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ERIE vs. PFG: Erie Indemnity vs. Principal Financial Stock Comparison

How do Erie Indemnity (ERIE) 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

Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG) both belong to the Insurance industry, though ERIE is classified under Property & Casualty Insurance while PFG falls under Life & Health Insurance.

Company profile comparison for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG)
Profile ItemERIEPFG
NameErie Indemnity Company Class A Common StockPrincipal Financial Group Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupInsuranceInsurance
GICS IndustryInsuranceInsurance
GICS Sub-IndustryProperty & Casualty InsuranceLife & Health Insurance
Market Capitalization14.28 billion USD23.55 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateOctober 2, 1995October 23, 2001
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ERIE
PFG
GSPC
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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG)
MetricERIEPFG
Total Return (1Y)-3.52%43.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)0.54%22.99%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)5.47%15.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ERIE
PFG
GSPC
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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG)
MetricERIEPFG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.16%23.45%
Beta (5Y)0.220.86
Max Drawdown (5Y)-60.87%-29.32%
Avg. Volume (3M)236.89K1.26M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ERIE and PFG are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG)
MetricERIEPFG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.201.69
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.292.67

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Erie Indemnity (ERIE) at 23.70% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Principal Financial (PFG) at 16.11% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ERIE.

ERIE

Insurance industry group

23.70%

Max
41.68%
ERIE
23.70%
Q3
22.04%
Median
14.81%
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%
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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG): A comparison of their ROE against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Erie Indemnity (ERIE) at 13.98% 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.

ERIE

Insurance industry group

13.98%

Max
29.92%
Q3
17.03%
ERIE
13.98%
Median
10.97%
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%
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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG): A comparison of their net margin against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) 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

Profitability metrics for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG)
MetricERIEPFG
ROE (TTM)23.70%16.11%
ROA (TTM)13.48%0.46%
Net Margin (TTM)13.98%11.89%
Operating Margin (TTM)----
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Erie Indemnity (ERIE) at 7.41% 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.

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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Erie Indemnity (ERIE) at -6.88% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Principal Financial (PFG) at -21.41% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG)
MetricERIEPFG
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.41%-3.11%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)13.32%-3.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)-6.88%-21.41%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)23.25%-34.44%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Erie Indemnity (ERIE) 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: Erie Indemnity (ERIE) 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

Financial strength metrics for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG)
MetricERIEPFG
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Principal Financial (PFG) at 2.88% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Erie Indemnity (ERIE) at 2.05% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PFG the richer one.

ERIE

Insurance industry group

2.05%

Max
5.12%
Q3
2.15%
ERIE
2.05%
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%
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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Erie Indemnity (ERIE) at 53.13% and Principal Financial (PFG) at 36.19% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

ERIE

Insurance industry group

53.13%

Max
76.67%
ERIE
53.13%
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%
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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG)
MetricERIEPFG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.05%2.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)53.13%36.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Principal Financial (PFG) at 12.35 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Erie Indemnity (ERIE) at 24.80 sits in the richer quartile — ERIE needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ERIE

Insurance industry group

24.80

Max
28.37
ERIE
24.80
Q3
18.75
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
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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Principal Financial (PFG) at 1.42 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Erie Indemnity (ERIE) at 3.46 sits in the pricier quartile — ERIE costs more per dollar of sales.

ERIE

Insurance industry group

3.46

Max
4.03
ERIE
3.46
Q3
2.25
Median
1.23
Q1
0.85
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
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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Principal Financial (PFG) at 2.00 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Erie Indemnity (ERIE) at 5.59 prices above its benchmark range — ERIE looks rich relative to book.

ERIE

Insurance industry group

5.59

ERIE
5.59
Max
5.07
Q3
2.79
Median
1.76
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
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Erie Indemnity (ERIE) vs. Principal Financial (PFG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Erie Indemnity (ERIE) and Principal Financial (PFG)
MetricERIEPFG
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.8012.35
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.461.42
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.592.00
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----