PFG vs. LNC
PFG (Principal Financial Group, Inc.) and LNC (Lincoln National Corporation) are both stocks. Both are in the Financial Services sector — PFG in Insurance - Diversified, LNC in Insurance - Life. Over the past 10 years, PFG returned 13.79%/yr vs 4.62%/yr for LNC. Their 0.75 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently.
Performance
PFG vs. LNC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFG achieves a 31.09% return, which is significantly higher than LNC's 6.05% return. Over the past 10 years, PFG has outperformed LNC with an annualized return of 13.79%, while LNC has yielded a comparatively lower 4.62% annualized return.
PFG
- 1D
- -0.22%
- 1M
- 2.55%
- 6M
- 22.08%
- YTD
- 31.09%
- 1Y
- 56.07%
- 3Y*
- 16.97%
- 5Y*
- 16.95%
- 10Y*
- 13.79%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.08%
LNC
- 1D
- -0.89%
- 1M
- 24.69%
- 6M
- 12.32%
- YTD
- 6.05%
- 1Y
- 29.54%
- 3Y*
- 23.98%
- 5Y*
- -0.85%
- 10Y*
- 4.62%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.44%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $104.93M | $89.04M | $74.21M | |
| $225.05M | $182.69M | $150.91M |
PFG vs. LNC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFG Principal Financial Group, Inc. | 31.09% | 18.38% | 1.87% | -2.83% | 20.10% | 51.35% | -5.19% | 29.71% | -34.96% | 25.52% |
LNC Lincoln National Corporation | 6.05% | 48.02% | 24.78% | -5.55% | -53.53% | 39.49% | -11.08% | 17.95% | -31.98% | 17.98% |
Correlation
The correlation between PFG and LNC is 0.69, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.69 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.71 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.76 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.80 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 23, 2001 | 0.75 |
The correlation between PFG and LNC shifts across timeframes, from 0.69 (1 year) to 0.80 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
PFG:
$24.40B
LNC:
$8.72B
PFG:
$6.97
LNC:
$16.08
PFG:
16.31
LNC:
2.84
PFG:
0.24
LNC:
0.02
PFG:
1.61
LNC:
0.35
PFG:
$15.69B
LNC:
$19.36B
PFG:
$7.62B
LNC:
$6.59B
PFG:
$1.90B
LNC:
$1.43B
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Return for Risk
PFG vs. LNC — Risk / Return Rank
PFG
LNC
PFG vs. LNC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) and Lincoln National Corporation (LNC). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| PFG | LNC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.60 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.79 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.16 | +0.24 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.32 | 0.87 | +3.45 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.79 | 1.75 | +13.04 |
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Drawdowns
PFG vs. LNC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PFG drawdown since its inception was -91.50%, roughly equal to the maximum LNC drawdown of -92.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PFG and LNC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| PFG | LNC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -91.50% | -92.87% | +1.37% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.96% | -29.13% | +17.17% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -22.43% | -29.13% | +6.70% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.32% | -73.14% | +43.82% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -64.73% | -79.19% | +14.46% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.34% | -23.77% | +23.43% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -21.73% | -25.08% | +3.35% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.51% | 14.53% | -11.02% |
Volatility
PFG vs. LNC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) is 6.12%, while Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) has a volatility of 13.12%. This indicates that PFG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than LNC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| PFG | LNC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.12% | 13.12% | -7.00% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.34% | 28.01% | -11.67% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.09% | 35.83% | -13.74% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 26.48% | 42.99% | -16.51% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 31.73% | 46.64% | -14.91% |
Dividends
PFG vs. LNC - Dividend Comparison
PFG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.81%, less than LNC's 3.95% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LNC Lincoln National Corporation | 3.95% | 4.04% | 5.68% | 6.67% | 5.86% | 2.46% | 3.18% | 2.51% | 2.57% | 1.51% | 1.51% | 1.59% |
PFG Principal Financial Group, Inc. | 2.81% | 3.49% | 3.68% | 3.30% | 3.05% | 3.37% | 4.52% | 3.96% | 4.75% | 2.65% | 2.78% | 3.33% |
Financials
PFG vs. LNC - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Principal Financial Group, Inc. and Lincoln National Corporation. 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
PFG vs. LNC - Profitability Comparison
PFG - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Principal Financial Group, Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.91B and revenue of 3.91B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 49.0%.
LNC - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Lincoln National Corporation reported a gross profit of 0.00 and revenue of 4.54B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 0.0%.
PFG - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Principal Financial Group, Inc. reported an operating income of 496.30M and revenue of 3.91B, resulting in an operating margin of 12.7%.
LNC - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Lincoln National Corporation reported an operating income of 0.00 and revenue of 4.54B, resulting in an operating margin of 0.0%.
PFG - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Principal Financial Group, Inc. reported a net income of 403.40M and revenue of 3.91B, resulting in a net margin of 10.3%.
LNC - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Lincoln National Corporation reported a net income of 1.33B and revenue of 4.54B, resulting in a net margin of 29.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions
PFG and LNC have a correlation of 0.69, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
LNC has higher volatility (13.12%) compared to PFG (6.12%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFG dropped -91.50% vs LNC's -92.87%.
PFG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.35 vs 0.75), 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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