First Command Advisory Services Inc. Buys 236 Shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG)

First Command Advisory Services Inc. boosted its holdings in Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG) by 37.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 864 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 236 shares during the period. First Command Advisory Services Inc.’s holdings in Principal Financial Group were worth $67,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Metis Global Partners LLC grew its stake in Principal Financial Group by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 11,230 shares of the company’s stock valued at $965,000 after buying an additional 533 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC grew its stake in Principal Financial Group by 66.2% in the 3rd quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 24,932 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,137,000 after buying an additional 9,933 shares in the last quarter. Legacy Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Principal Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $771,000. Columbus Macro LLC grew its stake in Principal Financial Group by 46.7% in the 4th quarter. Columbus Macro LLC now owns 25,653 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,986,000 after buying an additional 8,169 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in Principal Financial Group by 358.7% in the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 16,328 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,403,000 after buying an additional 12,768 shares in the last quarter. 75.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Principal Financial Group Stock Up 1.9 %

Shares of NYSE:PFG opened at $87.53 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a current ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.74 billion, a PE ratio of 13.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.22. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $81.44 and a 200 day moving average of $82.75. Principal Financial Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $72.21 and a 52-week high of $91.97.

Principal Financial Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th will be paid a $0.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 12th. This is an increase from Principal Financial Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.43%. Principal Financial Group’s payout ratio is currently 44.91%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on PFG shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Principal Financial Group from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $95.00 to $92.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Morgan Stanley restated an “underweight” rating and set a $80.00 price target (down from $86.00) on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and set a $91.00 price target on shares of Principal Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Principal Financial Group from $77.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Principal Financial Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $85.92.

About Principal Financial Group

Principal Financial Group, Inc provides retirement, asset management, and insurance products and services to businesses, individuals, and institutional clients worldwide. The company operates through Retirement and Income Solutions, Principal Asset Management, and Benefits and Protection segments. The Retirement and Income Solutions segment provides retirement, and related financial products and services.