Asset Management One Co. Ltd. Acquires 448 Shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG)

Asset Management One Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG) by 0.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 109,548 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 448 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.’s holdings in Principal Financial Group were worth $8,513,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Principal Financial Group in the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Principal Financial Group in the third quarter worth approximately $43,000. Prospera Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Principal Financial Group in the third quarter worth approximately $45,000. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Principal Financial Group by 53.6% in the fourth quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC now owns 559 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Principal Financial Group in the third quarter worth approximately $50,000. Institutional investors own 75.08% of the company’s stock.

Principal Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE PFG opened at $85.65 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $80.13 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $82.16. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $72.21 and a 1-year high of $91.97. The firm has a market cap of $19.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a current ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

Principal Financial Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th will be issued a $0.75 dividend. This is a positive change from Principal Financial Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.50%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 12th. Principal Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.71%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on PFG shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Principal Financial Group from $75.00 to $69.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Barclays increased their price objective on Principal Financial Group from $77.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Principal Financial Group from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $95.00 to $92.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and issued a $91.00 price objective on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Principal Financial Group from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $85.54.

About Principal Financial Group

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.