For the quarter ended September 2026, Principal Financial (PFG Quick QuotePFG - Free Report) reported revenue of $4.28 billion, up 9.7% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.22, compared to $2.10 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.8% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.31 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $2.46, the EPS surprise was -9.76%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Principal Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Assets under management (AUM) - Investment Management: $581.70 billion compared to the $590.42 billion average estimate based on three analysts.
• Assets under management (AUM) - International Pension: $166.20 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $163.33 billion.
• Assets under management (AUM) - Principal Asset Management: $747.90 billion versus $756.68 billion estimated by two analysts on average.
• Net cash flow - Principal Asset Management: $-11.20 billion versus $-4.52 billion estimated by two analysts on average.
• Total revenues- Premiums and other considerations: $1.9 billion versus $1.86 billion estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +23.8% change.
• Total revenues- Net investment income: $1.16 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $1.29 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -3.3%.
• Total revenues- Fees and other revenues: $1.14 billion versus $1.15 billion estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +1.4% change.
• Total operating revenues- Principal Asset Management Segment- Net investment income: $110.9 million compared to the $156.81 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -38.2% year over year.
• Total operating revenues- Principal Asset Management Segment: $647.4 million compared to the $716.92 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -11% year over year.
• Total operating revenues- Benefits and Protection Segment-Specialty Benefits- Premiums and other considerations: $887.4 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $876.44 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +6.1%.
• Total operating revenues- Benefits and Protection Segment-Specialty Benefits- Net Investment Income: $59 million compared to the $57.14 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +15% year over year.
• Total operating revenues- Benefits and Protection Segment-Specialty Benefits: $954.4 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $941.62 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +6.5%.

View all Key Company Metrics for Principal Financial here>>>

Shares of Principal Financial have returned -5.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.