PPL stock holds after a Q2 earnings miss
Published on 08/20/2026 at 19:04 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
PPL Corporation (US69351T1060) traded at $35.95 on August 20, 2026, after a session that left the utility near the lower half of its $33.17 to $40.11 52-week range. The latest Q2 2026 update showed earnings of $0.33 per share against $0.34 expected, while revenue came in at $2.11 billion versus $2.19 billion estimated.
Guidance stays intact
The company kept its full-year 2026 EPS guidance at $1.90 to $1.98, and the market is still pricing the stock at 21.27 times trailing earnings with a market value of $27.047 billion. That puts the latest quarter's miss in a narrower frame: the guidance range was unchanged even as the second-quarter comparison fell short on both earnings and revenue.
Analyst pricing also remains above the share price, with an average target of $41.50 and a high target of $48.00. Evercore ISI Group cut its target to $42 from $44 on August 17, 2026, which keeps the gap visible but smaller than before.
What the numbers say
PPL's revenue base reached $9.4 billion on a trailing 12-month basis, net income attributable to common shareholders was $1.26 billion, and diluted EPS stood at $1.69. Those figures support the view that the business is still generating steady regulated-utility cash flow even after the latest quarterly miss.
The comparison that matters is straightforward: Q2 2026 EPS of $0.33 came in $0.01 below consensus, and revenue of $2.11 billion was $0.08 billion short of estimates. PPL also reported 3.6 million customers in the United States, which remains the core operating base behind the earnings stream.
Regulated utility base
PPL Corporation is built around regulated electric and gas networks in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Rhode Island. The business profile still centers on rate-base growth, transmission spending and large-load demand from data centers in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, a point management highlighted in the latest quarter.
For investors, the key mix is simple: a $35.95 share price, a $27.047 billion market cap and 2026 EPS guidance of $1.90 to $1.98 set the near-term frame for the stock.
Fact box
Company: PPL Corporation
ISIN: US69351T1060
Ticker: PPL
Exchange: NYSE
Price (as of August 20, 2026, 4:00 p.m. ET): $35.95 USD
Market cap: $27.047 billion (as of August 20, 2026)
Sector / Industry: Utilities / Utilities - Regulated Electric
Index membership: S&P 500
Next earnings date: November 4, 2026
More on PPL Corporation
PPL Corporation's regulated portfolio includes electricity and natural gas service across the U.S., with operations centered on transmission, distribution and generation assets. Its business model remains tied to customer growth, utility regulation and capital spending in the grid.
