Principal Financial Group Inc. on Thursday reported a 25 percent increase in third-quarter net income compared with the third quarter of 2014 on a 27 percent year-over-year increase in operating revenues. Net income available to common stockholders for the third quarter was $300.4 million, or $1.01 per share, compared with $240.7 million, or 77 cents per share, a year earlier. Additionally, the company announced that its board approved the repurchase of up to $150 million worth of the company’s outstanding common stock, a move that President and CEO Dan Houston said “reflects our continued confidence in the underlying fundamentals of our businesses and in our ability to generate ongoing growth into 2016 and beyond.” The board also authorized a quarterly common stock dividend of 38 cents per share for fourth quarter 2015, payable on Dec. 28 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 7.