Principal Financial Group 13F: Cuts ASND Stake by $35M

Principal Financial Group reduced its stake in Ascendis Pharma A/S, NasdaqGS:ASND, by 12.7%, according to a recent filing with the SEC. The firm sold 130,010 shares, leaving it with 896,397 shares valued at approximately $213.9 million as of the reporting period.

What Changed in Principal Financial Group's Ascendis Pharma A/S Position

Principal Financial Group trimmed its holdings in Ascendis Pharma A/S by 12.7%, selling 130,010 shares. This reduction brought its total holdings to 896,397 shares, valued at around $213.9 million.

Other Institutional Activity in Ascendis Pharma A/S

RA Capital Management, L.P. maintained its position in Ascendis Pharma A/S with no change in shares, holding 10,281,496 shares worth about $2.35 billion. T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc. significantly increased its stake by 4,494,417 shares, resulting in a total of 6,162,042 shares valued at approximately $1.41 billion, a 269.5% increase. Avoro Capital Advisors LLC slightly reduced its holdings by 48,611 shares, now holding 5,062,500 shares valued at $1.16 billion, a 1% decrease. Westfield Capital Management Co LP cut its position by 372,256 shares, holding 4,813,440 shares worth $1.10 billion, a 7.2% decrease. FMR LLC also reduced its stake by 276,710 shares, ending with 3,876,601 shares valued at $886.7 million, a 6.7% decrease.

Ascendis Pharma A Stock Up 12.7%

Shares of Ascendis Pharma A/S traded near $238.59 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $14.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.94, and a beta of 0.92. Its 52-week range spans from $160.86 to $250.74. The stock's 50-day moving average is $231.76, and the 200-day moving average is $217.83. The company maintains a current ratio of 0.996 and a quick ratio of 0.683, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 183.75.

Recent Earnings

Ascendis Pharma A/S reported revenue of $865.8 million, with a growth rate of 1.44%. The company achieved a net margin of 57.28% and a return on equity of 3.33%. Its earnings per share were $8.79. The next earnings date is set for April 30, 2026.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ascendis Pharma A

Recently, insiders have been active in buying shares of Ascendis Pharma A/S. On June 2, 2026, Scott Thomas Smith, EVP & CFO, purchased 100 shares at $219 each. On May 29, 2026, Jean Jacques Bienaime bought 500 shares at $223.12, and Scott Thomas Smith bought 250 shares at $223.32. Earlier, on May 26, 2026, Jean Jacques Bienaime acquired 400 shares at $237.81. However, Flemming Steen Jensen, EVP & Product Supply and Quality, sold 19,460 shares at $238.49 on May 11, 2026.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On May 19, 2026, Citigroup initiated coverage on Ascendis Pharma with a buy rating and a $355 price target. Evercore ISI Group maintained its buy rating with a $329 target on May 15, 2026. Barclays also maintained a buy rating with a $345 target on May 11, 2026. Wells Fargo kept its buy rating, setting a $326 target on May 8, 2026. Overall, analysts maintain a strong buy consensus, with a mean target price of $292.15 across 18 opinions.

About Ascendis Pharma A/S

Ascendis Pharma A/S is a biopharmaceutical company based in Hellerup, Denmark. It focuses on developing therapies using its TransCon technology for unmet medical needs. The company offers SKYTROFA for pediatric growth hormone deficiency and YORVIPATH for chronic hypoparathyroidism in adults. It is also advancing a pipeline of endocrinology and oncology treatments. Ascendis was founded in 2006 and employs around 1,189 people under the leadership of CEO Jan Moller Mikkelsen.

Bottom Line

Principal Financial Group's reduction in its stake in Ascendis Pharma A/S is a notable change in its investment portfolio. Investors keep a close watch on such filings as they provide insight into institutional confidence. It's important to remember that 13F filings are backward-looking and may not reflect current positions.