CNA vs. PFG: CNA Financial vs. Principal Financial Stock Comparison
How do CNA Financial (CNA) and Principal Financial (PFG) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
CNA Financial (CNA) and Principal Financial (PFG) both belong to the Insurance industry, though CNA is classified under Property & Casualty Insurance while PFG falls under Life & Health Insurance.
| Profile Item | CNA | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CNA Financial Corporation Common Stock | Principal Financial Group Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Property & Casualty Insurance | Life & Health Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 12.81 billion USD | 23.55 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | October 23, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CNA | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 13.42% | 43.88% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 15.22% | 22.99% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 9.00% | 15.02% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CNA | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.85% | 23.45% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.22 | 0.86 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -25.67% | -29.32% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 454.06K | 1.26M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CNA | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.44 | 1.69 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.62 | 2.67 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both CNA Financial (CNA) at 9.56% and Principal Financial (PFG) at 16.11% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
CNA
Insurance industry group
9.56%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- CNA
- 9.56%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
PFG
Insurance industry group
16.11%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- PFG
- 16.11%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both CNA Financial (CNA) at 6.80% and Principal Financial (PFG) at 11.89% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
CNA
Insurance industry group
6.80%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- CNA
- 6.80%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
PFG
Insurance industry group
11.89%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- PFG
- 11.89%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for CNA Financial (CNA) in Insurance and Principal Financial (PFG) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CNA | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.56% | 16.11% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.29% | 0.46% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 6.80% | 11.89% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
CNA Financial (CNA) at 5.10% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Principal Financial (PFG) at -3.11% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
CNA Financial (CNA) at 33.24% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Principal Financial (PFG) at -21.41% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CNA | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.10% | -3.11% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.36% | -3.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 33.24% | -21.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 12.66% | -34.44% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: CNA Financial (CNA) in Insurance and Principal Financial (PFG) in Insurance both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: CNA Financial (CNA) in Insurance and Principal Financial (PFG) in Insurance run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CNA | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both CNA Financial (CNA) at 3.95% and Principal Financial (PFG) at 2.88% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
CNA
Insurance industry group
3.95%
- Max
- 5.12%
- CNA
- 3.95%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PFG
Insurance industry group
2.88%
- Max
- 5.12%
- PFG
- 2.88%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both CNA Financial (CNA) at 50.26% and Principal Financial (PFG) at 36.19% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.
CNA
Insurance industry group
50.26%
- Max
- 76.67%
- CNA
- 50.26%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PFG
Insurance industry group
36.19%
- Max
- 76.67%
- PFG
- 36.19%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CNA | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.95% | 2.88% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 50.26% | 36.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both CNA Financial (CNA) at 12.52 and Principal Financial (PFG) at 12.35 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
CNA
Insurance industry group
12.52
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- CNA
- 12.52
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
PFG
Insurance industry group
12.35
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- PFG
- 12.35
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
CNA Financial (CNA) at 0.84 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Principal Financial (PFG) at 1.42 prices around its industry’s middle — CNA costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
CNA
Insurance industry group
0.84
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- CNA
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.07
PFG
Insurance industry group
1.42
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- PFG
- 1.42
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both CNA Financial (CNA) at 1.25 and Principal Financial (PFG) at 2.00 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
CNA
Insurance industry group
1.25
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- CNA
- 1.25
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
PFG
Insurance industry group
2.00
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- PFG
- 2.00
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CNA | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.52 | 12.35 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.84 | 1.42 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.25 | 2.00 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |