PFG vs STEP Stock Comparison
Compare PFG and STEP across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.
What is the main difference between PFG and STEP?
PFG leads the current stock comparison as Principal Financial Group, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Principal Financial Group, Inc. vs StepStone Group Inc.
PFG leads
PFG leads by 2 AIQ points, primarily on Value and Momentum, having only recently taken the lead back from STEP. Wall Street currently favors STEP on target upside.
Fragile: 4 of 6 evidence groups support PFG, the lead recently changed hands, and its signal state is cleanly positive.
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
StepStone Group Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors PFG over STEP, 62 versus 60 as of Sep 11, 2026. PFG's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value and momentum, while STEP holds the stronger quality profile. PFG also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors STEP. 4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor PFG today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. PFG lead: Reversed — STEP led by 3 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; PFG now leads by 2.
Compare Principal Financial Group, Inc. and StepStone Group Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Price-return comparison using available daily close history.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000
Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.
Compare PFG and STEP against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality60 vs 97STEP +37
- Value57 vs 30PFG +27
- Momentum72 vs 56PFG +16
- Risk Resilience60 vs 55PFG +5
4 of 6 evidence groups favor PFG. PFG’s edge is concentrated in value and momentum; STEP keeps a meaningful quality edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-10, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-09.
Largest factor move: Momentum +4
No new signals fired.
Largest factor move: Momentum +1
No new signals fired.
PFG's lead widened by 1 AIQ points in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — PFG and STEP both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
PFG (Principal Financial Group, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value and momentum.
STEP (StepStone Group Inc.): the counter-case, on quality, analyst expectations — but at materially higher volatility, 46.1% against 28.1%.
The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
PFGPFG on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
PFGPFG on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
PFGPFG on the peer-relative Value factor, by 27 points.
Momentum
PFGPFG on the Momentum factor, by 16 points.
Lower downside
PFGPFG on Risk Resilience, by 5 points.
Analyst upside
STEPSTEP on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors PFG, analyst targets favor STEP. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.
| Measure | PFG | STEP | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | -10% | +27.1% | STEP has more room |
| Target dispersion | +36.3% | +56.3% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 9 | 6 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor PFG. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | Even | 62 vs 60 |
| Fundamentals | PFGon balance | revenue growth 10.7% vs -35.6%; EPS growth -4.7% vs -13.5%; TTM ROE 13% vs 156.7%; gross margin 48.5% vs 60.9%; operating margin 12.1% vs -58.2% — PFG takes 3 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | PFG | Value 57 vs 30 |
| Technicals | PFG | Price vs 50-day 3.1% vs 4.9%; vs 200-day 15.7% vs -7.3% |
| Risk Resilience | PFG | Risk Resilience 60 vs 55 |
| Analyst expectations | STEP | Target upside -10% vs 27.1% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of PFG and STEP and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has already changed hands inside the comparison window. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's signal state is cleanly positive. (supports the conclusion holding)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on PFG.
How the comparison changed
119 daily snapshots · May 4 – Sep 10PFG lead: Reversed — STEP led by 3 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; PFG now leads by 2.
- Today
- PFG +2
- 62 vs 60
- 7 sessions ago
- Level
- 62 vs 62
- 30 sessions ago
- STEP +3
- 58 vs 61
- 90 sessions ago
- PFG +8
- 61 vs 53
The lead changed hands 7 times in this window, most recently on Sep 9 when PFG moved ahead of STEP.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
4 bullish / 0 bearish
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (13.35%)
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
0 bullish / 2 bearish / 2 neutral
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (14.11%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (4.22%)
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +1.05%, AIQ +1 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price -0.85%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1STEP closes the Value gap — currently 27 points behind, the largest single contributor to PFG's edge.
- 2STEP's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it.
- 3PFG's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
PFG leads on balance| Metric | PFG | STEP |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 10.7% | -35.6% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -4.7% | -13.5% |
| Gross margin | 48.5% | 60.9% |
| Operating margin | 12.1% | -58.2% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 13% | 156.7% |
| Debt to equity | 0.36 | -2.91 |
Performance
PFG leads 4 of 6 windows| Metric | PFG | STEP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 3.3% | -2.3% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 1% | 2.6% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 5.3% | 16.5% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 27.2% | 8.5% |
| Year to date | 30.3% | -23.1% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 44.2% | -20.2% |
Technicals
PFG has the stronger structure| Metric | PFG | STEP |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 61.2 | 52.4 |
| ADX (14) | 17.9 | 24.2 |
| Price vs 50-day | 3.1% | 4.9% |
| Price vs 200-day | 15.7% | -7.3% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 28.1% | 46.1% |
Risk
PFG is the more resilient| Metric | PFG | STEP |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.68 | 1.67 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.54 | -0.27 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.34 | -0.4 |
| Max drawdown | -12.8% | -48.2% |
| Current drawdown | -3% | -35.3% |
| Annualized volatility | 22.7% | 48.6% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.2% | -4.8% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, PFG or STEP?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, PFG is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 62 against STEP's 60. The edge comes from value and momentum. STEP is not without a case — it holds the better quality profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is PFG or STEP the better buy right now?
PFG carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 4 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor PFG over STEP?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. STEP leads Quality by 37 points; PFG leads Value by 27 points; PFG leads Momentum by 16 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, PFG or STEP?
Analyst price targets imply -10% upside for PFG and +27.1% for STEP, so the Street currently favors STEP. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors PFG. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, PFG or STEP?
PFG is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. PFG on the peer-relative Value factor, by 27 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, PFG or STEP?
PFG on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, PFG or STEP?
PFG on the Momentum factor, by 16 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, PFG or STEP?
PFG is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. PFG on Risk Resilience, by 5 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is PFG more profitable than STEP?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 48.5% vs 60.9%; operating margin 12.1% vs -58.2%; ttm roe 13% vs 156.7%. PFG leads on one measure and STEP on two measures, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is PFG's lead over STEP getting stronger or weaker?
PFG lead: Reversed — STEP led by 3 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; PFG now leads by 2. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has changed hands 7 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-09, when PFG moved ahead of STEP.
What would change the PFG vs STEP verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: STEP closes the Value gap — currently 27 points behind, the largest single contributor to PFG's edge; STEP's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it; PFG's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about PFG and STEP?
PFG: 4 bullish / 0 bearish. STEP: 0 bullish / 2 bearish / 2 neutral. The most decision-relevant rule on PFG is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On STEP it is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon).
Compare PFG and STEP with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.