On Friday, Principal Financial Group (NASDAQ:PFG) maintained its Neutral rating and an $85.00 price target for the shares from Piper Sandler, following the announcement of an acquisition. Principal Financial Group revealed that it is set to acquire the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) business of Ascensus.
With this acquisition, the company will add approximately 800 plans and over 165,000 participants to its workplace savings and retirement solutions business, which is currently the leading ESOP service provider in the United States.
The transaction, terms of which were not disclosed, is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2024. This move is indicative of ongoing consolidation within the life insurance and retirement sector, as evidenced by Nippon Life's acquisition of a roughly 20% stake in CRBG earlier on the same day.
Principal Financial Group's strategy includes a capital deployment allocation towards mergers and acquisitions (M&A) ranging from 0% to 10%. With this recent acquisition, the company's M&A allocation is now above 0%. This strategic move aligns with Principal Financial Group's emphasis on the smaller end of the pension risk transfer (PRT) market.
The acquisition is expected to bolster Principal Financial Group's total addressable market for its PRT products. Currently, about 20% of the company's transactions focus on internal clients, with an average asset under management (AUM) size of approximately $40 million. This development could potentially enhance the company's position in the market by expanding its offerings and client base.
InvestingPro Insights
Principal Financial Group (NASDAQ:PFG) has demonstrated a commitment to growth and shareholder returns, as evidenced by the recent acquisition of Ascensus's ESOP business. This move is not only strategic but also backed by a solid financial footing. InvestingPro data shows a market capitalization of $19.75 billion USD and a healthy price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15.82, which slightly improves when adjusted for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 to 15.24. This reflects a company that is efficiently valued relative to its earnings.
InvestingPro Tips indicate that Principal Financial Group has not only maintained dividend payments for 23 consecutive years but has also raised its dividend for 15 consecutive years, signaling strong financial health and a commitment to returning value to shareholders. Additionally, with a dividend yield of 3.37% as of the latest data, the company stands as an attractive option for income-focused investors. Analysts have taken note of the company's prospects, with 6 analysts revising their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, suggesting confidence in the company's future performance.
For investors looking to delve deeper into Principal Financial Group's potential, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available. By using the coupon code PRONEWS24, readers can get an extra 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription, unlocking valuable insights that could inform investment decisions. Discover more at: https://www.investing.com/pro/PFG
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.