finalguidance2009cover.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________________
 
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
 
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: December 3, 2009
(Date of earliest event reported)
 
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                                                     Delaware  1-16725                     42-1520346 
                                                     (State or other jurisdiction  (Commission file number)                  (I.R.S. Employer 
                                                             of incorporation)               Identification Number) 

711 High Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50392
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(515) 247-5111
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
          Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the 
          registrant under any of the following provisions: 
 
          [   ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) 
          [   ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) 
          [   ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 
  240.14d-2(b)) 
          [   ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 
  240.13e-4(c)) 
_________________________



Item 7.01      Regulation FD Disclosure 
 
The following information is being furnished under Item 7.01 "Regulation FD Disclosure." This 
information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor 
shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a 
filing.   
 
On December 3, 2009, Principal Financial Group, Inc. announced its outlook for 2010 operating 
earnings and net income. The text of the announcement is included herewith as Exhibit 99.1. 
 
Item 9.01       Financial Statements and Exhibits 
 
Exhibit 99.1     Press Release Concerning 2010 Outlook Dated December 3, 2009 
 
Exhibit 99.2     Additional slides concerning 2010 guidance presented at Principal Financial Group, 
                       Inc.'s Investor Conference on December 3, 2009 

                                                                         SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused 
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. 
                                                                          PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 
 
                                                                          By:       /s/ Tom Graf                                             
                                                                          Name:  Tom Graf 
                                                                          Title:     Senior Vice President – Investor Relations 
Date:  December 3, 2009   



                                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT   
NUMBER                                       EXHIBIT 
99.1  Press Release Concerning 2010 Outlook Dated December 3, 2009 
99.2  Additional slides concerning 2010 guidance presented at Principal Financial Group, 
  Inc.’s Investor Conference on December 3, 2009 



                                                                                                                                                                                         EXHIBIT 99.1 
 
RELEASE:  On receipt 
MEDIA CONTACT:  Jeff Rader, 515-247-7883, rader.jeff@principal.com 
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:  Tom Graf, 515-235-9500, graf.tom@principal.com 
 
                   PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. ANNOUNCES OUTLOOK FOR 2010 

Des Moines, IA (December 3, 2009) – Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:PFG) today announced 
its outlook for 2010: operating earnings per diluted share (EPS) ranging from $2.45 to $2.75; and net 
income available to common stockholders per diluted share ranging from $1.75 to $2.05.1,2,3,4 
 
Guidance for 2010 incorporates certain assumptions, including: a 13 to 15 percent increase in average 
assets under management in 2010 compared to 2009 based on an average S&P 500 Index of 1,150 in 
2010; operating losses for the Corporate segment of $90 million to $110 million; and no share 
repurchase activity. Company guidance contemplates additional scaling back of the Investment Only 
business during 2010, from its present level of approximately 25 percent of general account liabilities 
to approximately 20 percent by year-end 2010. Guidance also contemplates a change in operating 
earnings for Principal International due to a pending change in the company’s economic interest in its 
BrasilPrev joint venture.5 Guidance does not contemplate any other activity, other than where a 
definitive agreement has been signed by the company and publicly announced. 
 
The company also announced that it remains committed to its long-term goals: average annual 
improvement in return on equity (ROE)6 of roughly 50 basis points; and 11 to 13 percent average 
annual growth in EPS, reflecting the company’s outlook for continued strength in the U.S. and 
international asset management and accumulation businesses.7 

_________________________
1 Guidance speaks only as of the date it is made. The company does not undertake to update annual guidance during the year, but 
may do so if significant changes occur in general business conditions or company operations. 
2 EPS, which is not measured in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP), should not be viewed 
as a substitute for net income available to common stockholders (net income) per diluted share determined in accordance with U.S. 
GAAP. EPS is calculated by dividing operating earnings by weighted average shares outstanding. Operating earnings are 
determined by adjusting net income for the effect of net realized capital gains and losses, as adjusted, and other after-tax 
adjustments. After-tax adjustments have occurred in the past and could recur in future reporting periods. While these items may be 
significant components in understanding and assessing the company's consolidated financial performance, management believes the 
presentation of operating earnings per diluted share enhances the understanding of results of operations by highlighting earnings 
attributable to the normal, ongoing operations of the company's businesses. 
3 The range of $1.75 to $2.05 reflects the company's estimate for 2010 mortgage and credit losses only. There are a number of items 
the company does not predict that could significantly affect net income per diluted share, including, but not limited to: mark-to- 
market on derivatives; changes to laws, regulations, or accounting standards; and gains or losses from discontinued operations. 
4 The company’s estimate of mortgage and credit losses for 2010 ranges from 65 cents to 75 cents per diluted share. The company’s 
outlook for net income per diluted share is based on the mid-point of that range. 
5 As announced on October 27, 2009, the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Banco do Brasil. Following 
completion of all necessary approvals and transactions, the pension and long-term asset accumulation joint venture in Brazil would 
be extended for 23 years and The Principal’s economic interest in the joint venture would change to 25 percent, from 46 percent. 
6 Operating return on average equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income, calculated over the trailing twelve month 
period. 
7 Long-term EPS and ROE targets assume domestic equity market performance improvement of roughly two percent per quarter. 



Principal Financial Group, Inc. Announces Outlook for 2010—page 2 
 
Forward looking and cautionary statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements as to operating 
earnings, net income available to common stockholders, net cash flows, realized and unrealized losses, capital and 
liquidity positions, sales and earnings trends, and management's beliefs, expectations, goals and opinions. The 
company does not undertake to update or revise these statements, which are based on a number of assumptions 
concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Future events and their effects on the 
company may not be those anticipated, and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these 
forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause or contribute to such material 
differences are discussed in the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and 
in company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, filed by the company with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated or supplemented from time to time in subsequent filings. 
These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: adverse capital and credit market conditions that may 
significantly affect the company’s ability to meet liquidity needs, access to capital and cost of capital; a continuation 
of difficult conditions in the global capital markets and the general economy that may materially adversely affect the 
company’s business and results of operations; the actions of the U.S. government, Federal Reserve and other 
governmental and regulatory bodies for purposes of stabilizing the financial markets might not achieve the intended 
effect; the risk from acquiring new businesses, which could result in the impairment of goodwill and/or intangible 
assets recognized at the time of acquisition; impairment of other financial institutions that could adversely affect the 
company; investment risks which may diminish the value of the company’s invested assets and the investment 
returns credited to customers, which could reduce sales, revenues, assets under management and net income; 
requirements to post collateral or make payments related to declines in market value of specified assets may 
adversely affect company liquidity and expose the company to counterparty credit risk; changes in laws, regulations 
or accounting standards that may reduce company profitability; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates that 
could reduce company profitability; Principal Financial Group, Inc.’s primary reliance, as a holding company, on 
dividends from its subsidiaries to meet debt payment obligations and regulatory restrictions on the ability of 
subsidiaries to pay such dividends; competitive factors; volatility of financial markets; decrease in ratings; interest 
rate changes; inability to attract and retain sales representatives; international business risks; a pandemic, terrorist 
attack or other catastrophic event; and default of the company’s re-insurers. 

About the Principal Financial Group 
The Principal Financial GroupÒ (The Principal ® )8 is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and 
institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment 
services, life and health insurance, and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies. 
A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $280.4 billion in assets under 
management9 and serves some 18.6 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, 
Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock 
Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com. 
                                                                     ### 

_________________________
8 "The Principal Financial Group" and “The Principal” are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the 
Principal Financial Group. 
9 As of September 30, 2009