JXN
Jackson Financial Inc.
Insurance - Life
Market Cap$7.68B
5Y Perf.+323.5%
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Stock Comparison
JXN vs PFG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PFG
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Insurance - Diversified
Market Cap$21.67B
5Y Perf.+55.3%
JXN vs PFG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | JXN | PFG |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance - Life | Insurance - Diversified |
| Market Cap | $7.68B | $21.67B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.86B | $15.63B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-373M | $1.19B |
| Gross Margin | 103.0% | 45.2% |
| Operating Margin | -8.5% | 9.1% |
| Forward P/E | 4.7x | 10.7x |
| Total Debt | $4.61B | $4.20B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $5.70B | $4.43B |
JXN vs PFG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
JXN
PFG
| Stock | Sep 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Financial I… (JXN) | 100 | 423.5 | +323.5% |
| Principal Financial… (PFG) | 100 | 155.3 | +55.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: JXN vs PFG
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. Jackson Financial 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.
JXN
Jackson Financial Inc.
The Insurance Pick
JXN is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 116.1%, EPS growth -102.0%, 3Y rev CAGR -11.7%
- 288.5% 10Y total return vs PFG's 195.8%
- 116.1% revenue growth vs PFG's -3.1%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
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 sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 17 yrs, beta 1.00, yield 3.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.00, Low D/E 33.9%, current ratio 2.35x
- Beta 1.00, yield 3.0%, current ratio 2.35x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | JXN | 116.1% revenue growth vs PFG's -3.1% |
| Value | JXN | Lower P/E (4.7x vs 10.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | PFG | Combined ratio 0.9 vs JXN's 1.0 (lower = better underwriting) |
| Stability / Safety | PFG | Beta 1.00 vs JXN's 1.31, lower leverage |
| Dividends | PFG | 3.0% yield, 17-year raise streak, vs JXN's 2.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | JXN | +36.5% vs PFG's +33.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PFG | 0.4% ROA vs JXN's -0.1%, ROIC 9.0% vs -0.9% |
JXN vs PFG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
JXN vs PFG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPFGLAGGINGJXN
JXNJackson Financial Inc.
2leads
PFGPrincipal Financial G…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs JXNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
PFG4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
JXN5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
PFG7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
JXN5/6
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)
PFG is the larger business by revenue, generating $15.6B annually — 2.7x JXN's $5.9B. PFG is the more profitable business, keeping 7.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to JXN's -6.4%. On growth, PFG holds the edge at -3.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | JXNJackson Financial… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.9B | $15.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$422M | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$373M | $1.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.2B | $4.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +103.0% | +45.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -8.5% | +9.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -6.4% | +7.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +71.0% | +28.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -22.1% | -3.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -12.0% | -40.8% |
PFG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
JXN leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | JXNJackson Financial… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.7B | $21.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.6B | $21.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -458.79x | 19.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 4.67x | 10.75x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 13.78x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 12.86x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.15x | 1.39x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.75x | 1.82x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.33x | 4.88x |
JXN leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PFG leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PFG delivers a 9.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $-4 for JXN. PFG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.34x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to JXN's 0.45x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), JXN scores 7/9 vs PFG's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | JXNJackson Financial… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -3.6% | +9.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.1% | +0.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.9% | +9.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.0% | +0.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.45x | 0.34x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1.1B | -$227M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.7B | $4.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.6B | $4.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -4.22x | 644.64x |
PFG leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
JXN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in JXN five years ago would be worth $38,852 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,072 for PFG. Over the past 12 months, JXN leads with a +36.5% total return vs PFG's +33.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors JXN at 49.8% vs PFG's 15.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | JXNJackson Financial… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +3.3% | +12.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +36.5% | +33.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +236.0% | +52.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +288.5% | +70.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +288.5% | +195.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +49.8% | +15.0% |
JXN leads this category, winning 5 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 JXN's 1.31 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PFG currently trades 97.1% from its 52-week high vs JXN's 89.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | JXNJackson Financial… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.31x | 1.00x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $123.61 | $103.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $78.76 | $75.00 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.1% | +97.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.0 | 69.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 540K | 1.5M |
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 JXN as "Hold" and PFG as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 9.0% upside for JXN (target: $120) vs -5.5% for PFG (target: $95). For income investors, PFG offers the higher dividend yield at 3.03% vs JXN's 2.88%.
| Metric | JXNJackson Financial… | PFGPrincipal Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $120.00 | $94.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.9% | +3.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 17 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.17 | $3.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +8.7% | +4.2% |
PFG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
PFG leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). JXN leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns).
Best OverallPrincipal Financial Group, … (PFG)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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JXN vs PFG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is JXN or PFG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Jackson Financial Inc.
(JXN) is the stronger pick with 116. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 1% for Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG). Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) offers the better valuation at 19. 1x trailing P/E (10. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Jackson Financial Inc. (JXN) a "Hold" — based on 6 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 — JXN or PFG?
On forward P/E, Jackson Financial Inc.
is actually cheaper at 4. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — JXN or PFG?
Over the past 5 years, Jackson Financial Inc.
(JXN) delivered a total return of +288. 5%, compared to +70. 7% for Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: JXN returned +288. 5% versus PFG's +195. 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 — JXN or PFG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Principal Financial Group, Inc.
(PFG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 00β versus Jackson Financial Inc. 's 1. 31β — meaning JXN is approximately 31% 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 45% for Jackson Financial Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — JXN or PFG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Jackson Financial Inc.
(JXN) is pulling ahead at 116. 1% versus -3. 1% for Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Principal Financial Group, Inc. grew EPS -21. 4% year-over-year, compared to -102. 0% for Jackson Financial Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PFG leads at -3. 8% 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 — JXN or PFG?
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
(PFG) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 6% net margin versus 0. 4% for Jackson Financial 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 -1. 7% for JXN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — JXN leads at 85. 5%, 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 JXN or PFG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Jackson Financial Inc.
(JXN) trades at 4. 7x forward P/E versus 10. 7x for Principal Financial Group, Inc. — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for JXN: 9. 0% to $120. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — JXN or PFG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 2. 9% for Jackson Financial Inc. (JXN).
09Is JXN or PFG 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, +195. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PFG: +195. 8%, JXN: +288. 5%), 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 JXN and PFG?
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: JXN is a small-cap high-growth stock; PFG is a mid-cap income-oriented 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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