PFG vs. UNM: Principal Financial vs. Unum Stock Comparison
How do Principal Financial (PFG) and Unum (UNM) 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 Unum (UNM) 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 | PFG | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Principal Financial Group Inc. | Unum Group |
| 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 | 23.55 billion USD | 11.89 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 23, 2001 | November 6, 1986 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PFG | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 43.88% | 4.52% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 22.99% | 25.65% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 15.02% | 29.12% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PFG | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 23.45% | 29.31% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.86 | 0.28 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.32% | -23.00% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.26M | 1.86M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PFG | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.69 | 0.01 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.67 | 0.01 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Principal Financial (PFG) at 16.11% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Unum (UNM) at 2.25% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.
PFG
Insurance industry group
16.11%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- PFG
- 16.11%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
UNM
Insurance industry group
2.25%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- UNM
- 2.25%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Principal Financial (PFG) at 11.89% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Unum (UNM) at 1.94% retains only a bottom-quartile 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%
UNM
Insurance industry group
1.94%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- UNM
- 1.94%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for Principal Financial (PFG) in Insurance and Unum (UNM) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PFG | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.11% | 2.25% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.46% | 0.51% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.89% | 1.94% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Principal Financial (PFG) at -3.11% and Unum (UNM) at 1.52% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Both Principal Financial (PFG) at -21.41% and Unum (UNM) at -54.86% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PFG | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -3.11% | 1.52% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -3.77% | 3.02% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -21.41% | -54.86% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -34.44% | -13.07% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Principal Financial (PFG) in Insurance and Unum (UNM) 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 Unum (UNM) 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 | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Principal Financial (PFG) at 2.88% and Unum (UNM) at 2.61% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
PFG
Insurance industry group
2.88%
- Max
- 5.12%
- PFG
- 2.88%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNM
Insurance industry group
2.61%
- Max
- 5.12%
- UNM
- 2.61%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Unum (UNM) reports payout ratio above 100% at 128.23%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Principal Financial (PFG) reports 36.19%, ranking against industry peers normally.
PFG
Insurance industry group
36.19%
- Max
- 76.67%
- PFG
- 36.19%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UNM
Insurance industry group
128.23%
- UNM
- 128.23%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PFG | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.88% | 2.61% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.19% | 128.23% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Principal Financial (PFG) at 12.35 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Unum (UNM) at 52.21 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for UNM’s trailing earnings.
PFG
Insurance industry group
12.35
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- PFG
- 12.35
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
UNM
Insurance industry group
52.21
- UNM
- 52.21
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Principal Financial (PFG) at 1.42 and Unum (UNM) at 0.95 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
UNM
Insurance industry group
0.95
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- Median
- 1.23
- UNM
- 0.95
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Unum (UNM) at 1.11 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Principal Financial (PFG) at 2.00 is valued near its industry’s middle — UNM is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
PFG
Insurance industry group
2.00
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- PFG
- 2.00
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
UNM
Insurance industry group
1.11
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- UNM
- 1.11
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PFG | UNM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.35 | 52.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.42 | 0.95 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.00 | 1.11 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |