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PPL Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Ongoing EPS rose to $0.48: Third-quarter earnings from ongoing operations were $355 million, or $0.48 per share, against $310 million, or $0.42, a year earlier. Source
  • Kentucky ongoing EPS rose to $0.26: Kentucky Regulated ongoing EPS was $0.26 against $0.24. Higher weather-driven sales volumes and capital investment earnings were offset in part by higher interest expense. Source
  • Operating income rose to $569M: Operating income was $569 million against $428 million. Other operation and maintenance expense fell to $586 million from $681 million. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $2.87B: Expenditures for property, plant and equipment were $2,868 million for nine months, against $1,945 million. Construction work in progress was $3,513 million at September 30. Source
  • EPS and dividend growth target kept: Management reaffirmed 6% to 8% annual EPS and dividend growth through at least 2028. The projection is measured from the 2025 forecast midpoint of $1.81 per share. Source
  • Third-quarter special items cost $37M: Third-quarter reported earnings included $37 million after tax of special items, or $0.05 per share, mainly for IT transformation and Rhode Island Energy integration. Source
  • Two gas units and Ghent 2 controls approved: The Kentucky commission granted a CPCN for two 645-megawatt gas combined-cycle units, and approved additional environmental controls at the Ghent 2 plant. Source

“Our strategy to create the utilities of the future continues to deliver tangible results for our customers and shareowners.”

Vincent Sorgi, PPL president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
2025 ongoing EPS forecast range Source2025$1.78 to $1.84 per share, midpoint $1.81Kept
EPS and dividend growth target SourceThrough at least 20286% to 8% annual; EPS growth expected in the top half of the rangeKept
Estimate of reported EPS Source2025$1.61 to $1.67, midpoint $1.64Lowered from $1.63 to $1.75, midpoint $1.69
Total special items in forecast reconciliation Source2025$(0.17) per shareRaised from $(0.12) per share

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The ongoing EPS forecast midpoint was kept at $1.81. The range was narrowed from $1.75 to $1.87 to $1.78 to $1.84. Source
  • Guidance lowered: The estimate of reported EPS midpoint in the forecast reconciliation fell to $1.64 from $1.69. Source
  • New: A Kentucky Public Service Commission decision on October 28 approved additional generation resources for PPL's Kentucky subsidiaries. Source
  • New: PPL's Kentucky subsidiaries entered a stipulation agreement with most stakeholders in their latest base rate case. Source

Earnings and growth drivers

  • Ongoing EPS rose to $0.48: Third-quarter earnings from ongoing operations were $355 million, or $0.48 per share, against $310 million, or $0.42, a year earlier. Source
  • Reported EPS rose to $0.43: Reported (GAAP) earnings were $318 million, or $0.43 per share, against $214 million, or $0.29, in the third quarter of 2024. Source
  • Nine-month ongoing EPS reached $1.40: For the first nine months, ongoing EPS was $1.40 against $1.34. Reported EPS was $1.23 against $0.96. Source

Segment results

  • Kentucky ongoing EPS rose to $0.26: Kentucky Regulated ongoing EPS was $0.26 against $0.24. Higher weather-driven sales volumes and capital investment earnings were offset in part by higher interest expense. Source
  • Pennsylvania ongoing EPS rose to $0.21: Pennsylvania Regulated ongoing EPS was $0.21 against $0.19. Transmission revenue from capital investments and distribution rider recovery were the main drivers. Source
  • Rhode Island ongoing EPS rose to $0.05: Rhode Island Regulated ongoing EPS was $0.05 against $0.04, with lower operating costs as the main driver. Nine-month ongoing EPS was $0.16 against $0.19. Source
  • Corporate loss narrowed to $0.04: Corporate and Other ongoing loss was $0.04 per share against $0.05. Its reported loss was $0.07 against $0.15 a year earlier. Source

“Across PPL, we continue to prioritize affordability as we invest in the infrastructure needed to power economic development, including data centers, and secure a more reliable, resilient energy future.”

Vincent Sorgi, PPL president and chief executive officer

Electricity sales and revenue

  • Operating revenues rose 8.4%: Operating revenues were $2,239 million against $2,066 million in the quarter, and $6,768 million against $6,251 million for nine months. Source
  • Kentucky retail sales rose 1.8%: Kentucky retail delivered sales were 8,231 GWh, up 1.8%. Kentucky wholesale sales rose 39.8% to 260 GWh in the quarter. Source
  • Pennsylvania deliveries slightly lower: Pennsylvania retail delivered sales fell 0.2% to 9,453 GWh in the quarter, while nine-month sales rose 1.2%. The quarter includes a reversal for industrial volumes not billed in the second quarter. Source
  • Total electricity sales rose 1.2%: Total electricity sales were 17,944 GWh in the quarter, up 1.2%, and 52,067 GWh for nine months, up 2.4%. Rhode Island sales are excluded from these figures. Source

Costs and operating income

  • Operating income rose to $569M: Operating income was $569 million against $428 million. Other operation and maintenance expense fell to $586 million from $681 million. Source
  • Fuel and energy purchases climbed: Fuel expense rose to $231 million from $207 million, and energy purchases rose to $422 million from $338 million. Source
  • Interest expense rose $22 million: Interest expense was $210 million against $188 million in the quarter, and $599 million against $549 million for nine months. Source

Capital spending and balance sheet

  • Capital spending rose to $2.87B: Expenditures for property, plant and equipment were $2,868 million for nine months, against $1,945 million. Construction work in progress was $3,513 million at September 30. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $2.08B: Net cash provided by operating activities was $2,081 million for nine months, against $1,829 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $2,860 million. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $1.1B: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,102 million at September 30, against $306 million at December 31, 2024. Source
  • Short-term and current debt rose: Short-term debt was $595 million against $303 million at year-end 2024. Long-term debt due within one year was $1,455 million against $551 million. Source

Shareholder returns and growth target

  • EPS and dividend growth target kept: Management reaffirmed 6% to 8% annual EPS and dividend growth through at least 2028. The projection is measured from the 2025 forecast midpoint of $1.81 per share. Source
  • Dividend payments rose to $593M: Common stock dividend payments were $593 million for nine months, against $557 million a year earlier. Net short-term debt increased $292 million. Source
  • Diluted share count edged up: Diluted weighted-average shares were 744,290 thousand in the quarter, against 739,965 thousand a year earlier. Source

Special items and integration costs

  • Third-quarter special items cost $37M: Third-quarter reported earnings included $37 million after tax of special items, or $0.05 per share, mainly for IT transformation and Rhode Island Energy integration. Source
  • Nine-month special items totaled $124M: Special items for nine months totaled $124 million after tax, or $0.17 per share, against $283 million, or $0.38, a year earlier. Source
  • Customer system collection costs recorded: Customer system integration impacts of $9 million after tax reflected collection process costs tied to the timing and implementation of the system integration. Source

Kentucky generation and regulation

  • Two gas units and Ghent 2 controls approved: The Kentucky commission granted a CPCN for two 645-megawatt gas combined-cycle units, and approved additional environmental controls at the Ghent 2 plant. Source
  • Mill Creek unit under construction: The two new Kentucky units are in addition to a similar combined-cycle unit already under construction at Mill Creek. Source
  • Collaborative approach with stakeholders: Management said the Kentucky decision reflects collaboration with stakeholders to reach balanced outcomes for customers and shareowners. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2025

  • Kentucky base rate decision by year-end: Hearings in the Kentucky base rate case began the week of Nov. 3, and the KPSC decision is expected by year-end. Source
  • Kentucky gas units available 2030 and 2031: The first of the two new Kentucky combined-cycle units is expected to be available in 2030, and the second in 2031. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
EPS growth target Source6% to 8% annual EPS and dividend growth through at least 2028
Rate cases SourceKentucky base rate case: stipulation with most stakeholders; KPSC decision expected by year-end
Load growth SourceTotal electricity sales 17,944 GWh, up 1.2% in the quarter; 52,067 GWh, up 2.4% for nine months
Capital plan SourceExpenditures for property, plant and equipment $2,868 million for nine months, against $1,945 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Special items from IT transformation and integration costs were recorded this quarter. Management said it cannot forecast special items for future periods. Source
  • Financial: Management cited higher interest expense as a partial offset to the Kentucky segment's earnings gains. Source
  • Regulatory: Management described balancing the urgency of new generation for reliability against maintaining affordability for customers. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it remains on track to achieve at least the midpoint of its 2025 earnings forecast. Source
  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the 6% to 8% annual EPS and dividend growth target through at least 2028. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.