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Principal Financial Group Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Non-GAAP operating EPS rose 14%: Non-GAAP operating earnings per diluted share were $2.07, up 14% from $1.81; excluding significant variances the figure was $2.17, up 13%. Source
  • GAAP net income rose to $424.6 million: Net income attributable to PFG was $424.6 million, or $1.93 per diluted share, against $48.1 million, or $0.21, in 1Q25. Source
  • International Pension AUM and revenue grew: International Pension pre-tax operating earnings rose 17% to $83.4 million. AUM was a record $159.6 billion, up 20%, and net revenue rose 15%. Source
  • AUM rose 7% to $770.2 billion: Assets under management were $770.2 billion, up 7%, and assets under administration were $1.8 trillion, up 8%. Source
  • Net cash outflow narrowed to $1.5 billion: AUM net cash flow was $(1.5) billion in the quarter, against $(4.4) billion in 1Q25. Source
  • $374 million returned to shareholders: The company returned $374 million to shareholders in the quarter: $200 million through share repurchases and $174 million through common stock dividends. Source
  • Excess and available capital at $1.45 billion: Excess and available capital was $1.45 billion, down from $1.6 billion reported with the full-year 2025 results. Source

“Driven by fundamentals and a sharp focus on higher growth markets, we delivered strong revenue growth, EPS growth and ROE expansion in the quarter.”

Deanna Strable, Chair, President and CEO of Principal

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Common stock dividend Sourcesecond quarter 2026$0.82 per shareRaised from $0.80

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Quarterly common dividend raised to $0.82 per share from $0.80 in the prior quarter. Source

Operating earnings and EPS

  • Non-GAAP operating EPS rose 14%: Non-GAAP operating earnings per diluted share were $2.07, up 14% from $1.81; excluding significant variances the figure was $2.17, up 13%. Source
  • Significant variances reduced operating earnings: Significant variances reduced non-GAAP operating earnings by $22.7 million in the quarter, against $24.7 million in 1Q25, or $0.10 per diluted share. Source
  • Trailing twelve-month operating earnings up 15%: On a trailing twelve-month basis, non-GAAP operating earnings were $1,907.1 million, up 15% from $1,660.7 million. Source
  • Pre-tax operating earnings reached $558.5 million: Non-GAAP pre-tax operating earnings were $558.5 million, against $485.1 million in 1Q25, with income taxes of $102.4 million. Source

GAAP results and exited business

  • GAAP net income rose to $424.6 million: Net income attributable to PFG was $424.6 million, or $1.93 per diluted share, against $48.1 million, or $0.21, in 1Q25. Source
  • Exited business swung to income: Income from exited business was $104.1 million, against a $251.3 million loss in 1Q25. The change in fair value of the funds withheld embedded derivative was $177.4 million pre-tax. Source
  • Realized capital losses excluded from operating earnings: Net realized capital losses, as adjusted, of $135.6 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, were excluded from non-GAAP operating earnings; the 1Q25 figure was $115.1 million. Source

“Disciplined risk management and focused growth investments further enable the delivery of long-term value for shareholders and customers.”

Deanna Strable, Chair, President and CEO of Principal

Retirement and investment segments

  • RIS earnings rose 6%: Retirement and Income Solutions pre-tax operating earnings were $302.1 million, up 6%, on net revenue of $750.8 million, up 4%; operating margin was 40.2% against 39.2%. Source
  • Investment Management AUM rose 4%: Investment Management pre-tax operating earnings rose 8% to $125.1 million, and AUM reached $578.0 billion, up 4%. Operating margin was 30.0% against 29.0%. Source
  • International Pension AUM and revenue grew: International Pension pre-tax operating earnings rose 17% to $83.4 million. AUM was a record $159.6 billion, up 20%, and net revenue rose 15%. Source

Protection and life segments

  • Specialty Benefits earnings rose 29%: Specialty Benefits pre-tax operating earnings rose 29% to $136.8 million, premium and fees rose 4% to $861.4 million, and the incurred loss ratio was 58.5% against 60.7%. Source
  • Life Insurance earnings up 150%: Life Insurance pre-tax operating earnings were $33.2 million, against $13.3 million. Premium and fees rose 1% to $238.6 million as business market growth outpaced legacy run-off. Source
  • Corporate losses widened on expense timing: Corporate pre-tax operating losses were $122.1 million, against $105.6 million a year earlier, reflecting the timing of expenses. Source

“Entering 2Q26, we are confident in the strength of our diversified, integrated portfolio.”

Deanna Strable, Chair, President and CEO of Principal

Sales, flows and assets under management

  • AUM rose 7% to $770.2 billion: Assets under management were $770.2 billion, up 7%, and assets under administration were $1.8 trillion, up 8%. Source
  • Net cash outflow narrowed to $1.5 billion: AUM net cash flow was $(1.5) billion in the quarter, against $(4.4) billion in 1Q25. Source
  • Transfer deposits and gross sales rose: RIS transfer deposits were $12 billion, up 35%, and Investment Management gross sales were $37 billion, up 21%. Source
  • Specialty Benefits sales hit record: Specialty Benefits sales were a record $213 million, up 24%, and Life Insurance business market premium and fees rose 15%. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • $374 million returned to shareholders: The company returned $374 million to shareholders in the quarter: $200 million through share repurchases and $174 million through common stock dividends. Source
  • Excess and available capital at $1.45 billion: Excess and available capital was $1.45 billion, down from $1.6 billion reported with the full-year 2025 results. Source
  • Common shares outstanding declined: Common shares outstanding were 216.4 million at quarter end, down from 217.4 million at year end. Diluted weighted average shares were 220.3 million, against 228.8 million. Source

Recognition, employees and customers

  • Ethisphere recognized the company: The company said it was recognized by Ethisphere as one of the 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies. Source
  • Named Best Place to Work: Pensions & Investments named the company a Best Place to Work in Money Management, as stated in the release. Source
  • 82 million customers served: The company said it serves 82 million customers as of March 31, 2026, and has been in business for 146 years. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 April 2026

  • Second quarter dividend payment: The $0.82 second quarter dividend is payable June 26, 2026, to holders of record as of June 1, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Book value per common share Source$54.60 at 1Q26, from $54.66 at 4Q25; $57.16 excluding funds withheld derivative and AOCI, from $57.25

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Variable investment income came in below expectations in RIS, Specialty Benefits, Life Insurance and Corporate, partly offset by International Pension. Source
  • External: Encaje performance in International Pension was lower than expected, a significant variance this quarter. Source
  • External: Latin American inflation in International Pension was higher than expected, a significant variance this quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it continues to execute on its commitment to return excess capital while keeping a robust capital position. Source
  • Not stated: The Specialty Benefits incurred loss ratio was below its targeted range, which management attributed to group life, group dental and group disability experience. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.