over year to USD 2.50, according to Equibles in its July 28, 2026 earnings-call transcript. Non-GAAP operating earnings reached USD 547.0 million, up 12 percent year over year, while operating margin expanded by 200 basis points.

MarketBeat reported that the USD 2.50 EPS result exceeded the USD 2.33 consensus estimate by USD 0.17. The same report put quarterly revenue at USD 3.91 billion against USD 4.11 billion expected, a shortfall that offsets part of the earnings beat.

Asset management adds pressure

Principal Financial said in the Q2 call that total company managed assets reached USD 808.0 billion, 7 percent above the year-ago quarter and 5 percent above the first quarter of 2026, according to Equibles. The company also reported USD 427.0 million returned to shareholders in the quarter, including USD 250.0 million in repurchases and USD 177.0 million in dividends.

The counter-factor is investment-management cash flow. The company described total net outflows of USD 11.0 billion in the quarter, concentrated in a small group of US active-equity strategies, while its committed but unfunded pipeline reached USD 10.0 billion, according to Equibles. That split matters because fee-based growth can remain resilient even as near-term flows weigh on asset management.

Stock remains below yearly high

Principal Financial Group stock traded between USD 113.57 and USD 115.53 on September 25, 2026, with volume of 1,242,152 shares. Its market capitalization was USD 24.6 billion on that date, while the 52-week range ran from USD 77.90 to USD 121.18.

The quarterly dividend was raised to USD 0.84 per share from USD 0.82, according to MarketBeat. The combination of earnings growth, shareholder returns and asset-management outflows gives the stock a clear two-sided operating profile.

Principal Financial Group stock snapshot

Principal Financial Group stock closed at USD 114.77 on Nasdaq on September 25, 2026, with a daily change of 0.54 percent. The stock was 5.29 percent below its 52-week high of USD 121.18.

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