Tearsheet

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 6.8%, Dividend Yield is 2.8%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -7.7%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -43%
Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 65%
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 29%, CFO LTM is 2.6 Bil
  Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -13%
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 18%
  Key risks
PPL key risks include [1] executing its ambitious $20 billion infrastructure investment plan from 2025 through 2028 and [2] navigating competition for transmission projects within its Pennsylvania Regulated segment.
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Smart Grids & Grid Modernization, and Electrification of Everything. Themes include Smart Metering, Grid Automation, Show more.
  
0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 6.8%, Dividend Yield is 2.8%
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 29%, CFO LTM is 2.6 Bil
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 18%
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Smart Grids & Grid Modernization, and Electrification of Everything. Themes include Smart Metering, Grid Automation, Show more.
4 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -7.7%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -43%
5 Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 65%
6 Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -13%
7 Key risks
PPL key risks include [1] executing its ambitious $20 billion infrastructure investment plan from 2025 through 2028 and [2] navigating competition for transmission projects within its Pennsylvania Regulated segment.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

PPL Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are five key points explaining potential reasons for a decline in PPL's stock: 1. Rising Interest Rates Outweighing Dividend Appeal. Utility stocks, like PPL, are often seen as bond substitutes due to their stable dividends. However, when interest rates rise, bonds become more attractive to investors, diverting capital away from dividend-yielding utility shares. This shift can decrease demand and pressure valuations in the utility sector. Higher interest rates also increase borrowing costs for utilities, which typically carry significant debt for capital-intensive infrastructure projects, negatively impacting their bottom line.

2. Underperformance Relative to the Utilities Sector. While specific future performance cannot be predicted, in a recent period, PPL's shares gained 1.8% over six months, significantly underperforming the industry's rise of 9.5%. Such underperformance compared to peers can signal underlying concerns or a lack of catalysts, leading investors to re-evaluate their positions.

3. Premium Valuation Compared to Industry Peers. PPL Corporation's shares have traded at a forward 12-month price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 17.4X, which is a premium compared to the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry's average of 14.79X and the broader Zacks Utilities sector's average of 15.45X. A higher valuation can make a stock more susceptible to price corrections if earnings or growth expectations are not met, or if market sentiment shifts.

4. Increased Interest Expense and Operating Costs. PPL's third-quarter 2023 earnings results were partly driven by higher interest expense. Persistent increases in interest expenses or other operating and maintenance (O&M) costs can squeeze profit margins. While PPL aims for O&M savings by 2026, any unexpected rise in costs could negatively impact financial performance and subsequently the stock price.

5. Shifting Investor Sentiment and Economic Uncertainty. Despite utilities often being considered defensive stocks due to consistent demand for their services, they are not immune to broader market sentiment and economic uncertainty. Fluctuating risk appetites and overall economic concerns can lead investors to reduce exposure even to stable sectors, impacting stock performance.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
PPL Return-17%13%0%-4%24%9%22%
Peers Return
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%110%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
PPL Win Rate67%50%42%67%58%67% 
Peers Win Rate 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%73% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
PPL Max Drawdown-47%-7%-18%-21%-6%-2% 
Peers Max Drawdown 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: EXC, IMSR, ONE, CEG, SO. See PPL Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/16/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventPPLS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-26.8%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven36.6%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven315 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-49.4%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven97.6%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1947 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-35.6%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven55.2%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-55.7%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven125.5%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days1480 days

Compare to EXC, IMSR, ONE, CEG, SO


In The Past

PPL's stock fell -26.8% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 1/11/2023. A -26.8% loss requires a 36.6% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About PPL (PPL)

Better Bets than PPL (PPL)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to PPL. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PEG_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025PEGPublic Service EnterpriseMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-0.9%-0.9%-2.4%
PCG_9262025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09262025PCGPG&EDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
2.2%2.2%-0.8%
AES_9052025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09052025AESAESDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
6.7%6.7%-3.2%
PPL_11302023_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11302023PPLPPLMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
11.4%38.6%-1.7%
PPL_2282023_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper02282023PPLPPLMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-5.0%0.6%-14.4%
PPL_3312020_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy03312020PPLPPLDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
12.1%23.8%-11.8%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PEG_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025PEGPublic Service EnterpriseMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-0.9%-0.9%-2.4%
PCG_9262025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09262025PCGPG&EDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
2.2%2.2%-0.8%
AES_9052025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09052025AESAESDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
6.7%6.7%-3.2%
PPL_11302023_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11302023PPLPPLMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
11.4%38.6%-1.7%
PPL_2282023_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper02282023PPLPPLMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-5.0%0.6%-14.4%
PPL_3312020_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy03312020PPLPPLDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
12.1%23.8%-11.8%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for PPL

Peers to compare with:

Financials

PPLEXCIMSRONECEGSOMedian
NamePPL Exelon Terrestr.One PowerConstell.Southern  
Mkt Price33.9843.768.11-365.6285.7143.76
Mkt Cap25.144.2--114.494.569.3
Rev LTM8,97924,3170-24,84128,91224,317
Op Inc LTM2,0305,060-15-3,0177,4263,017
FCF LTM-1,136-1,595-11--276-1,823-1,136
FCF 3Y Avg-768-2,186---4,768-1,031-1,608
CFO LTM2,5926,436-10-2,4169,3782,592
CFO 3Y Avg2,1335,337---2,2528,6103,735

Growth & Margins

PPLEXCIMSRONECEGSOMedian
NamePPL Exelon Terrestr.One PowerConstell.Southern  
Rev Chg LTM8.4%6.1%--3.6%9.4%7.2%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg8.6%8.9%--3.7%1.3%6.2%
Rev Chg Q8.4%9.0%--0.3%7.5%8.0%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.0%2.3%--0.1%1.9%2.0%
Op Mgn LTM22.6%20.8%-12,071.6%-12.1%25.7%20.8%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg20.7%19.0%--11.1%23.7%19.8%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM1.2%0.8%---1.7%0.3%0.6%
CFO/Rev LTM28.9%26.5%-8,232.4%-9.7%32.4%26.5%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg24.7%23.3%---8.9%31.6%24.0%
FCF/Rev LTM-12.7%-6.6%-8,894.8%--1.1%-6.3%-6.6%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-8.9%-9.9%---19.0%-3.7%-9.4%

Valuation

PPLEXCIMSRONECEGSOMedian
NamePPL Exelon Terrestr.One PowerConstell.Southern  
Mkt Cap25.144.2--114.494.569.3
P/S3.11.9--4.13.63.3
P/EBIT12.88.6--24.712.512.6
P/E25.216.1--37.623.424.3
P/CFO10.67.1--42.611.110.9
Total Yield6.8%9.7%--3.1%7.1%7.0%
Dividend Yield2.8%3.5%--0.5%2.9%2.9%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-3.3%-5.5%---9.5%-1.3%-4.4%
D/E0.71.1--0.10.70.7
Net D/E0.71.1--0.00.70.7

Returns

PPLEXCIMSRONECEGSOMedian
NamePPL Exelon Terrestr.One PowerConstell.Southern  
1M Rtn-6.8%-4.7%-32.8%-8.0%-4.7%-4.7%
3M Rtn-3.5%3.3%--13.4%-5.4%-0.1%
6M Rtn3.2%5.1%--19.9%-1.5%4.1%
12M Rtn8.5%25.2%--53.6%8.2%16.9%
3Y Rtn29.3%16.7%--324.9%39.1%34.2%
1M Excs Rtn-7.8%-5.7%-33.8%-7.0%-5.7%-5.7%
3M Excs Rtn-6.8%-0.9%--10.9%-8.7%-3.9%
6M Excs Rtn-10.5%-8.6%--6.2%-15.2%-9.5%
12M Excs Rtn-3.7%10.8%--41.4%-6.1%3.5%
3Y Excs Rtn-42.7%-54.7%--244.8%-31.5%-37.1%

Financials

Segment Financials

Assets by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Kentucky Regulated17,02916,90416,36015,94315,597
Pennsylvania Regulated14,29413,56513,33612,34711,918
Rhode Island Regulated6,5156,081   
Corporate and Other1,3981,2873,527843543
Assets Held for Sale   18,983 
U.K. Regulated    17,622
Total39,23637,83733,22348,11645,680


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11282025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity34,847,045
Short Interest: % Change Since 111520256.9%
Average Daily Volume8,716,757
Days-to-Cover Short Interest4
Basic Shares Quantity739,525,000
Short % of Basic Shares4.7%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More

 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
11/5/20250.3%1.7%-5.8%
7/31/2025-1.0%0.3%1.4%
4/30/20250.3%-0.7%-5.4%
2/13/2025-0.3%-1.1%1.9%
11/1/2024-3.1%-0.7%5.8%
8/2/20241.1%0.7%5.3%
5/1/20242.0%3.2%4.0%
2/16/20240.7%1.3%2.6%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive131215
# Negative10118
Median Positive1.3%3.0%4.0%
Median Negative-1.0%-1.8%-5.6%
Max Positive7.5%7.0%26.2%
Max Negative-3.1%-2.7%-33.9%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251105202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025731202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025430202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024213202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241101202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024802202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024501202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023216202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231102202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023804202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023504202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022217202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221104202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022803202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022505202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021218202210-K 12/31/2021