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PPL Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 20 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 lowered, 7 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Ongoing EPS rose 7% in 2025: Earnings from ongoing operations were $1.34 billion, or $1.81 per share, up from $1.69; reported EPS was $1.59 against $1.20. Source
  • Fourth-quarter ongoing EPS rose to $0.41: Fourth-quarter ongoing EPS was $0.41 against $0.34 a year earlier; reported fourth-quarter EPS was $0.36 against $0.24. Source
  • Kentucky ongoing EPS up $0.09: Kentucky Regulated ongoing EPS rose to $0.93 from $0.84, helped by weather-driven sales and returns on added capital, partly offset by higher interest expense. Source
  • O&M savings reached $170 million: Annual run-rate O&M savings against 2021 reached $170 million in 2025, almost a year ahead of the company's schedule. Source
  • Years without base rate requests: Utilities went years without base rate requests: ten at PPL Electric, nearly five at LG&E and KU, and eight at Rhode Island Energy. Source
  • Blackstone venture excluded from plan: The updated plan omits earnings and capital from the Blackstone Infrastructure joint venture, which may add earnings late in the plan period depending on agreements. Source
  • $4.4 billion invested in 2025: Planned capital investments of $4.4 billion focused on strengthening the grid against storms, speeding restoration and advancing a cleaner energy mix. Source

“In 2025, we achieved our targeted earnings per share and dividend growth, completed $4.4 billion in infrastructure investments to improve service to our customers and exceeded our targeted annual O&M savings to help keep energy affordable.”

PPL President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Sorgi

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Ongoing EPS Source2026$1.90 to $1.98 per shareNew
EPS growth target SourceThrough at least 20296% to 8% annualKept
EPS compound annual growth SourceThrough 2029near the top end of the 6% to 8% rangeNew
Capital plan Source2026 through 2029$23 billionRaised from $20 billion from 2025 through 2028
Rate base growth Source2026 through 2029approximately 10.3% average annualNew
Infrastructure investment Source2026approximately $5.1 billionNew
Equity needs Source2026 through 2029approximately $3 billionNew
FFO/CFO to debt ratio SourceUpdated plan period16% to 18%New
Quarterly common dividend SourceQuarterly, payable April 1, 2026$0.2850 per shareRaised from $0.2725 per share
Annual dividend growth target SourceUpdated business plan4% to 6%Lowered from 6% to 8% annual EPS and dividend growth targets through at least 2028
Run-rate O&M reductions Source2026, compared with 2021$175 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A 2026 earnings forecast range was issued; the prior release gave a forecast only for 2025. Source
  • Guidance raised: Capital investment plan raised from $20 billion (2025 to 2028) to $23 billion (2026 to 2029). Source
  • Guidance raised: Quarterly common dividend raised 4.6%, from $0.2725 to $0.2850 per share. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Annual dividend growth target moved from 6% to 8% (EPS and dividends, through 2028) to 4% to 6%. Source
  • Guidance kept: The 6% to 8% EPS growth target range is kept, with the period extended from 2028 to at least 2029. Source
  • New: Business plan updated through 2029, with EPS growth targets extended. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Ongoing EPS rose 7% in 2025: Earnings from ongoing operations were $1.34 billion, or $1.81 per share, up from $1.69; reported EPS was $1.59 against $1.20. Source
  • Fourth-quarter ongoing EPS rose to $0.41: Fourth-quarter ongoing EPS was $0.41 against $0.34 a year earlier; reported fourth-quarter EPS was $0.36 against $0.24. Source
  • Special charges reduced reported EPS: Reported 2025 earnings absorbed $163 million, or $0.22 per share, of special-item charges, mainly Rhode Island Energy integration and the IT transformation. Source
  • Revenue rose in 2025: Operating revenues were $9,042 million for 2025 against $8,462 million; fourth-quarter revenues were $2,274 million against $2,211 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Kentucky ongoing EPS up $0.09: Kentucky Regulated ongoing EPS rose to $0.93 from $0.84, helped by weather-driven sales and returns on added capital, partly offset by higher interest expense. Source
  • Pennsylvania earnings up on transmission: Pennsylvania Regulated ongoing EPS was $0.86, up from $0.82, on transmission revenue from capital spending and distribution rider recovery. Source
  • Rhode Island ongoing EPS slipped: Rhode Island Regulated ongoing EPS was $0.19 against $0.21, with higher operating costs partly offset by distribution revenue from capital investments. Source
  • Corporate loss narrowed on integration costs: Corporate and Other reported loss narrowed to $0.29 per share from $0.56, mainly on lower Rhode Island integration-related expenses. Source

“For every $1 of O&M we reduce, we can fund about $8 of capital investment without impacting the customer bill,”

PPL President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Sorgi

Sales and customers

  • Electricity deliveries rose 2.7%: Total electricity delivered in 2025 was 68,554 GWh, up 2.7%; fourth-quarter deliveries rose 4.0% to 16,487 GWh, excluding Rhode Island. Source
  • Kentucky wholesale sales nearly doubled: Kentucky wholesale sales, which cover FERC-regulated municipal and off-system sales, rose 95.6% to 1,207 GWh for 2025. Source
  • Serves more than 3.6 million customers: PPL provides electricity and natural gas to more than 3.6 million customers in the U.S. Source

Costs and O&M savings

  • O&M savings reached $170 million: Annual run-rate O&M savings against 2021 reached $170 million in 2025, almost a year ahead of the company's schedule. Source
  • Other O&M expense fell in 2025: Other operation and maintenance expense was $2,431 million for 2025 against $2,607 million, while depreciation rose to $1,312 million from $1,279 million. Source
  • Interest expense rose in 2025: Interest expense was $808 million for 2025 against $738 million; other income, net was $151 million against $114 million. Source
  • Years without base rate requests: Utilities went years without base rate requests: ten at PPL Electric, nearly five at LG&E and KU, and eight at Rhode Island Energy. Source

“These issues are incredibly complicated, but they are also incredibly important to solve, and at PPL, we are absolutely committed to being part of the solution,”

PPL President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Sorgi

Demand and large loads

  • Large-load tariffs aim to protect customers: Management said it is connecting large loads to transmission networks and developing large-load tariffs meant to lower transmission costs for other customers. Source
  • Blackstone venture excluded from plan: The updated plan omits earnings and capital from the Blackstone Infrastructure joint venture, which may add earnings late in the plan period depending on agreements. Source
  • Kentucky generation for demand growth: Management described building new generation in Kentucky for demand growth, and the Blackstone venture for data center demand in Pennsylvania. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • $4.4 billion invested in 2025: Planned capital investments of $4.4 billion focused on strengthening the grid against storms, speeding restoration and advancing a cleaner energy mix. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose in 2025: Net cash provided by operating activities was $2,629 million for 2025 against $2,340 million in 2024. Source
  • Debt issuance rose in 2025: Long-term debt issuance totaled $3,045 million in 2025 against $1,894 million, while $616 million of long-term debt was retired. Source
  • Dividends paid rose to $794 million: Common stock dividends paid were $794 million for 2025 against $747 million in 2024. Source

Strategy and affordability measures

  • Utilities of the future strategy continues: Management said it continues its strategy to create utilities that are stronger, smarter, cleaner and more efficient. Source
  • Pennsylvania legislation and PJM generation: Management cited support for Pennsylvania legislation and the Blackstone venture to build new PJM generation, which it said is meant to lower wholesale costs for customers. Source
  • Low-income programs and efficiency: Management listed enhanced low-income customer programs and operational efficiency as ways it is keeping utility bills affordable. Source

Coming up, as management said on 20 February 2026

  • Blackstone venture earnings possible late in plan: Management said timing depends on signed energy services agreements and the generation mix chosen by hyperscalers; earnings could come in the back end of the plan period. Source
  • Higher dividend payable April 1, 2026: The increased quarterly dividend is payable April 1, 2026, to shareowners of record as of March 10, 2026. Source
  • Rhode Island settlement under negotiation: Management said it is negotiating a new hold-harmless settlement in Rhode Island alongside the pending Rhode Island Energy base rate proceeding. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan Source$23 billion of infrastructure investment, 2026 through 2029
Rate base growth Sourceapproximately 10.3% average annual through 2029
EPS growth target Source6% to 8% annual, through at least 2029
Load growth Source2.7% total electricity delivered in 2025
Rate cases Sourceno base rate increase requested for about ten years at PPL Electric, nearly five at LG&E and KU, eight at Rhode Island Energy
Rate cases SourceRhode Island Energy base rate proceeding pending

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management said it stays focused on utility bill affordability, including components of the bill that PPL does not control. Source
  • Operational: Storm activity was significantly heightened across all service territories in 2025, according to management. Source
  • Demand: Management described the task of meeting data center and manufacturing power demand without raising costs for other customers as complicated. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the 2025 targeted EPS and dividend growth were achieved. Source
  • Met: Ongoing EPS of $1.81 was described as achieving the midpoint of the 2025 ongoing earnings forecast. Source
  • Ahead: Run-rate O&M savings reached $170 million, described as almost a year ahead of schedule. 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.