T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:TROW) is included among the Best Stocks for a Dividend Achievers List. T. Rowe (TROW) Price Sees Modest Target Increase as Near-Term Pressures Persist Image by Alexsander-777 from Pixabay On December 17, Morgan Stanley raised its price target on T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:TROW) to $128 from $126 and maintained an Equal Weight rating on the stock. In a preview note, the analyst said client flows were weaker than expected in the fourth quarter. As a result, the fir ...

Des Moines, Iowa-based Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG), is a leading global financial services provider that offers a wide range of financial products and services to individuals, corporations, and institutional clients. With a market cap of $19.7 billion, the company offers retirement solutions, life and health insurance, wellness programs, and investment and banking products. Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as “large-cap stocks,” and PFG perfectly fits that description ...

Group 1: Company Overview - Principal Financial Group (NASDAQ:PFG) has over 145 years of experience in the financial services industry, employing nearly 20,000 workers across 27 countries [4] - The company specializes in 401(k)/403(b) administration, annuities, disability insurance, and retirement solutions, benefiting from consistent growth in assets under management and a strong global clientele [4] Group 2: Financial Performance - Principal Financial Group has $1.8 trillion in assets under administration and boasts a 16-year streak of dividend growth [3] - The company anticipates annual non-GAAP EPS growth of 9-12%, driven by strong Q3 2025 performance and cautious capital allocation [3] - Management is optimistic about a capital return of $1.4-$1.7 billion, which includes $700 million to $1 billion in share repurchases [3] Group 3: Market Analysis - Morgan Stanley has increased its price objective for Principal Financial Group from $83 to $87 while maintaining an Underweight rating, citing higher life insurance earnings than share-price reactions suggested [2] - The property and liability market is expected to undergo a softening cycle by 2026 [2]

Core Insights - Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) is a global financial services company with a market cap of $37.7 billion, providing life insurance, retirement solutions, asset management, and annuities [1] - PRU is classified as a large-cap stock, generating steady cash flow through recurring premiums and strong brand trust, while focusing on faster-growing, less capital-intensive areas for better long-term profitability [2] Stock Performance - PRU is currently trading 16.2% below its 52-week high of $128.72, reached on December 3, 2024, and has gained marginally over the past three months, outperforming the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) which dropped 1.4% [3] - Year-to-date, PRU shares are down 9%, slightly trailing XLF's 9.3% return, and have declined 16% over the past 52 weeks, significantly lagging behind XLF's 4% increase [4] Financial Results - On October 29, Prudential Financial reported better-than-expected Q3 results, with shares surging 1.9% in the following trading session; adjusted EPS increased 27.9% year-over-year to $4.26, surpassing consensus estimates by 16.4% [5] - Assets under management grew 3.5% year-over-year to $1.6 trillion, indicating strong growth across all business segments [5] Competitive Position - PRU has underperformed its rival, MetLife, Inc. (MET), which declined 12.2% over the past 52 weeks and 6.9% year-to-date [6]

Core Insights - Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) has a market capitalization of $37.5 billion and operates in life insurance, retirement solutions, and global asset management, managing approximately $1.5 trillion in assets through its PGIM division [1] Performance Overview - PRU shares have underperformed compared to the broader market, declining 18.8% over the past 52 weeks and 12.7% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 Index has returned 13.7% and 13.4% respectively [2] - The stock has also lagged behind the iShares U.S. Insurance ETF, which experienced a marginal dip over the past year but surged 4.4% this year [3] Earnings Report - On October 29, Prudential reported third-quarter earnings, with shares rising 1.9% following a strong earnings beat, posting after-tax adjusted operating income of $1.5 billion, or $4.26 per share, compared to $1.2 billion and $3.33 per share a year earlier [4] - Net income increased significantly to $1.4 billion from $448 million [4] - Adjusted book value rose to $99.25 per share, and assets under management grew 3.5% year-over-year to $1.6 trillion, indicating strong performance in PGIM [5] Analyst Expectations - Analysts project PRU's EPS to increase by 12.8% year-over-year to $14.23 for the current year ending in December [6] - The company has exceeded analysts' consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters, with one miss [6] - Among 19 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a "Hold," consisting of two "Strong Buy" ratings, 15 "Holds," and two "Strong Sells" [6] Price Target - Analyst John Barnidge from Piper Sandler reiterated a "Hold" rating on Prudential Financial with a price target set at $110 [7]

Core Points - SGAM Matmut has completed the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of HSBC Assurances Vie (France), enhancing its position in the life insurance market [2][3] - The acquisition aligns with the Group's strategic plan "Objectif: Impact!" 2024-2026, focusing on growth and diversification, and is expected to increase the Group's business volume by 51% to €4.8 billion based on 2024 pro forma earned premiums [4] - HSBC Assurances Vie (France) will be rebranded as KOREGE starting November 1, 2025, reflecting a renewed ambition in the savings business [4] Company Overview - SGAM Matmut is a leading French mutual insurance company with 4.6 million members and 8.4 million insurance policies under management as of the end of 2024 [8] - The Group offers a wide range of insurance products, including property and casualty insurance, savings, and financial services, generating premium income of €3.2 billion in 2024 [8] - The business mix of the Group is composed of 46% property & casualty, 38% savings & protection, and 16% health insurance [9] Management Changes - Following the acquisition, Nicolas Gomart will become Chairman of KOREGE, while Tristan de La Fonchais has been appointed Chief Executive Officer [5] - Laurence Rogier, the former CEO of HSBC Assurances Vie (France), will serve as Vice-Chairwoman of the Board and oversee Strategic and Financial Coordination of KOREGE [6]

Core Thesis - Corebridge Financial, Inc. (CRGB) is viewed positively due to its strong market position as a major U.S. provider of life insurance and retirement solutions, with a share price of $32.42 as of October 7th and attractive valuation metrics, including a trailing P/E of 8.64 and a forward P/E of 5.99 [1][2] Business Overview - CRGB was spun out of AIG in 2022 and operates four main business lines: individual retirement (69% of operating income), group retirement (21%), life insurance (13%), and institutional markets (14%) [2] - The company generates income by selling future income streams and death benefits, primarily investing premiums in fixed-income securities, resulting in a net investment income of $12.2 billion on a $400 billion balance sheet in 2024, yielding a spread of approximately 3% [2] Financial Performance - Total premiums amounted to $4.6 billion, with additional fees of $3.0 billion, against policy benefits of $6.6 billion, credited interest of $5.2 billion, and overhead of $2.1 billion, leading to a net income of $2.2 billion and a 10% return on adjusted book value of $22.2 billion [3] - The company has repurchased $1.7 billion of shares, representing about 10% of its current market cap of $17.5 billion, while the stock trades at 8x earnings and 0.88x book value, partly due to residual AIG overhang [3] Capital Management and Strategy - CRGB has transferred $23.8 billion of liabilities to Fortitude Re in Bermuda, which has allowed for increased capital availability for dividends and buybacks while retaining assets managed by Blackstone and BlackRock [4] - The investment portfolio includes $179.7 billion in bonds, $54.3 billion in mortgages and loans, and $22.1 billion in private credit, with plans to scale Blackstone-managed assets to $92.5 billion by 2027, indicating a balance between growth and associated risks [4] Market Sentiment - The bullish sentiment on CRGB is reinforced by its ongoing $2 billion buyback program and favorable demographics, supporting projected long-term EPS growth of 10-15% [3][5] - However, the strategy of increasing exposure to private credit and offshore reinsurance introduces potential leverage, counterparty, and default risks [4][5]

Core Insights - Raymond James Financial Services has welcomed five financial advisors from The Manning Companies, enhancing its independent advisor channel [1][2][3] Group 1: Company Overview - Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. is a financial services firm that supports independent financial advisors across the nation, with total client assets of approximately $1.69 trillion as of August 31, 2025 [5] Group 2: New Advisors - The new advisors include Michael A. Manning, William B. Corder, Roger D. Groves, Heather R. Nicholas, and Richard Carlquist, who collectively managed around $1.1 billion in client assets at their previous firm [2][3] Group 3: Strategic Partnership - The Manning Companies chose Raymond James after a thorough evaluation, citing its prestigious independent broker/dealer status and advisor-centric model as key factors [3] - The transition is expected to enhance service delivery for high-net-worth clients and retirement solutions [5]

Core Insights - American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a global insurance company with a market capitalization of $50.3 billion, providing various insurance and financial services across more than 80 countries [2][3] - AIG has experienced a year-to-date gain of 20%, significantly outperforming the industry average of 5.5% [2][10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AIG's 2025 earnings is $6.24 per share, reflecting a 26.1% year-over-year increase, with expected revenues of $27.4 billion [4] Financial Performance - AIG's net premium written (NPW) increased by 8% year-over-year in Q1 2025, with the North America Commercial segment rising by 14% and the international commercial segment by 5% [6][10] - The company has a forward P/E ratio of 12.67X, higher than the industry average of 9.05X, indicating growing investor confidence [3] Growth Drivers - AIG's growth is driven by increased NPW, high retention rates, and new business generation, particularly in the General Insurance segment [5] - Tata AIG, a high-growth business, has achieved a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% and is expected to maintain this growth through 2030 [7] Capital Management - AIG maintains a strong liquidity position with a solid cash balance and reduced debt levels, allowing for prudent capital deployment through share buybacks and dividend payments [8] - In May 2025, AIG announced a quarterly dividend increase of 12.5%, reflecting its strong financial health [8] Challenges - AIG faces challenges with a deteriorating combined ratio due to catastrophe losses, particularly from California wildfires, impacting its underwriting margins [9][11]