PFG vs. TRV: Principal Financial vs. Travelers Stock Comparison
How do Principal Financial (PFG) and Travelers (TRV) 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 Travelers (TRV) both belong to the Insurance industry, though PFG is classified under Life & Health Insurance while TRV falls under Property & Casualty Insurance.
| Profile Item | PFG | TRV |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Principal Financial Group Inc. | The Travelers Companies, 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 | Property & Casualty Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 23.55 billion USD | 80.98 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 23, 2001 | November 17, 1975 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PFG | TRV |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 43.88% | 43.06% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 22.99% | 35.01% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 15.02% | 22.46% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PFG | TRV |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.45% | 20.86% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.86 | 0.39 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.32% | -18.90% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.26M | 1.46M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PFG | TRV |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.69 | 1.86 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.67 | 3.16 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Travelers (TRV) at 27.50% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Principal Financial (PFG) at 16.11% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for TRV.
PFG
Insurance industry group
16.11%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- PFG
- 16.11%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
TRV
Insurance industry group
27.50%
- Max
- 41.68%
- TRV
- 27.50%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Principal Financial (PFG) at 11.89% and Travelers (TRV) at 17.03% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
PFG
Insurance industry group
11.89%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- PFG
- 11.89%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
TRV
Insurance industry group
17.03%
- Max
- 29.92%
- TRV
- 17.03%
- 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 Travelers (TRV) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PFG | TRV |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.11% | 27.50% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.46% | 4.73% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.89% | 17.03% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Travelers (TRV) at 5.17% 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
Travelers (TRV) at 27.76% 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 | PFG | TRV |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -3.11% | 5.17% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -3.77% | 9.79% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -21.41% | 27.76% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -34.44% | 32.58% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Principal Financial (PFG) in Insurance and Travelers (TRV) 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 Travelers (TRV) 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 | TRV |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Travelers (TRV) at 1.17% 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%
TRV
Insurance industry group
1.17%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- TRV
- 1.17%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Travelers (TRV) at 12.36% 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%
TRV
Insurance industry group
12.36%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- TRV
- 12.36%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PFG | TRV |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 1.17% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.19% | 12.36% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Principal Financial (PFG) at 12.35 and Travelers (TRV) at 10.39 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
PFG
Insurance industry group
12.35
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- PFG
- 12.35
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
TRV
Insurance industry group
10.39
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- TRV
- 10.39
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Principal Financial (PFG) at 1.42 and Travelers (TRV) at 1.66 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
TRV
Insurance industry group
1.66
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- TRV
- 1.66
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Principal Financial (PFG) at 2.00 and Travelers (TRV) at 2.79 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
PFG
Insurance industry group
2.00
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- PFG
- 2.00
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
TRV
Insurance industry group
2.79
- Max
- 5.07
- TRV
- 2.79
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PFG | TRV |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.35 | 10.39 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.42 | 1.66 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.00 | 2.79 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |