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Principal Financial Group Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Operating earnings per share up 7%: Non-GAAP operating earnings per diluted share excluding significant variances were $2.49, up 7% from the prior year quarter; reported non-GAAP operating earnings per diluted share rose 6%. Source
  • Significant variances reduced third quarter earnings: Significant variances reduced non-GAAP operating earnings by $58.8 million after tax, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the third quarter, led by lower than expected variable investment income. Source
  • Specialty Benefits premiums and sales grew: Specialty Benefits premium and fees rose 6% to $895.4 million and sales rose 10%. Pre-tax operating earnings fell 12% to $137.3 million, mainly due to the 3Q25 actuarial assumption review. Source
  • Net cash outflows widened: AUM net cash flow was $(10.7) billion in the quarter, against $0.4 billion a year earlier. Trailing twelve-month AUM net cash flow was $(25.5) billion. Source
  • Chilean annuities business disposed: The third quarter includes a $276.7 million pre-tax loss associated with the disposition of the Chilean annuities business. This loss is part of the income from exited business. Source
  • Returned $429 million to shareholders: The company returned $429 million of capital in the quarter, including $250 million of share repurchases and $179 million of common stock dividends. Source
  • Fourth quarter dividend raised to $0.85: The fourth quarter dividend is $0.85 per share, up $0.01 from the third quarter and 8% above the fourth quarter 2025 dividend. Source

“Our third-quarter results demonstrate the strength of our diversified business and the progress we’re making against our strategic priorities.”

Deanna Strable, Chair, President and CEO of Principal ®

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Common stock dividend per share Sourcefourth quarter 2026$0.85 per shareRaised from $0.84

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fourth quarter dividend raised from $0.84 to $0.85 per share. Source
  • New: Beginning third quarter 2026, impacts of the actuarial assumption review are excluded from non-GAAP operating earnings. Source
  • Ended: The company disposed of its Chilean annuities business; the third quarter includes a $276.7 million pre-tax loss tied to that disposition. Source
  • New: Specialty Benefits premium and fees include a modest contribution from the 9/1 Beam Benefits acquisition. Source

Results and earnings drivers

  • Operating earnings per share up 7%: Non-GAAP operating earnings per diluted share excluding significant variances were $2.49, up 7% from the prior year quarter; reported non-GAAP operating earnings per diluted share rose 6%. Source
  • GAAP net income well above prior year: GAAP net income attributable to PFG was $631.9 million, or $2.91 per diluted share, against $213.8 million, or $0.95, a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income excluding exited business fell: Non-GAAP net income attributable to PFG excluding exited business was $354.8 million, down 24% from $465.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Significant variances reduced third quarter earnings: Significant variances reduced non-GAAP operating earnings by $58.8 million after tax, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the third quarter, led by lower than expected variable investment income. Source

Retirement and asset management

  • Retirement pre-tax earnings fell 4%: RIS pre-tax operating earnings were $297.8 million, down 4%, and the operating margin was 39.3% against 41.3%, on lower variable investment income and the 3Q25 actuarial assumption review. Source
  • Investment Management earnings slipped on fees: Investment Management pre-tax operating earnings were $168.1 million, down 3%. Assets under management in the segment were $581.7 billion, down 3%. Source
  • Private markets AUM and ETF inflows: Investment Management private markets AUM rose 6%, supported by $0.8 billion of private institutional inflows; active ETF net inflows were $0.5 billion. Source
  • International Pension earnings fell on encaje: International Pension pre-tax operating earnings fell 38% to $62.4 million; operating margin was 43.3% against 53.9%. AUM was $166.2 billion, up 10%. Source

“As the environment evolves, our priorities remain clear.”

Deanna Strable, Chair, President and CEO of Principal ®

Benefits and protection

  • Specialty Benefits premiums and sales grew: Specialty Benefits premium and fees rose 6% to $895.4 million and sales rose 10%. Pre-tax operating earnings fell 12% to $137.3 million, mainly due to the 3Q25 actuarial assumption review. Source
  • Specialty loss ratio below target range: The Specialty Benefits incurred loss ratio was 59.0%, against 56.4% a year earlier. Management said the ratio remains below its targeted range, with improved dental and group life results. Source
  • Life Insurance margin turned positive: Life Insurance operating margin was 13.6%, against (27.7)% a year earlier, with pre-tax operating earnings of $32.4 million. Management attributed this to favorable mortality experience. Source
  • Life premiums moved to Corporate: Life Insurance premium and fees fell 4% to $238.6 million, reflecting a subsidiary supporting enterprise distribution moving to Corporate. Source

Corporate and significant variances

  • Corporate loss widened: Corporate pre-tax operating losses were $110.5 million, against $91.6 million a year earlier, with the increase attributed to lower variable investment income. Source
  • Encaje and integration costs as variances: Third quarter significant variances included lower than expected encaje performance, partly offset by higher Latin American inflation in International Pension, and integration costs in Specialty Benefits and Corporate. Source

Assets, flows and deposits

  • Assets under administration rose 3%: Assets under administration were $1,840.3 billion, up 3%. Assets under management were $785.0 billion, flat compared with a year earlier. Source
  • Net cash outflows widened: AUM net cash flow was $(10.7) billion in the quarter, against $0.4 billion a year earlier. Trailing twelve-month AUM net cash flow was $(25.5) billion. Source
  • Retirement deposits and PRT sales: RIS recurring deposits were $13 billion, up 8%, and pension risk transfer sales were $0.9 billion. Transfer deposits in the small and midsized business market rose 21%. Source

Exited business and capital adjustments

  • Chilean annuities business disposed: The third quarter includes a $276.7 million pre-tax loss associated with the disposition of the Chilean annuities business. This loss is part of the income from exited business. Source
  • Exited business shows income this quarter: Non-GAAP income from exited business was $277.1 million in the third quarter, against a $251.8 million loss a year earlier. This item is excluded from non-GAAP operating earnings. Source
  • Realized capital losses excluded: Net realized capital losses, as adjusted, were $122.0 million in the quarter, against $8.1 million a year earlier, and are excluded from non-GAAP operating earnings. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Returned $429 million to shareholders: The company returned $429 million of capital in the quarter, including $250 million of share repurchases and $179 million of common stock dividends. Source
  • Fourth quarter dividend raised to $0.85: The fourth quarter dividend is $0.85 per share, up $0.01 from the third quarter and 8% above the fourth quarter 2025 dividend. Source
  • Excess and available capital of $1.5 billion: Excess and available capital was $1.5 billion. End-of-period common shares outstanding were 212.8 million, down from 217.4 million at year-end 2025. Source
  • Book value per share rose: Book value per common share was $55.53, against $54.66 at year-end 2025. Non-GAAP book value per share excluding certain items was $57.63, against $57.25. Source

Strategy and reporting changes

  • Actuarial review excluded from operating earnings: From the third quarter of 2026, impacts of the actuarial assumption review are excluded from non-GAAP operating earnings. The third quarter review impact was $5.0 million pre-tax. Source
  • Focus on areas of expertise: Management said the company's focus on areas where its expertise, differentiated solutions and customer relationships position it to win is producing benefits. Source
  • Customer count rose to 84 million: The company said it serves 84 million customers as of September 30, 2026, up from 83 million in the prior release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 October 2026

  • Fourth quarter dividend payment dates: The fourth quarter dividend of $0.85 per share is payable December 18, 2026, to shareholders of record as of December 2, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Lower variable investment income reduced Retirement and Income Solutions pre-tax earnings, and was cited across several segments. Source
  • External: International Pension results were affected by encaje performance and Latin American inflation, which moved in opposite directions from expectations. Source
  • Operational: Integration costs in Specialty Benefits and Corporate were a third quarter significant variance. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management described the Specialty Benefits incurred loss ratio as remaining below its targeted range of 60%-64%. 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.