PPL to Report Q3 Earnings: What's in Store for the Stock this Season?

Core Insights - PPL Corporation (PPL) is set to report its third-quarter 2025 results on November 5, with earnings expected at 46 cents per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9.52%, and revenues projected at $2.17 billion, indicating a growth of 5.14% from the previous year [1][7]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter (Q3 2025) is 46 cents per share, with a year-over-year growth estimate of 9.52% [2]. - For the next quarter (Q4 2025), the estimate is 43 cents per share, with a year-over-year growth of 26.47% [2]. - The current year estimate stands at $1.81 per share, reflecting a 7.10% increase from the previous year, while the next year estimate is $1.96 per share, indicating an 8.29% growth [2]. Earnings Surprise History - PPL has beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters, resulting in a negative average surprise of 0.18% [3]. Earnings Prediction Model - The current Earnings ESP for PPL is 0.00%, and it holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell), indicating that an earnings beat is not predicted this time [5]. Key Factors Influencing Q3 Results - PPL's earnings are expected to benefit from ongoing cost reduction initiatives, energy efficiency programs, and a return on capital investment in the latter half of 2025 [9]. - The company is also likely to see increased earnings due to strong demand from data centers and higher sales volumes in Pennsylvania and Kentucky [10]. Stock Performance - Over the past three months, PPL's stock has returned 1.8%, outperforming the industry growth of 1% [11]. - PPL is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 18.78X, which is higher than the industry average of 15.27X, indicating a premium valuation [12]. Return on Equity - PPL's trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) is 8.81%, which is below the industry average of 10.35% [15]. Investment Considerations - PPL plans to invest $20 billion from 2025 to 2028, with $4.3 billion allocated for 2025, focusing on infrastructure projects for generation, transmission, and distribution [17]. - The company operates in a favorable regulatory environment, with over 60% of its capital investment plan subject to contemporaneous recovery, reducing regulatory lag impacts [18]. Strategic Initiatives - PPL is implementing a "Utility of the Future" strategy, including IT transformation and enhanced engineering standards to improve grid resilience and efficiency [19]. Overall Outlook - PPL is expected to benefit from rising demand, cost savings, energy efficiency programs, and infrastructure upgrades, with strong liquidity and growth driven by data center demand acting as tailwinds [20].