Principal Financial Group, Inc. PFG continues to be an investor favorite on the back of its growth in fee-based businesses, foreign currency tailwinds and a positive net cash flow.Growth ProjectionsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2021 and 2022 earnings per share is pegged at $6.49 and $7.06, indicating an increase of 31.3% and 8.8%, respectively, from the corresponding year-ago reported figures. The expected long-term earnings growth rate is pegged at 15.2%.Estimate RevisionThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2021 and 2022 earnings has moved 3% and 1.6% north, respectively, in the past 60 days. This should instill investors' confidence in the stock.Zacks Rank & Price PerformancePrincipal Financial currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The stock has rallied 30.8%, outperforming the industry’s increase of 28.3% year to date.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchBusiness TailwindsThe Principal International segment of Principal Financial expects to deliver 8-12% growth in revenues for 2021 excluding significant variances and the segment’s operating earnings should gain from foreign currency tailwinds.Principal Financial targets earnings per share growth of 9-12%, which it projects to achieve through a narrowed focus on higher growth and more capital-efficient businesses. Moreover, it expects to generate 70-80% free capital conversion.With positive net cash flow, strategic buyouts and operational discipline, Principal Financial’s assets under management should continue to benefit.The investment manager has always emphasized on fee-based businesses and focused on retirement in the United States and the select emerging markets, global asset management, and the U.S. specialty benefits and protection in the small-to-medium-sized business market. These businesses are well poised for long-term growth, capital-efficiency and higher fee-based revenues.It also continues to maintain a robust financial position with $2.5 billion of excess and available capital that includes $1.7 billion at the holding company, more than double the $800-MILLION target to cover the next 12 months of obligations, $325 million in excess of the targeted 400% risk-based capital ratio, which was estimated to be 421% as well as $460 million of available cash in its subsidiaries.Moreover, it maintained a leverage ratio of 20-25% and expects to pay down $300 million of long-term debt when it matures in late 2022.The company hiked its dividend by 13% in the third quarter and currently yields 3.9%, better than the industry average of 2.3%. For 2021, it continues to target a 40% dividend payout ratio.In June 2021, the board approved a $1.2-BILLION buyback program and estimates $1.4-1.8 billion of capital deployment including $600-$800 million of share repurchases for the current year. This makes the stock an attractive pick for yield-seeking investors. Also, the impact of credit drift and credit losses is expected to remain insignificant for 2021.Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks from the finance sector are Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. AMG, Apollo Global Management, Inc. APO and Ares Management Corporation ARES, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Earnings of Affiliated Managers surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average being 8.36%.Apollo Global’s bottom line surpassed estimates in three of the last four quarters, missing the mark in the remaining one, the average beat being 23.57%.Ares Management’s earnings surpassed estimates in three of the last four quarters, missing the same in the remaining one, the average beat being 13.12%. Tech IPOs With Massive Profit Potential: Last years top IPOs surged as much as 299% within the first two months. With record amounts of cash flooding into IPOs and a record-setting stock market, this year could be even more lucrative. See Zacks’ Hottest Tech IPOs Now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG): Free Stock Analysis Report Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO): Free Stock Analysis Report Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG): Free Stock Analysis Report Ares Management Corporation (ARES): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research