HSBC vs. PFG
HSBC (HSBC Holdings plc) and PFG (Principal Financial Group, Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Financial Services sector — HSBC in Banks - Diversified, PFG in Insurance - Diversified. Over the past 10 years, HSBC returned 17.91%/yr vs 13.61%/yr for PFG. A 0.53 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
HSBC vs. PFG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with HSBC having a 20.29% return and PFG slightly higher at 21.10%. Over the past 10 years, HSBC has outperformed PFG with an annualized return of 17.91%, while PFG has yielded a comparatively lower 13.61% annualized return.
HSBC
- 1D
- 0.80%
- 1M
- 2.08%
- YTD
- 20.29%
- 6M
- 33.24%
- 1Y
- 60.06%
- 3Y*
- 43.23%
- 5Y*
- 32.21%
- 10Y*
- 17.91%
PFG
- 1D
- -0.18%
- 1M
- 5.34%
- YTD
- 21.10%
- 6M
- 22.95%
- 1Y
- 41.47%
- 3Y*
- 17.87%
- 5Y*
- 14.05%
- 10Y*
- 13.61%
HSBC vs. PFG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HSBC HSBC Holdings plc | 20.29% | 67.91% | 34.48% | 39.45% | 7.79% | 20.76% | -31.71% | 1.44% | -16.05% | 36.04% |
PFG Principal Financial Group, Inc. | 21.10% | 18.38% | 1.87% | -2.83% | 20.10% | 51.35% | -5.19% | 29.71% | -34.96% | 25.52% |
Correlation
The correlation between HSBC and PFG is 0.39, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.50 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 23, 2001 | 0.53 |
The correlation between HSBC and PFG shifts across timeframes, from 0.39 (1 year) to 0.53 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
HSBC:
$316.57B
PFG:
$23.14B
HSBC:
$6.38
PFG:
$6.97
HSBC:
14.34
PFG:
15.06
HSBC:
0.71
PFG:
0.22
HSBC:
2.49
PFG:
1.95
HSBC:
1.81
PFG:
1.96
HSBC:
$128.37B
PFG:
$12.07B
HSBC:
$65.42B
PFG:
$5.76B
HSBC:
$34.27B
PFG:
$1.39B
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Return for Risk
HSBC vs. PFG — Risk / Return Rank
HSBC
PFG
HSBC vs. PFG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) and Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| HSBC | PFG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.38 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.49 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.40 | 1.33 | +0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.71 | 3.48 | +0.23 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.24 | 11.28 | +1.96 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| HSBC | PFG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.30 | 1.92 | +0.38 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.26 | 0.53 | +0.73 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.70 | 0.43 | +0.28 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.25 | 0.23 | +0.02 |
Drawdowns
HSBC vs. PFG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum HSBC drawdown since its inception was -74.47%, smaller than the maximum PFG drawdown of -91.50%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HSBC and PFG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| HSBC | PFG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -74.47% | -91.50% | +17.03% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.28% | -11.96% | -4.32% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.83% | -22.43% | +0.60% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.80% | -29.32% | -2.48% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -62.26% | -64.73% | +2.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.87% | -0.18% | -3.69% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -24.11% | -21.85% | -2.26% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.55% | 3.69% | +0.86% |
Volatility
HSBC vs. PFG - Volatility Comparison
HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) has a higher volatility of 7.33% compared to Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) at 4.90%. This indicates that HSBC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PFG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| HSBC | PFG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.33% | 4.90% | +2.43% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.58% | 15.63% | +5.95% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.25% | 21.73% | +4.52% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.78% | 26.63% | -0.85% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.56% | 31.96% | -6.40% |
Dividends
HSBC vs. PFG - Dividend Comparison
HSBC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.10%, more than PFG's 3.04% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HSBC HSBC Holdings plc | 4.10% | 4.19% | 8.29% | 6.54% | 4.33% | 3.65% | 4.05% | 6.52% | 6.20% | 4.94% | 6.35% | 6.33% |
PFG Principal Financial Group, Inc. | 3.04% | 3.49% | 3.68% | 3.30% | 3.05% | 3.37% | 4.52% | 3.96% | 4.75% | 2.65% | 2.78% | 3.33% |
Financials
HSBC vs. PFG - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between HSBC Holdings plc and Principal Financial Group, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
Frequently Asked Questions
HSBC and PFG have a correlation of 0.39, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
HSBC has higher volatility (7.33%) compared to PFG (4.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, HSBC dropped -74.47% vs PFG's -91.50%.
HSBC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.30 vs 1.92), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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