Principal Financial Group, Inc. — Cyborg Score 7/10
Solid
Financial Services - Retirement Plans, Asset Management, and Insurance
Strategic Profile
Principal focuses on three attractive profit pools: the retirement ecosystem, small and midsize businesses (SMB), and global asset management, with an integrated model connecting capabilities across recordkeeping, asset management, wealth management, and income solutions. The company raised its ROE target to 15%–17% and reported 2025 adjusted EPS growth of 12% with strong free cash flow performance.
Cyborg Score Rationale
Principal reported 2025 adjusted EPS growth of 12% at the top of guidance with raised ROE targets and strong free cash flow. The company demonstrates strong cash generation capabilities with a free cash flow yield of 19.79% and free cash flow margin of 26.4%. However, mixed analyst sentiment and valuation warrant monitoring.
Top Insights
Record RIS transfer deposits of $12 billion in Q4, up 35% YoY, with investment management gross sales of $127 billion up 16% driven by 18% non-affiliated growth
Company divesting Chilean runoff annuities business to refocus on higher growth, higher return businesses, with transaction expected to close Q3 2026 and support elevated share repurchases
SMB is a core multi-decade focus with Principal's retirement business spanning employers up to 1,000 employees, while benefits concentration in SMB shows outsized growth
New CEO Deanna Strable assumed leadership in January 2025, bringing prior experience as President and Chief Operating Officer
Named Competitors
Fidelity Retirement Services — Leading retirement plan recordkeeping and administration
BlackRock iShares — Global asset management leader
Vanguard Funds — Investment management and retirement solutions
Prudential Insurance — Life insurance and retirement products
Recent Developments
(February 2026) CEO Strable highlights AI investments and raises ROE guidance to 15-17% at BofA conference
(February 2026) Q4 2025 earnings show 12% adjusted EPS growth with $12B RIS transfer deposits and 35% YoY increase
(2024) Company acquires Ascensus ESOP business adding 800 plans and 165,000+ participants
Open the full interactive Principal Financial Group, Inc. report
Strategic research, analyst-debate audio, full Cyborg Score breakdown across 11 dimensions, and saved-company audio playlists.