HIG vs. PFG: Hartford Insurance vs. Principal Financial Stock Comparison
How do Hartford Insurance (HIG) 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
Hartford Insurance (HIG) and Principal Financial (PFG) both belong to the Insurance industry, though HIG is classified under Multi-line Insurance while PFG falls under Life & Health Insurance.
| Profile Item | HIG | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. | 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 | Multi-line Insurance | Life & Health Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 35.83 billion USD | 23.55 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 15, 1995 | October 23, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HIG | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.95% | 43.88% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 24.69% | 22.99% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 15.57% | 15.02% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HIG | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 20.18% | 23.45% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.46 | 0.86 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -18.63% | -29.32% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.65M | 1.26M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HIG | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.08 | 1.69 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.12 | 2.67 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Hartford Insurance (HIG) at 23.25% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Principal Financial (PFG) at 16.11% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for HIG.
HIG
Insurance industry group
23.25%
- Max
- 41.68%
- HIG
- 23.25%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Hartford Insurance (HIG) at 15.58% 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.
HIG
Insurance industry group
15.58%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- HIG
- 15.58%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Hartford Insurance (HIG) 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 | HIG | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 23.25% | 16.11% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.09% | 0.46% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.58% | 11.89% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Hartford Insurance (HIG) at 6.39% 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
Hartford Insurance (HIG) at 28.70% 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 | HIG | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.39% | -3.11% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.70% | -3.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 28.70% | -21.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 34.78% | -34.44% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Hartford Insurance (HIG) 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: Hartford Insurance (HIG) 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 | HIG | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Hartford Insurance (HIG) at 1.75% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PFG the richer one.
HIG
Insurance industry group
1.75%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- HIG
- 1.75%
- 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)
Hartford Insurance (HIG) at 15.48% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Principal Financial (PFG) at 36.19% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
HIG
Insurance industry group
15.48%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- HIG
- 15.48%
- 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 | HIG | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.75% | 2.88% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.48% | 36.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Hartford Insurance (HIG) at 8.97 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Principal Financial (PFG) at 12.35 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for HIG, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
HIG
Insurance industry group
8.97
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- HIG
- 8.97
- 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)
On P/S ratio, both Hartford Insurance (HIG) at 1.21 and Principal Financial (PFG) at 1.42 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
HIG
Insurance industry group
1.21
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- HIG
- 1.21
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Hartford Insurance (HIG) at 1.94 and Principal Financial (PFG) at 2.00 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
HIG
Insurance industry group
1.94
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- HIG
- 1.94
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HIG | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.97 | 12.35 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.21 | 1.42 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.94 | 2.00 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |