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 14.97%/yr vs 3.69%/yr for LNC. A 0.75 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
PFG vs. LNC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PFG achieves a 28.25% return, which is significantly higher than LNC's -13.39% return. Over the past 10 years, PFG has outperformed LNC with an annualized return of 14.97%, while LNC has yielded a comparatively lower 3.69% annualized return.
PFG
- 1D
- 1.52%
- 1M
- 7.96%
- YTD
- 28.25%
- 6M
- 26.77%
- 1Y
- 50.53%
- 3Y*
- 19.59%
- 5Y*
- 16.39%
- 10Y*
- 14.97%
LNC
- 1D
- 1.37%
- 1M
- 4.58%
- YTD
- -13.39%
- 6M
- -16.41%
- 1Y
- 19.74%
- 3Y*
- 23.49%
- 5Y*
- -4.86%
- 10Y*
- 3.69%
PFG vs. LNC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PFG Principal Financial Group, Inc. | 28.25% | 18.38% | 1.87% | -2.83% | 20.10% | 51.35% | -5.19% | 29.71% | -34.96% | 25.52% |
LNC Lincoln National Corporation | -13.39% | 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 0.70, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.70 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.71 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.77 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.80 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 23, 2001 | 0.75 |
The correlation between PFG and LNC has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.70 to 0.80 - a consistent structural relationship.
Fundamentals
PFG:
$6.97
LNC:
$12.09
PFG:
15.95
LNC:
3.12
PFG:
0.23
LNC:
0.02
PFG:
2.06
LNC:
0.28
PFG:
$12.07B
LNC:
$18.88B
PFG:
$5.76B
LNC:
$3.21B
PFG:
$1.39B
LNC:
$2.45B
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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 | +1.73 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.95 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.13 | +0.26 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.24 | 0.68 | +3.56 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.75 | 1.43 | +12.33 |
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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 | 0.00% | -37.74% | +37.74% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -21.82% | -25.06% | +3.24% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.68% | 13.88% | -10.20% |
Volatility
PFG vs. LNC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) is 5.20%, while Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) has a volatility of 7.13%. 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 | 5.20% | 7.13% | -1.93% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.45% | 25.00% | -9.55% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.87% | 33.41% | -11.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 26.52% | 42.83% | -16.31% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 31.96% | 46.77% | -14.81% |
Dividends
PFG vs. LNC - Dividend Comparison
PFG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.87%, less than LNC's 4.78% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LNC Lincoln National Corporation | 4.78% | 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. | 2.87% | 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
Frequently Asked Questions
PFG and LNC have a correlation of 0.70, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
LNC has higher volatility (7.13%) compared to PFG (5.20%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PFG dropped -91.50% vs LNC's -92.87%.
PFG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.33 vs 0.59), 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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