We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
PPL Poised for Q3 Earnings Beat: Should You Buy the Stock Now?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
PPL's Q3 earnings are likely to rise 10.42% to 53 cents per share, with revenues up 8.91% to $2.44 billion.
PPL's $23B investment plan, favorable rate hikes and growing data-center demand will support growth.
PPL trades at 17.31X forward earnings versus the industry's 16.54X, while higher costs pose earnings risks.
PPL Corporation (PPL - Free Report) is expected to report third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 6, before market open. This utility is expected to post a year-over-year increase in total revenues and earnings per share when it releases quarterly results.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings is pegged at 53 cents per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 10.42%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The same for revenues is pinned at $2.44 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 8.91%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Our Quantitative Model Predicts
Our proven model conclusively predicts an earnings beat for PPL this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is exactly the case here, as you will see below.
Earnings ESP: The company’s Earnings ESP is +0.38%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Other Utilities Likely to Post Positive Surprise This Season
A few other utilities from the same industry that reported positive earnings surprises this season are Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) , The Southern Company (SO - Free Report) and Evergy (EVRG - Free Report) , among others.
All three stocks currently have a Zacks Rank #3. Earnings ESP of DUK, SO and EVRG are currently pegged at +1.07%, +0.84% and +2.90% respectively.
Factors Expected to Have Influenced PPL’s Q3 Performance
PPL is expected to have benefited from favorable regulatory outcomes and improved cost recovery in the third quarter of 2026. Pennsylvania's approved $275 million rate increase, effective July 1, along with anticipated rate adjustments in Rhode Island, is likely to have strengthened earnings and support continued investments in utility infrastructure.
PPL's expanding capital investment program is expected to have supported long-term earnings growth. The company plans to invest $5.1 billion in 2026 and $23 billion through 2029, targeting 10.3% annual rate-base growth. Continued infrastructure modernization, disciplined cost management and timely recovery of investments are likely to have supported third-quarter performance.
PPL's growing data-center demand and regulated utility operations have strengthened its investment prospects. Pennsylvania's advanced-stage data-center pipeline reached 31.8 GW, while Kentucky's development pipeline expanded to 13.7 GW.
Despite the positives, higher interest and operating expenses pose challenges to third-quarter earnings.
PPL Stock Trading at a Premium
PPL is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings of 17.31X compared with the industry average of 16.54X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PPL Stock Returns Lower Than Its Industry
Return on equity (“ROE”) is a financial ratio that measures how well a company uses its shareholders’ equity to generate profits.
PPL’s trailing 12-month ROE is 9.33%, lower than the industry average of 11.48%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Investment Consideration for PPL
PPL’s $23 billion capital investment plan for 2026-2029 is expected to support 10.3% average annual rate-base growth. The company plans to invest approximately $5 billion in 2026.
Continued investments in transmission, distribution and grid modernization are likely to have strengthened operational reliability and support long-term earnings growth.
PPL's expanding data-center pipeline presents significant growth opportunities. Pennsylvania's advanced-stage pipeline reached 31.8 GW, with more than 11 GW under signed agreements.
Kentucky's development pipeline expanded to 13.7 GW. Rising electricity demand and additional generation requirements are expected to have driven infrastructure investments, supporting future rate-base expansion and earnings growth.
PPL's favorable regulatory developments strengthen its investment outlook. Pennsylvania's $275 million rate increase became effective in July, while Rhode Island approved annual electric and gas revenue increases of $44.1 million and $93.7 million, respectively. Improved cost recovery, regulatory mechanisms and disciplined capital spending are expected to have supported earnings stability and profitability.
Wrapping Up
PPL Corporation is poised to benefit from increasing electricity demand across its service areas, backed by cost-saving initiatives, energy efficiency programs and ongoing infrastructure improvements. The company's healthy liquidity position, consistent investments in grid modernization and rising power requirements from data centers and commercial and industrial customers are expected to have supported sustained long-term growth.
Despite its premium valuation, the stock remains an attractive investment option, supported by upward revisions in sales and earnings estimates. Investors may consider adding PPL to their portfolios ahead of its third-quarter earnings release.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
PPL Poised for Q3 Earnings Beat: Should You Buy the Stock Now?
Key Takeaways
PPL Corporation (PPL - Free Report) is expected to report third-quarter 2026 results on Nov. 6, before market open. This utility is expected to post a year-over-year increase in total revenues and earnings per share when it releases quarterly results.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings is pegged at 53 cents per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 10.42%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The same for revenues is pinned at $2.44 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 8.91%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What Our Quantitative Model Predicts
Our proven model conclusively predicts an earnings beat for PPL this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is exactly the case here, as you will see below.
Earnings ESP: The company’s Earnings ESP is +0.38%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Currently, PPL carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Other Utilities Likely to Post Positive Surprise This Season
A few other utilities from the same industry that reported positive earnings surprises this season are Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) , The Southern Company (SO - Free Report) and Evergy (EVRG - Free Report) , among others.
All three stocks currently have a Zacks Rank #3. Earnings ESP of DUK, SO and EVRG are currently pegged at +1.07%, +0.84% and +2.90% respectively.
Factors Expected to Have Influenced PPL’s Q3 Performance
PPL is expected to have benefited from favorable regulatory outcomes and improved cost recovery in the third quarter of 2026. Pennsylvania's approved $275 million rate increase, effective July 1, along with anticipated rate adjustments in Rhode Island, is likely to have strengthened earnings and support continued investments in utility infrastructure.
PPL's expanding capital investment program is expected to have supported long-term earnings growth. The company plans to invest $5.1 billion in 2026 and $23 billion through 2029, targeting 10.3% annual rate-base growth. Continued infrastructure modernization, disciplined cost management and timely recovery of investments are likely to have supported third-quarter performance.
PPL's growing data-center demand and regulated utility operations have strengthened its investment prospects. Pennsylvania's advanced-stage data-center pipeline reached 31.8 GW, while Kentucky's development pipeline expanded to 13.7 GW.
Despite the positives, higher interest and operating expenses pose challenges to third-quarter earnings.
PPL Stock Trading at a Premium
PPL is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings of 17.31X compared with the industry average of 16.54X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PPL Stock Returns Lower Than Its Industry
Return on equity (“ROE”) is a financial ratio that measures how well a company uses its shareholders’ equity to generate profits.
PPL’s trailing 12-month ROE is 9.33%, lower than the industry average of 11.48%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Investment Consideration for PPL
PPL’s $23 billion capital investment plan for 2026-2029 is expected to support 10.3% average annual rate-base growth. The company plans to invest approximately $5 billion in 2026.
Continued investments in transmission, distribution and grid modernization are likely to have strengthened operational reliability and support long-term earnings growth.
PPL's expanding data-center pipeline presents significant growth opportunities. Pennsylvania's advanced-stage pipeline reached 31.8 GW, with more than 11 GW under signed agreements.
Kentucky's development pipeline expanded to 13.7 GW. Rising electricity demand and additional generation requirements are expected to have driven infrastructure investments, supporting future rate-base expansion and earnings growth.
PPL's favorable regulatory developments strengthen its investment outlook. Pennsylvania's $275 million rate increase became effective in July, while Rhode Island approved annual electric and gas revenue increases of $44.1 million and $93.7 million, respectively. Improved cost recovery, regulatory mechanisms and disciplined capital spending are expected to have supported earnings stability and profitability.
Wrapping Up
PPL Corporation is poised to benefit from increasing electricity demand across its service areas, backed by cost-saving initiatives, energy efficiency programs and ongoing infrastructure improvements. The company's healthy liquidity position, consistent investments in grid modernization and rising power requirements from data centers and commercial and industrial customers are expected to have supported sustained long-term growth.
Despite its premium valuation, the stock remains an attractive investment option, supported by upward revisions in sales and earnings estimates. Investors may consider adding PPL to their portfolios ahead of its third-quarter earnings release.