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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.

Company profile comparison for Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK)
Profile ItemPFGPUK
NamePrincipal Financial Group Inc.Prudential plc ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesHong Kong
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupInsuranceInsurance
GICS IndustryInsuranceInsurance
GICS Sub-IndustryLife & Health InsuranceLife & Health Insurance
Market Capitalization23.55 billion USD30.28 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateOctober 23, 2001June 29, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PFG
PUK
GSPC
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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK), 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 Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK)
MetricPFGPUK
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

PFG
PUK
GSPC
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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK), 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 Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK)
MetricPFGPUK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)23.45%29.81%
Beta (5Y)0.860.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.32%-62.24%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.26M1.21M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PFG and PUK 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 Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK)
MetricPFGPUK
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%
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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK): A comparison of their ROE against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

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%
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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK): A comparison of their net margin against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

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

Profitability metrics for Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK)
MetricPFGPUK
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.

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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK)
MetricPFGPUK
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

Financial strength metrics for Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK)
MetricPFGPUK
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%
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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

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%
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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK)
MetricPFGPUK
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
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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

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
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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK): 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 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
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Principal Financial (PFG) vs. Prudential (PUK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Principal Financial (PFG) and Prudential (PUK)
MetricPFGPUK
P/E Ratio (TTM)12.358.72
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.422.12
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.006.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----