Principal Financial stock faces a Q3 earnings test in October

Published on 10/03/2026 at 21:26 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Principal Financial stock closed at USD 111.96 on October 2, 2026, as its second quarter revenue reached USD 3.91 billion. Piper Sandler lifted its target to USD 128.

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Principal Financial stock (ISIN US74251V1026) closed at USD 111.96 on Nasdaq on October 2, 2026, down 0.25 percent from the prior close of USD 112.24. The next quarterly report is scheduled for October 26, 2026, giving investors a defined checkpoint after a mixed second quarter.

Q2 revenue grew but missed estimates

According to Simply Wall St, Principal Financial Group reported second quarter 2026 revenue of USD 3.91 billion, up 6.4 percent from the second quarter of 2025. Net income stood at USD 403.4 million, flat year over year, while the 10 percent profit margin matched the prior-year quarter.

The comparison with expectations was less favorable: revenue missed estimates by 3.5 percent and earnings per share missed by 22 percent, according to Simply Wall St. That gap makes the October report important for judging whether revenue growth is translating into stronger earnings.

Analyst target moves to USD 128

Yahoo Finance lists Piper Sandler as maintaining an Overweight rating and raising its price target from USD 125 to USD 128 on September 28, 2026. The target revision contrasts with the stock's USD 111.96 close and places valuation expectations above the current market level.

The broader target range runs from USD 92 to USD 128, with an average target of USD 112.08, according to Yahoo Finance. The narrow average premium and the wide target spread point to differing views on how much of Principal Financial's earnings potential is already reflected in the stock.

Stock stays below yearly high

Principal Financial stock traded between USD 111.53 and USD 112.35 during the October 2 session, with volume of 1,094,883 shares. Its 52-week range was USD 77.90 to USD 121.18, while market capitalization stood at USD 24.0 billion on the same date.

The stock therefore finished USD 9.22 below its 52-week high, a 7.6 percent gap calculated from USD 121.18. Against that backdrop, the October 26 earnings release will test whether the 6.4 percent second quarter revenue growth can support the higher analyst target.

October 26 sets the next test

Stock Titan reports that Principal Financial Group will release third quarter 2026 results after US markets close on October 26, 2026, followed by a conference call on October 27. For investors, the central measure is whether operating performance improves beyond the second quarter's earnings miss while revenue continues to expand.