PFG vs. PUK: Principal Financial vs. Prudential Stock Comparison
How do Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK) 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
Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK) are both classified in the Life & Health Insurance sub-industry within the broader Insurance industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Principal Financial (PFG) trades as ordinary local shares, while Prudential (PUK) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | PFG | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Principal Financial Group Inc. | Prudential plc ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Hong Kong |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life & Health Insurance | Life & Health Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 23.55 billion USD | 30.28 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 23, 2001 | June 29, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PFG | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 43.88% | -7.39% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 22.99% | 8.09% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 15.02% | -6.78% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PFG | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.45% | 29.81% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.86 | 0.64 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.32% | -62.24% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.26M | 1.21M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PFG | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.69 | -0.39 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.67 | -0.54 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Principal Financial (PFG) at 16.11% and Prudential (PUK) at 18.74% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
PFG
Insurance industry group
16.11%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- PFG
- 16.11%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
PUK
Insurance industry group
18.74%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- PUK
- 18.74%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Prudential (PUK) at 25.49% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Principal Financial (PFG) at 11.89%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
PFG
Insurance industry group
11.89%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- PFG
- 11.89%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
PUK
Insurance industry group
25.49%
- Max
- 29.92%
- PUK
- 25.49%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Principal Financial (PFG) in Insurance and Prudential (PUK) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PFG | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.11% | 18.74% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.46% | 1.60% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.89% | 25.49% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Prudential (PUK) at 68.98% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Principal Financial (PFG) at -3.11% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Prudential (PUK) at 82.74% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Principal Financial (PFG) at -21.41% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PFG | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -3.11% | 68.98% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -3.77% | -- |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -21.41% | 82.74% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -34.44% | 61.41% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Principal Financial (PFG) in Insurance and Prudential (PUK) 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: Principal Financial (PFG) in Insurance and Prudential (PUK) 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 | PFG | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Prudential (PUK) at 1.10% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PFG the richer one.
PFG
Insurance industry group
2.88%
- Max
- 5.12%
- PFG
- 2.88%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PUK
Insurance industry group
1.10%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- PUK
- 1.10%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Prudential (PUK) at 18.71% 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.
PFG
Insurance industry group
36.19%
- Max
- 76.67%
- PFG
- 36.19%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PUK
Insurance industry group
18.71%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- PUK
- 18.71%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PFG | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 1.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.19% | 18.71% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Prudential (PUK) at 8.72 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 PUK, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
PFG
Insurance industry group
12.35
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- PFG
- 12.35
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
PUK
Insurance industry group
8.72
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- PUK
- 8.72
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Principal Financial (PFG) at 1.42 and Prudential (PUK) at 2.12 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
PFG
Insurance industry group
1.42
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- PFG
- 1.42
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
PUK
Insurance industry group
2.12
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- PUK
- 2.12
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Principal Financial (PFG) at 2.00 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Prudential (PUK) at 6.29 prices above its benchmark range — PUK looks rich relative to book.
PFG
Insurance industry group
2.00
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- PFG
- 2.00
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
PUK
Insurance industry group
6.29
- PUK
- 6.29
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PFG | PUK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.35 | 8.72 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.42 | 2.12 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.00 | 6.29 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |