Principal Global Investors

What Principal Global Investors does

Principal Global Investors, LLC is a private, Des Moines-headquartered investment management firm operating as the asset management arm of Principal Financial Group. The firm manages $594 billion in assets under management, serving three primary customer segments: institutional investors (pension funds, endowments, and foundations), individual investors (via financial professionals and retirement programs), and other investment funds. Its legal and operational structure spans wholly-owned regulated subsidiaries in Ireland, the UK, Switzerland, and Australia, supporting cross-border institutional distribution.

The firm operates a broad, multi-asset-class investment platform spanning equities, fixed income, listed infrastructure, real estate and private markets, and alternative credit. Investment products are delivered through multiple vehicles — mutual funds, ETFs (including the PSC small-cap multi-factor ETF and the Fit ETF suite), collective investment trusts (CITs), separately managed accounts (SMAs), interval funds, and model portfolios — and through specialized solutions such as liability-driven investing (LDI), outsourced CIO (OCIO), and the Scholar's Edge 529 education savings plan. The firm is organized around branded investment teams including Principal Equities, Principal Fixed Income, Principal Real Estate, Spectrum Asset Management, Principal Morley, Principal Finisterre, Principal Alternative Credit, Principal Asset Allocation, and Principal Aligned.

Principal Global Investors generates revenue through asset-based management fees charged across its product vehicles. Distribution operates through direct institutional field sales, financial professional and advisor channels, and exchange-listed ETFs on NASDAQ. The firm emphasizes diversified investment capabilities and global reach, with operating geographies covering the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, Japan, Latin America, and the Middle East, subject to jurisdiction-specific investor eligibility restrictions.

Name

Principal Global Investors

Legal name

Principal Global Investors, LLC

Website

https://principalglobal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1879

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Principal Global Investors is a private, Des Moines-based asset management firm (member of Principal Financial Group) managing $594 billion in assets across equities, fixed income, real estate, and alternatives for institutional, individual, and fund clients globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Asset Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Open-End Investment Funds (52591), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Investors, Nec (6799), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Investment Advisory (Acquisitions/Dispositions, Capital Allocation) (BPAJANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Real Estate Funds — Core-Plus (FSANAEAG), Core Real Estate (Stabilized/Core-Plus) (FSAAAKAA), Real Assets — Real Asset Fund Platforms / Multi-Asset Real Assets (Diversified Real Assets Funds) (FSAHAIAM)

Keywords

• Asset management services
• Institutional investment management
• Retirement investment solutions
• Alternative credit investing
• Exchange-traded funds

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Asset Management Fees: Principal Global Investors generates revenue through management fees charged on assets under management. The firm manages ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), mutual funds, collective investment trusts (CITs), separately managed accounts (SMAs), and interval funds, charging fees based on assets managed across these product types.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Principal Global Investors is a global diversified asset management firm that delivers investment solutions across equities, fixed income, real estate, listed infrastructure, and alternative investments. The firm offers investment products through multiple vehicles including ETFs (e.g., Principal U.S. Small-Cap Multi-Factor ETF, Principal Fit ETF Suite), collective investment trusts (CITs), mutual funds, separately managed accounts (SMAs), and interval funds. It also provides specialized solutions such as liability-driven investment (LDI), outsourced CIO (OCIO) services, model portfolios, and the Scholar's Edge 529 education savings plan for institutional investors, retirement plans, and individual investors.

Product overview

Principal Asset Management offers a comprehensive suite of investment products and solutions across multiple asset classes and investment vehicles. The product portfolio includes exchange-traded funds (ETFs) such as the Principal U.S. Small-Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC) and the Principal® Fit ETF Suite, alongside traditional investment vehicles including collective investment trusts (CITs), mutual funds, and separately managed accounts (SMAs). The company provides specialized investment solutions including liability-driven investments (LDI), outsourced CIO (OCIO) services, and model portfolios. Investment capabilities span across asset classes including equities, fixed income, listed infrastructure, and real estate & private markets. The organization operates multiple specialized investment teams including Principal Aligned, Principal Alternative Credit, Principal Asset Allocation, Principal Equities, Principal Finisterre, Principal Fixed Income, Principal Morley, Principal Real Estate, and Spectrum Asset Management, each focusing on distinct investment strategies and asset classes. Additional offerings include the Scholar's Edge 529 education savings plan and retirement-focused solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Principal Aligned: Investment specialty focusing on aligned investment strategies
• Principal Alternative Credit
• Principal Asset Allocation
• Principal Equities
• Principal Fixed Income
• Principal Finisterre
• Principal Morley
• Principal Real Estate
• Spectrum Asset Management
• Scholar's Edge 529 Plan

Products and services

• Principal U.S. Small-Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC) An exchange-traded fund that tracks the Russell 2000 index using a multi-factor investment strategy, available to institutional and retail investors through brokerage accounts.
• Principal Fit ETF Suite A suite of fixed income ETFs designed to help investors turn market views into portfolio action.
• Active ETFs Exchange-traded funds employing active management strategies to potentially outperform passive benchmarks.
• Collective Investment Trusts (CIT) Pooled investment vehicles designed for institutional investors.
• Interval Funds Closed-end funds with periodic redemption opportunities providing access to less liquid strategies.
• Separately Managed Accounts (SMA) Individually managed portfolios customized to meet specific investor requirements and objectives.
• U.S. Mutual Funds Professionally managed investment pools offering diversified exposure across various asset classes.
• LDI Solutions Liability-driven investment strategies designed to help pension plans match future payment obligations.
• OCIO Solutions Outsourced Chief Investment Officer services providing comprehensive investment management for institutional clients.
• Model Portfolios Pre-constructed investment portfolios offering diversified asset allocation and professional manager selection.
• Scholar's Edge 529 Plan A qualified tuition savings program designed to help families save and invest for future education expenses.
• Spectrum Asset Management Specialized investment management offering focusing on preferred securities and structured products.
• Principal Real Estate Real estate investment management across equity, debt, and securities strategies.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BlackRock: BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager with $10T+ AUM, offering comparable multi-asset institutional solutions including ETFs (iShares), mutual funds, SMAs, and alternatives. It is the dominant competitor in the institutional asset management space where PGI competes.
• Vanguard: Vanguard is the largest mutual fund and ETF provider globally, with comparable institutional offerings including CITs, separate accounts, and OCIO services. Vanguard's low-cost active and passive funds directly compete with many of PGI's mutual fund and ETF products.
• Fidelity Investments:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/principal
• Facebookfacebook.com/principalfinancial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Principal Global Investors