MET vs. PFG: MetLife vs. Principal Financial Stock Comparison
How do MetLife (MET) 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
MetLife (MET) and Principal Financial (PFG) are both classified in the Life & Health Insurance sub-industry within the broader Insurance industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | MET | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | MetLife, 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 | Life & Health Insurance | Life & Health Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 61.76 billion USD | 23.55 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | April 5, 2000 | October 23, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MET | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 38.57% | 43.88% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 23.59% | 22.99% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.62% | 15.02% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MET | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 24.21% | 23.45% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.77 | 0.86 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.09% | -29.32% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.05M | 1.26M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MET | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.42 | 1.69 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.10 | 2.67 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both MetLife (MET) at 19.92% 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.
MET
Insurance industry group
19.92%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- MET
- 19.92%
- 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 MetLife (MET) at 6.21% 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.
MET
Insurance industry group
6.21%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- MET
- 6.21%
- 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 MetLife (MET) 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 | MET | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.92% | 16.11% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.60% | 0.46% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 6.21% | 11.89% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
MetLife (MET) at 7.88% 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
Both MetLife (MET) at -21.04% and Principal Financial (PFG) at -21.41% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MET | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.88% | -3.11% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.92% | -3.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -21.04% | -21.41% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.50% | -34.44% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: MetLife (MET) 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: MetLife (MET) 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 | MET | 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 MetLife (MET) at 0.57% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PFG the richer one.
MET
Insurance industry group
0.57%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- MET
- 0.57%
- 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)
MetLife (MET) at 30.33% 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.
MET
Insurance industry group
30.33%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- MET
- 30.33%
- 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 | MET | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.57% | 2.88% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 30.33% | 36.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both MetLife (MET) at 12.85 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.
MET
Insurance industry group
12.85
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- MET
- 12.85
- 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)
MetLife (MET) at 0.75 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Principal Financial (PFG) at 1.42 prices around its industry’s middle — MET costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
MET
Insurance industry group
0.75
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- MET
- 0.75
- 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 MetLife (MET) at 2.79 and Principal Financial (PFG) at 2.00 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
MET
Insurance industry group
2.79
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- MET
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MET | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.85 | 12.35 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.75 | 1.42 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.79 | 2.00 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |