Deanna D. Strable-Soethout, President and Chief Executive Officer of Principal Financial Group Inc (NASDAQ: PFG), sold 9,300 shares of the company's common stock on January 29, 2026, according to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The transaction was executed at a weighted average price of $95.12 per share, producing total proceeds of $884,616. Reported sale prices on the Form 4 ranged from $95.00 to $95.34.
Following the disposition, Strable-Soethout directly holds 144,168 shares of Principal Financial Group. In addition, she is reported to have indirect ownership of 54,227 shares through her spouse.
The filing states that the sale was made under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that was adopted on February 28, 2024. A Rule 10b5-1 plan allows insiders to conduct prearranged trades according to a predetermined schedule or formula.
Analyst action
Separately, JPMorgan has adjusted its coverage of Principal Financial Group, lowering the stock's rating from Overweight to Neutral and assigning a new price target of $103.00. In JPMorgan's assessment, the change reflects a view that more attractive valuation opportunities exist among other life insurance stocks, rather than a shift in Principal Financial Group's underlying fundamentals.
The bank's decision amounts to a reallocation of preference within the life insurance sector and highlights differences in how brokers are positioning clients relative to peer stocks.
Context and considerations
The Form 4 details the mechanics of the CEO's sale, including the exact share count, price band, and the governing 10b5-1 plan adoption date. The analyst move by JPMorgan is explicitly framed as a valuation-driven adjustment across the life insurance industry rather than a commentary on Principal Financial Group's individual outlook.
Both items were disclosed in company regulatory filings and brokerage research notes respectively, and together they form part of the recent public updates affecting the company and the life insurance sector.
Takeaways
- The CEO completed a 9,300-share sale at a weighted average price of $95.12 on January 29, 2026 under a prearranged 10b5-1 plan adopted on February 28, 2024.
- Post-transaction holdings for the CEO include 144,168 directly owned shares and 54,227 shares indirectly owned through a spouse.
- JPMorgan downgraded Principal Financial Group from Overweight to Neutral and set a $103.00 price target, citing relatively better value in other life insurance stocks rather than changes to Principal Financial Group's fundamentals.