PFG
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Insurance - Diversified
Market Cap$22.00B
5Y Perf.+162.9%
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Stock Comparison
PFG vs MET
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MET
MetLife, Inc.
Insurance - Life
Market Cap$52.27B
5Y Perf.+122.6%
PFG vs MET — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PFG | MET |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Diversified | Insurance - Life |
| Market Cap | $22.00B | $52.27B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $15.63B | $76.13B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.19B | $3.38B |
| Gross Margin | 45.2% | 25.6% |
| Operating Margin | 9.1% | 6.1% |
| Forward P/E | 10.9x | 8.2x |
| Total Debt | $4.20B | $20.18B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $4.43B | $22.03B |
PFG vs MET — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PFG
MET
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Financial… (PFG) | 100 | 262.9 | +162.9% |
| MetLife, Inc. (MET) | 100 | 222.6 | +122.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PFG vs MET
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PFG leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. MetLife, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PFG
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
The Insurance Pick
PFG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 17 yrs, beta 1.00, yield 3.0%
- 197.4% 10Y total return vs MET's 156.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.00, Low D/E 33.9%, current ratio 2.35x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
MET
MetLife, Inc.
The Insurance Pick
MET is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 10.2%, EPS growth -19.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.3%
- 10.2% revenue growth vs PFG's -3.1%
- Lower P/E (8.2x vs 10.9x)
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MET | 10.2% revenue growth vs PFG's -3.1% |
| Value | MET | Lower P/E (8.2x vs 10.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | PFG | Combined ratio 0.9 vs MET's 0.9 (lower = better underwriting) |
| Stability / Safety | PFG | Beta 1.00 vs MET's 1.09, lower leverage |
| Dividends | PFG | 3.0% yield, 17-year raise streak, vs MET's 2.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | PFG | +37.1% vs MET's +7.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MET | 0.5% ROA vs PFG's 0.4%, ROIC 13.1% vs 9.0% |
PFG vs MET — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
PFG vs MET — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPFGLAGGINGMET
METMetLife, Inc.
2leads
PFGPrincipal Financial G…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs METMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
PFG4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MET6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MET6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PFG4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
PFG2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
PFG2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PFG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MET is the larger business by revenue, generating $76.1B annually — 4.9x PFG's $15.6B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 7.6% (PFG) to 4.4% (MET). On growth, MET holds the edge at +29.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PFGPrincipal Financi… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.6B | $76.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.4B | $5.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.2B | $3.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.4B | $18.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +45.2% | +25.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +9.1% | +6.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.6% | +4.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +28.4% | +23.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.7% | +29.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -40.8% | -34.3% |
PFG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MET leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 16.7x trailing earnings, MET trades at a 14% valuation discount to PFG's 19.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MET's 8.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PFG's 13.1x.
| Metric | PFGPrincipal Financi… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $22.0B | $52.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $21.8B | $50.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.34x | 16.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.91x | 8.19x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 13.99x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.06x | 8.81x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.41x | 0.68x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.85x | 1.84x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.96x | 2.89x |
MET leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MET leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MET delivers a 11.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $10 for PFG. PFG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.34x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MET's 0.70x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MET scores 8/9 vs PFG's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | PFGPrincipal Financi… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.9% | +11.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +0.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.0% | +13.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.4% | +1.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.34x | 0.70x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$227M | -$1.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $4.4B | $22.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.2B | $20.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 644.64x | 5.39x |
MET leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PFG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PFG five years ago would be worth $17,323 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,534 for MET. Over the past 12 months, PFG leads with a +37.1% total return vs MET's +7.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MET at 17.3% vs PFG's 15.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PFGPrincipal Financi… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.5% | +0.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +37.1% | +7.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +54.4% | +61.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +73.2% | +35.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +197.4% | +156.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.6% | +17.3% |
PFG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PFG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PFG is the less volatile stock with a 1.00 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MET's 1.09 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | PFGPrincipal Financi… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.00x | 1.09x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $103.00 | $83.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $75.00 | $67.33 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.6% | +95.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 67.8 | 66.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 3.5M |
PFG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
PFG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PFG as "Hold" and MET as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 20.4% upside for MET (target: $97) vs -6.9% for PFG (target: $95). For income investors, PFG offers the higher dividend yield at 2.98% vs MET's 2.83%.
| Metric | PFGPrincipal Financi… | METMetLife, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $94.50 | $96.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 33 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 17 | 13 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.03 | $2.27 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.1% | +7.4% |
PFG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
PFG leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). MET leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency).
Best OverallPrincipal Financial Group, … (PFG)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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PFG vs MET: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PFG or MET a better buy right now?
For growth investors, MetLife, Inc.
(MET) is the stronger pick with 10. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 1% for Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG). MetLife, Inc. (MET) offers the better valuation at 16. 7x trailing P/E (8. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MetLife, Inc. (MET) a "Buy" — based on 33 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — PFG or MET?
On trailing P/E, MetLife, Inc.
(MET) is the cheapest at 16. 7x versus Principal Financial Group, Inc. at 19. 3x. On forward P/E, MetLife, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PFG or MET?
Over the past 5 years, Principal Financial Group, Inc.
(PFG) delivered a total return of +73. 2%, compared to +35. 3% for MetLife, Inc. (MET). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PFG returned +197. 4% versus MET's +156. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — PFG or MET?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Principal Financial Group, Inc.
(PFG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 00β versus MetLife, Inc. 's 1. 09β — meaning MET is approximately 9% more volatile than PFG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 70% for MetLife, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PFG or MET?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), MetLife, Inc.
(MET) is pulling ahead at 10. 2% versus -3. 1% for Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MetLife, Inc. grew EPS -19. 2% year-over-year, compared to -21. 4% for Principal Financial Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MET leads at 4. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — PFG or MET?
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
(PFG) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 6% net margin versus 4. 4% for MetLife, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PFG leads at 9. 1% versus 6. 0% for MET. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PFG leads at 45. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is PFG or MET more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, MetLife, Inc.
(MET) trades at 8. 2x forward P/E versus 10. 9x for Principal Financial Group, Inc. — 2. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MET: 20. 4% to $96. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — PFG or MET?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 2. 8% for MetLife, Inc. (MET).
09Is PFG or MET better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Principal Financial Group, Inc.
(PFG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 00), 3. 0% yield, +197. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PFG: +197. 4%, MET: +156. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between PFG and MET?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: PFG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MET is a mid-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(PFG: -3.7% · MET: 29.1%)Net Margin>
%
(PFG: 7.6% · MET: 4.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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