Berkshire Hathaway vs Principal Financial Group
Side-by-side comparison of AI visibility scores, market position, and capabilities
Omaha conglomerate (NYSE: BRK.A/BRK.B) first non-tech $1T market cap Aug 2024; Warren Buffett retiring CEO Jan 2026 (Greg Abel succession) with $344B+ T-bills/cash and GEICO/BNSF/Dairy Queen owning major Apple/AmEx/BofA stakes.
About
Berkshire Hathaway is an Omaha, Nebraska-headquartered conglomerate holding company — publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BRK.A / BRK.B) as the first non-technology company to achieve a $1 trillion market capitalization (August 2024) — controlling a diverse portfolio of wholly owned operating businesses (GEICO insurance, BNSF Railway, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Dairy Queen, Duracell, See's Candies, Fruit of the Loom, and 60+ others) plus significant equity stakes in Apple, American Express, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Chevron, and other public companies. Under Warren Buffett's leadership from 1965 (transforming the company from a struggling textile mill into a global investment and operating conglomerate), Berkshire held $344 billion in Treasury bills plus $44 billion in cash as of June 2025 — the largest cash position of any US public company. In May 2025, Buffett announced at the annual shareholder meeting that Greg Abel would become CEO on January 1, 2026, with Buffett remaining as Chairman.
Des Moines retirement and asset management (NASDAQ: PFG) at $16.13B 2024 revenue (+18%), $753B AUM; new CEO Deanna Strable (Jan 2025), Ascensus ESOP acquisition (2024), $1.7T AUA competing with Empower for mid-market 401(k).
About
Principal Financial Group, Inc. is a Des Moines, Iowa-based financial services company — publicly traded on NASDAQ (NASDAQ: PFG) as an S&P 500 Financials component — providing retirement savings, asset management, and group insurance and benefits to 61 million customers worldwide through approximately 20,000 employees with $753 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of Q2 2025, $1.7 trillion in assets under administration, and $16.13 billion in 2024 annual revenue (up 18% year-over-year) with net income of $1.57 billion. Founded in 1879 as The Bankers Life Association by Edward Temple and Simon Casady to provide affordable life insurance to Iowans, Principal demutualized and completed its IPO in 2001. Deanna Strable became President and CEO in January 2025 (succeeding Dan Houston), with Joel Pitz named CFO. Principal operates through three segments: Retirement and Income Solutions (RIS — 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit plans, nonqualified executive benefits, pension risk transfer, and individual retirement products), Principal Asset Management (equity, fixed income, real estate, and alternative investments for institutional clients), and Benefits and Protection (group dental, vision, life, and disability insurance). Key acquisitions include AFP Cuprum (Chilean pension, $1.5B, 2012), Wells Fargo's institutional retirement and trust business ($1.2B, 2019, adding 401(k)/pension/ESOP plans), and the 2024 agreement to acquire Ascensus's ESOP business (800 plans, 165,000+ participants). Principal's market capitalization stands at approximately $18.3 billion.
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