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Principal Financial Group Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating EPS excluding variances up 17%: Non-GAAP operating earnings per diluted share excluding significant variances were $2.42, up 17% from $2.07. Reported non-GAAP operating EPS was $2.50, up 16%. Source
  • Retirement transfer deposits up 30%: Retirement and Income Solutions transfer deposits were $9 billion, up 30%. Operating margin improved 60 bps. Source
  • Specialty Benefits loss ratio improved: The Specialty Benefits incurred loss ratio improved to 57.4% from 60.2%, which management described as below targeted range, with improved results across all products. Source
  • AUM net cash flow negative: AUM net cash flow was $(11.1) billion in the quarter, against $(2.6) billion a year earlier. Trailing twelve-month net cash flow was $(14.4) billion. Source
  • Capital returned to shareholders $427 million: The company returned $427 million to shareholders in the quarter, including $250 million of share repurchases and $177 million of common stock dividends. Source
  • Retirement leadership and small business gains: Management said it strengthened its leadership in retirement and advanced its position in the small and midsized business market during the quarter. Source
  • Exited business loss rose sharply: Total loss from exited business was $131.6 million in the quarter, against $26.1 million a year earlier. This is excluded from non-GAAP net income excluding exited business. Source

“Our second quarter results reflect continued execution against our strategic priorities and growth across the enterprise.”

Deanna Strable, Chair, President and CEO of Principal

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Common stock dividend SourceThird quarter 2026$0.84 per shareRaised from $0.82 per share (second quarter 2026)

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Third quarter 2026 common stock dividend raised by $0.02 to $0.84 per share, an 8% increase over the third quarter 2025 dividend. Source
  • New: A subsidiary supporting enterprise distribution moved to Corporate, which reduced Life Insurance premium and fees. Source

Earnings and growth drivers

  • Operating EPS excluding variances up 17%: Non-GAAP operating earnings per diluted share excluding significant variances were $2.42, up 17% from $2.07. Reported non-GAAP operating EPS was $2.50, up 16%. Source
  • GAAP net income roughly flat: GAAP net income attributable to PFG was $403.4 million, down 1% from $406.2 million. Diluted EPS was $1.84 against $1.79 a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP earnings excluding exited business up: Non-GAAP net income excluding exited business was $535.0 million, up 24%. Diluted EPS on that basis was $2.44 against $1.91. Source
  • Trailing twelve-month earnings higher: Trailing twelve-month non-GAAP operating earnings excluding significant variances were $2,029.4 million, up 8%. Trailing twelve-month GAAP net income was $1,558.8 million, up 37%. Source

Segment and regional results

  • Retirement income earnings up 11%: Retirement and Income Solutions pre-tax operating earnings were $323.3 million, up 11%. Operating margin was 41.5% against 40.9%, on higher net revenue and margin expansion. Source
  • Retirement transfer deposits up 30%: Retirement and Income Solutions transfer deposits were $9 billion, up 30%. Operating margin improved 60 bps. Source
  • International Pension earnings up 24%: International Pension pre-tax operating earnings were $97.0 million, up 24%. Net revenue rose on encaje returns and foreign currency, and AUM reached $168.5 billion, up 18%. Source
  • Specialty Benefits earnings up 25%: Specialty Benefits pre-tax operating earnings were $158.9 million, up 25%, on underwriting and premium growth. Premium and fees rose 4% to $873.3 million. Source
  • Life Insurance earnings up on mortality: Life Insurance pre-tax operating earnings were $25.2 million, up 26%, driven by improved mortality experience. Operating margin was 11.2% against 8.4%. Source
  • Investment Management earnings flat: Investment Management pre-tax operating earnings were $159.4 million, up 1%, with margins stable at 37.5%. AUM was $601.9 billion, up 4%. Source

“This execution translated into strong earnings growth, ROE expansion and disciplined capital return.”

Deanna Strable, Chair, President and CEO of Principal

Margins and expenses

  • Specialty Benefits loss ratio improved: The Specialty Benefits incurred loss ratio improved to 57.4% from 60.2%, which management described as below targeted range, with improved results across all products. Source
  • International Pension margin widened: International Pension net revenue was $184.8 million, up 16%. Operating margin was 52.5% against 49.3%. Source
  • Corporate losses widened on expense timing: Corporate pre-tax operating losses were $95.0 million, up 17%, due to timing of expenses. Source

Demand, sales and assets

  • Assets under management reached $808 billion: AUM was $808.0 billion, up 7% from $752.7 billion a year earlier. Assets under administration were $1.9 trillion. Source
  • Investment Management sales up 2%: Investment Management gross sales were $30 billion, up 2% from the prior year quarter. Specialty Benefits sales rose 11%. Source
  • AUM net cash flow negative: AUM net cash flow was $(11.1) billion in the quarter, against $(2.6) billion a year earlier. Trailing twelve-month net cash flow was $(14.4) billion. Source

“I'm proud of what our teams accomplished this quarter and encouraged by the momentum we continue to build.”

Deanna Strable, Chair, President and CEO of Principal

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Capital returned to shareholders $427 million: The company returned $427 million to shareholders in the quarter, including $250 million of share repurchases and $177 million of common stock dividends. Source
  • Excess and available capital of $1.6 billion: The company reported $1.6 billion of excess and available capital at the end of the quarter, compared with $1.45 billion in the first quarter 2026 release. Source
  • Total assets and equity rose: Total assets were $352.8 billion at 2Q26, against $341.4 billion at 4Q25. Stockholders’ equity was $12,177.8 million, against $11,917.0 million. Source

Strategy and market position

  • Retirement leadership and small business gains: Management said it strengthened its leadership in retirement and advanced its position in the small and midsized business market during the quarter. Source
  • Global asset management platform scale used: Management said it continued to leverage the scale of its global asset management platform, which the release ties to AUM of $808 billion. Source

Exited business and significant variances

  • Exited business loss rose sharply: Total loss from exited business was $131.6 million in the quarter, against $26.1 million a year earlier. This is excluded from non-GAAP net income excluding exited business. Source
  • Funds withheld derivative fair value change: The change in fair value of the funds withheld embedded derivative was a $(104.4) million pre-tax impact, against $20.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Significant variances reduced quarterly EPS: Significant variances reduced diluted EPS by $0.08 in the quarter, taking non-GAAP operating earnings from $2.50 to $2.42 excluding those variances. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 July 2026

  • Third quarter dividend payment date: The third quarter dividend is payable on September 25, 2026, to shareholders of record as of September 3, 2026. Source
  • Supplement and slides available: The financial supplement and slide presentation were available on the investor website and could be referred to during the call. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Book value per share Source$56.58 at 2Q26 and $54.66 at 4Q25; $58.40 and $57.25 excluding funds withheld embedded derivative and AOCI other than foreign currency translation

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management cited lower than expected variable investment income in International Pension, Specialty Benefits and Life Insurance, partly offset by higher amounts in RIS and Corporate. Source
  • External: Management cited lower than expected Latin American inflation in International Pension, which partly offset higher than expected encaje performance. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management referred to the incurred loss ratio being below its targeted range, without stating a status against that target. Source
  • Not stated: Management described continued execution against strategic priorities as the basis of the quarter’s results. 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.