Equity Analyst, Software

Principal International; Denver, Des Moines, New York, Seattle (CO, IA, NY, WA); On-site; USD 141,000 - 243,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Flexible Time Off

Job summary

Principal Asset Management’s Global Equity team seeks an experienced Equity Analyst to cover the U.S. software sector. The role partners with portfolio managers and analysts to generate differentiated investment insights and drive portfolio outcomes.

The candidate will influence decisions across multiple strategies while developing as a future investment leader. The position requires 5+ years of equity investment experience, with buyside exposure, and strong expertise in mid- to large-cap

Qualifications

• 5+ years equity investment experience, buyside preferred.
• Experience in mid- and large-cap software sector research.
• Proven track record of value creation through proprietary analysis.
• Experience using AI-enabled research tools to enhance idea generation, due diligence, and investment decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Generate alpha through investment ideas based on detailed proprietary analysis of U.S. software companies.
• Interact with management, industry experts, and stakeholders to gather qualitative and quantitative insights.
• Collaborate with sector team leads, analysts, and PMs to drive stock selection within research framework.
• Build and maintain financial and market models forecasting company performance and valuation.
• Generate timely, actionable investment ideas and communicate insights through reports, models, presentations, and investment committee discussions.
• Maintain coverage of existing software investments across multiple portfolios.

Skills

Equity research

Buyside experience

Software sector analysis

AI-enabled research

Communication skills

Education

MBA

CFA designation

Tools

Financial modeling tools

AI research tools

Job description

What You’ll Do

Principal’s Global Equity team is seeking an experienced Equity Analyst to provide research coverage across the U.S. software sector. This high-visibility role partners directly with portfolio managers and analysts across the platform to generate differentiated investment insights and drive portfolio outcomes. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence investment decisions across multiple strategies while developing as a future investment leader.

In this role, you’ll be able to:

• Generate alpha through investment recommendations based upon in-depth, detailed proprietary analysis of software companies, with a specific focus on large- and mid- cap companies in the U.S.
• Interact frequently with company management, industry experts, and other stakeholders to gather differentiated and convicted qualitative and quantitative insights
• Partner closely with TMT sector team lead, analysts, and portfolio managers to provide outperformance through stock selection while working within the framework of our research process and portfolio constraints
• Build and maintain detailed financial and market-oriented models to forecast company performance and assess security valuation, incorporating macroeconomic and industry-specific factors
• Generate timely, actionable investment ideas and communicate insights through written reports, models, presentations, and investment committee discussions
• Maintain research coverage of existing investments within software for multiple portfolios

Who You Are

• 5+ years equity investment experience, preferably with at least 2 years experience on the buyside
• Mid- and large-cap software sector research and investment experience
• A proven track record of consistently adding value through investment recommendations based on proprietary analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage AI-enabled research tools (including agentic AI and coworking tools) to enhance idea generation, due diligence, analysis, and investment decision-making

Skills That Will Help You Stand Out

• MBA or Master of Science with finance emphasis or Chartered Financial Analyst designation (or progress towards CFA)
• Best-in-class analytical skills, fundamental company analysis, financial modeling, and investment recommendation experience
• Self-starter with intellectual curiosity, a passion for investing, and a demonstrated ability to conduct deep fundamental research independently
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to travel for company visits, conferences, and research

Salary Range Information

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)

$141000 - $243000 / year

Salary Details

We are willing to hire at various levels based on years and related experience. The base salary range of $141,000 - $243,000 reflects market-specific compensation for this position across multiple job levels. Candidates will be evaluated to determine the appropriate job level based on their skills and experience.In addition to the base pay, you are also eligible for an annual bonus based off performance.

Base pay estimated ranges for the various Analyst levels are:

• 5+ years experience: $141,000-$191,0000
• 8+ years experience: $179,000 - $243,000

The hiring team will decide based upon your experience, what level of Analyst you would be hired into.

Time Off Program

Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees don’t accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.

Pension Eligible

No

Location(s)

Locations include New York City, Seattle, Denver, or Des Moines. Check out our global headquarters here:

Background

Principal Asset Management includes a market-leading, long-only focused equities platform with $161 billion AUM. Principal offers global asset management expertise across a diverse set of traditional and alternative asset classes totaling over $752.7 billion AUM. Learn more at: www.principalam.com

Consistent across all strategies, our approach is to evaluate and select stocks from a broad investment universe and construct portfolios in alignment with specific objectives and risk management parameters. Our conviction is built on differentiated fundamental insights we gather from conducting deep, company-specific research.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we’re not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Asset Management positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.

Experience Principal

At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we’re imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services – and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.

Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Principal uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in reviewing and evaluating job applications, fraud prevention, and candidate matching and comparisons. These AI tools support our human recruiters in the initial review process but do not make final hiring decisions without human involvement. By submitting your application, you acknowledge this use of AI in our recruitment process. Please review our Workforce (U.S.) Privacy Notice for more details on our practices and your data privacy rights.