PPL Corporation (PPL) AI Stock Analysis
PPL AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchPPL Corporation is a regulated utility holding company providing electricity and natural gas across Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and southwestern Virginia. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, the company generated $9.40B in revenue with an operating margin of 23.6%. PPL carries $19.85B in total debt while supporting a 3.24% forward dividend yield.
- Market cap
- $26.47B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $9.40B
- P/E
- 20.8x fwd 15.4x
- 1Y return
- -2.7% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $39.81 13.2% vs last close
Bull case
- Trailing twelve months operating margin of 23.6% sits above the S&P 500 Utilities peer median of 23.0%.
- Net income reached $1.18B in FY2025, driven by 6.9% revenue growth and expanding operating margins.
- Wall Street analysts assign a mean price target of $39.81, indicating upside of 13.2% from the last close of $35.17.
Bear case
- High capital expenditures of $4.03B contributed to negative free cash flow of -$1.40B in FY2025.
- Total debt reached $19.85B as of June 30, 2026, creating a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 0.91.
- The annualized dividend growth rate over the past five years declined by 8.0%.
What PPL does
Established in 1920 and based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, PPL Corporation delivers electricity and natural gas services through two primary segments: Kentucky Regulated and Pennsylvania Regulated. In Pennsylvania, PPL serves approximately 1.4 million electric customers. In Kentucky, the company serves roughly 429,000 electric and 333,000 natural gas customers in the Louisville area, over 538,000 electric customers across central, southeastern, and western Kentucky, and 28,000 electric customers in southwestern Virginia. Its generation portfolio in Kentucky includes coal, natural gas, hydroelectric, and solar sources. PPL also sells wholesale electricity to Kentucky municipalities and focuses on modernizing grid infrastructure.
Growth and profitability
PPL Corporation expanded revenue from $5.78B in FY2021 to $9.04B in FY2025, producing a five-year revenue CAGR of 10.6% from FY2020 to FY2025. After recording net income of -$1.48B in FY2021, net income recovered to $756.0M in FY2022, $740.0M in FY2023, $888.0M in FY2024, and $1.18B in FY2025. Operating margin rose to 23.5% in FY2025 and reached 23.6% over the trailing twelve months. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 4.2% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings grew 21.2% year-over-year, lifting trailing twelve months EPS to $1.69.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, PPL held $332.0M in cash and short-term investments against $19.85B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $19.52B. Shareholders' equity stood at $15.04B, leading to a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 0.91. Operating cash flow reached $2.63B in FY2025, but capital expenditures of $4.03B caused free cash flow to register at -$1.40B. Cash flow allocations in FY2025 included $794.0M in dividends paid, while share issuance contributed $401.0M.
Valuation and performance
PPL trades at a trailing P/E of 20.8x and a forward P/E of 15.4x, compared to the median of its S&P 500 Utilities peers of 21.0x and 16.0x, respectively. Its enterprise value of $44.26B yields an EV/EBITDA of 11.2x, below the peer group median of 12.2x, and a price-to-sales multiple of 2.8x versus the peer median of 2.9x. Over the past year, PPL delivered a return of -2.7% compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500 benchmark SPY, and its five-year return of 45.0% trailed the index return of 83.0%.
PPL dividend
PPL pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward payout of $1.14 per share, translating to a dividend yield of 3.24% as of October 16, 2026. The company has paid consecutive dividends for 43 years and maintains a payout ratio of 61.0%. Its five-year annualized dividend growth stands at -8.0%, and its most recent ex-dividend date was September 10, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 9 Strong Buy, 4 Buy, and 4 Hold ratings, with 0 Sell or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target of $39.81 represents a 13.2% premium over the last close of $35.17. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $1.95 on revenue of $9.65B. Analysts forecast FY2027 EPS of $2.12 on revenue of $10.21B. Over the last four quarters, PPL beat EPS estimates twice, and its next earnings report is scheduled for November 4, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Heavy infrastructure outlays resulted in negative free cash flow of -$1.40B in FY2025 despite $2.63B in operating cash flow.
- A total debt load of $19.85B and a current ratio of 0.91 may restrict financial flexibility.
- The stock has lagged broader market returns, generating a one-year return of -2.7% versus 16.8% for SPY.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this PPL AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of PPL Corporation (PPL). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: PPL income statement, PPL balance sheet, PPL key metrics, PPL analyst forecast, PPL chart. See the PPL stock overview for the latest quote and news.
PPL AI stock analysis FAQ
What is PPL's current dividend yield and payout schedule?
PPL pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized rate of $1.14 per share, offering a dividend yield of 3.24%. Its payout ratio is 61.0%, and the company has paid dividends for 43 consecutive years.
How much debt does PPL Corporation carry?
As of June 30, 2026, PPL reported total debt of $19.85B and cash and short-term investments of $332.0M, resulting in net debt of $19.52B. Its debt-to-equity ratio is 1.32.
How do analysts view PPL stock?
Of the 17 analyst ratings, 9 are Strong Buy, 4 are Buy, and 4 are Hold, with zero Sell ratings. The mean price target is $39.81, which is 13.2% above the last close of $35.17.
When does PPL report its next quarterly earnings?
PPL is scheduled to report its next earnings results on November 4, 2026.
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