Principal Financial Group beats third-quarter earnings estimate and raises dividend to $0.85

On the measure it uses to compare results, the company earned $2.49 a share, 7 per cent more than a year earlier.

Principal Financial Group reported third-quarter earnings of $2.49 a share on a measure that excludes significant variances, which are large swings in results. The figure was $0.05 above expectations and 7 per cent higher than the same measure a year earlier.

On a reported basis, net income attributable to Principal Financial Group was $632 million, or $2.91 a diluted share, in the quarter, the company said in its results release. The gap between that figure and the adjusted $2.49 is one to watch in coming quarters.

The company also raised its fourth-quarter 2026 common stock dividend by $0.01 to $0.85 a share. That is 8 per cent above the fourth-quarter 2025 rate. The dividend is payable on December 18, 2026, to shareholders of record on December 2, 2026. In dollar terms the change is small, so the 8 per cent rise may be the more useful way to read it. Whether the earnings beat and the pace of dividend increases hold through the coming quarters would show whether this is a steady trend or a one-time adjustment.

Principal Financial Group will discuss the results on a conference call on Tuesday, October 27, at 10 a.m. Eastern, according to a schedule published through Nasdaq.