PPL (NYSE:PPL) Announces Earnings Results

PPL (NYSE:PPL) issued its earnings results on Friday. The utilities provider reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.42 by ($0.01), FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $2.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.34 billion. PPL had a return on equity of 9.08% and a net margin of 12.16%.PPL’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.34 earnings per share. PPL updated its FY 2026 guidance to 1.900-1.980 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from PPL’s conference call:

• Updated business plan and 2026 guidance: PPL issued 2026 ongoing EPS guidance of $1.90–$1.98 (midpoint $1.94), extended its 6%–8% annual EPS growth target through at least 2029 and projects a $23 billion capital plan for 2026–2029 supporting a ~10.3% rate‑base CAGR.
• Kentucky rate case wins enable recovery — regulators approved ~ $233 million in annual electric and gas revenue increases, higher allowed ROEs and a pilot generation recovery mechanism (including keeping Mill Creek Unit Two online), supporting near‑term returns and generation build recovery.
• Large data center opportunity and Blackstone JV upside: Pennsylvania now has ~25.2 GW of advanced data‑center projects (with at least 10 GW expected under ESAs soon), Kentucky pipeline ~9 GW, and the JV with Blackstone is positioned to supply new generation to hyperscalers — JV earnings are not assumed in the base plan but could contribute in the back half of the planning horizon.
• Higher capex and financing plan: CapEx needs rose to $23 billion (up $3 billion), with about $3 billion of equity required through 2029 (roughly $1B already issued), a continued focus on maintaining 16%–18% FFO/debt, and a temporary dividend growth target of 4%–6% while equity is issued.
• Efficiency and affordability progress: PPL achieved ~$170 million in run‑rate O&M savings (about a year ahead of target), expects ~1% annual O&M growth, and highlighted digital/AI initiatives and customer assistance programs to limit bill impacts.

PPL Price Performance

NYSE:PPL opened at $37.43 on Friday. PPL has a 12-month low of $32.50 and a 12-month high of $38.26. The firm has a market cap of $27.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.70. The company’s 50-day moving average is $35.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $36.14. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18.

PPL News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting PPL this week:

• Positive Sentiment: PPL raised its dividend and emphasized growing demand from data centers, signaling stronger cash-return focus and higher long-term growth opportunities for its regulated and non‑regulated businesses. PPL Lifts Dividend, Bets Big On Data Center Demand
• Positive Sentiment: PPL boosted its multi‑year infrastructure/capital plan (now ~$23B) and extended EPS growth targets through 2029, which supports longer‑term earnings power and rate-base growth expectations. PPL reports 2025 results; business plan update
• Positive Sentiment: Unusually large call‑option buying suggests some traders are positioning for upside in the near term, which can add upward pressure on the stock. (Options flow reported intraday.)
• Neutral Sentiment: PPL provided FY‑2026 EPS guidance of $1.90–$1.98, roughly in line with consensus — offering clarity but not a clear beat to drive an outsized rally. PPL Earnings Miss Estimates in Q4, Revenues Increase Y/Y
• Neutral Sentiment: Operationally mixed quarter: revenue rose ~2.8% year‑over‑year to $2.27B, and EPS was $0.41 versus a $0.42 consensus — a small miss that tempers enthusiasm but isn’t a large shock. Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Reuters and other outlets flagged that PPL’s 2026 profit outlook comes in below some analyst estimates even as the company expands spending — raising concerns about near‑term earnings pressure and capital intensity. That commentary helped trigger intraday selling. Utility PPL forecasts 2026 profit below estimates, lifts spending plan
• Negative Sentiment: News outlets noted the stock “slipped” after results and the capital plan update, reflecting investor caution about increased capex and near‑term margin impact. PPL slips nearly 4% after Q4 results meet estimates and $23B capital plan update

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on PPL. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on PPL from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on PPL from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $42.00 target price on shares of PPL in a research report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on PPL from $45.00 to $41.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Mizuho set a $39.00 price target on PPL in a research note on Wednesday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $40.55.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PPL

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PPL. Align Financial LLC acquired a new stake in PPL during the fourth quarter worth approximately $361,000. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its holdings in PPL by 62.8% in the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 115,776 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $4,054,000 after acquiring an additional 44,657 shares during the last quarter. Williams Jones Wealth Management LLC. lifted its stake in shares of PPL by 8.2% during the 4th quarter. Williams Jones Wealth Management LLC. now owns 32,415 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,135,000 after purchasing an additional 2,468 shares during the period. Arkadios Wealth Advisors boosted its holdings in shares of PPL by 28.2% during the fourth quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 12,144 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $425,000 after purchasing an additional 2,668 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rossby Financial LCC boosted its holdings in shares of PPL by 70.0% during the fourth quarter. Rossby Financial LCC now owns 3,012 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $105,000 after purchasing an additional 1,240 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.99% of the company’s stock.

PPL Company Profile

PPL Corporation is an energy company that owns and operates electric transmission and distribution infrastructure and provides related customer services. The company’s core business centers on delivering electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers through regulated utility operations, maintaining grid reliability, responding to outages and managing customer billing and account services.

PPL’s activities include construction and maintenance of distribution and transmission lines, meter and grid management, and programs to support energy efficiency and the interconnection of distributed resources.