PPL (NYSE:PPL) Announces Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.01 EPS

PPL (NYSE:PPL) announced its earnings results on Friday. The utilities provider reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.01, FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $2.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.41 billion. PPL had a return on equity of 9.33% and a net margin of 13.47%. PPL’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.48 EPS. PPL updated its FY 2026 guidance to 1.920-1.960 EPS.

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

• PPL raised its long-term annual EPS growth target to 7%–9% through at least 2030, with growth expected in the top half of the range starting in 2027. The $25 billion capital plan supports 10% rate-base growth, while additional Kentucky generation could lift EPS growth above 9% if customer demand and projects advance.
• Third-quarter earnings from ongoing operations rose to $0.54 per share from $0.48 a year earlier, and nine-month earnings were up more than 7%. PPL narrowed its 2026 forecast to $1.92–$1.96 per share and forecast 2027 earnings of $2.06–$2.14.
• Invitium and QTS agreed on key commercial terms for about 2 GW of generation for a Pennsylvania data center, with a cost-reimbursement agreement providing some development-risk protection. The proposal represents an estimated $5 billion–$7 billion of total investment, but remains subject to final agreements, approvals, and other conditions.
• PPL expects about $3 billion of equity needs through 2030, including funding for its expanded capital plan, and plans to use its at-the-market program as a primary source. The company is also targeting dividend growth at the low end of its 4%–6% range while funding investment and maintaining credit metrics.

PPL Stock Performance

PPL opened at $35.85 on Friday. PPL has a 52-week low of $31.56 and a 52-week high of $40.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.98 billion, a PE ratio of 20.49, a PEG ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.91. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $34.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $36.06.

PPL Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, September 10th were given a $0.2850 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 10th. This represents a $1.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. PPL’s payout ratio is currently 67.46%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on PPL shares. Evercore set a $42.00 price target on shares of PPL in a research note on Monday, August 17th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of PPL from $40.00 to $38.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on shares of PPL in a research report on Tuesday, September 15th. They issued a “sector perform” rating and a $35.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of PPL from $48.00 to $44.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of PPL from $43.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, September 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, PPL currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $40.06.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Wendy Stark sold 5,406 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.11, for a total transaction of $189,804.66. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 99,220 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,483,614.20. This represents a 5.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.34% of the company’s stock.

About PPL

PPL Corporation is an energy company that owns regulated electric and natural gas utilities. Its businesses generate, transmit and distribute electricity and deliver natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

PPL serves customers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Rhode Island through subsidiaries including PPL Electric Utilities, Louisville Gas and Electric Company, Kentucky Utilities and Rhode Island Energy. Its utility operations maintain the infrastructure used to provide energy and support related customer services.

The company traces its roots to Pennsylvania Power & Light, which was established in 1920.