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PPL Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 1 lowered, 4 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Third-quarter ongoing EPS rose: Ongoing earnings were $411 million, or $0.54 per share, against $355 million, or $0.48 per share, a year earlier; the company reported a 13% increase per share. Source
  • Kentucky large-load pipeline expanded: The Kentucky pipeline is about 14.7 GW through 2032, including 12.8 GW tied to data centers, up from 13.7 GW in the prior quarter. Source
  • Invitium agreed key terms with QTS: Invitium agreed to all key commercial terms with QTS for about 2 GW for the Salem Township data center; the term sheet is nonbinding and subject to conditions. Source
  • Capital plan rises to $25 billion: The 2027 to 2030 plan adds a gas combined-cycle unit to serve large-load growth in Kentucky and supports reliability and infrastructure replacement. Source
  • Rate base to grow 10% annually: Management expects the investments to drive average annual rate base growth of 10% from 2026 through 2030. Source
  • 2027 EPS forecast midpoint $2.10: The 2027 ongoing EPS midpoint of $2.10 is 8.2% above the 2026 projected midpoint of $1.94. Source
  • EPS growth target raised to 7 - 9%: The annual EPS growth target is 7% to 9% through at least 2030, with growth expected in the top half of the range; the prior plan was 6% to 8%. Source

“continued execution across PPL and keep us on track to meet or exceed the $1.94 per share midpoint of our 2026 ongoing earnings forecast range”

Vincent Sorgi, PPL President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
2026 ongoing EPS forecast Sourcefull year 2026$1.92 to $1.96 per share, midpoint $1.94Kept
2026 reported EPS estimate Sourcefull year 2026$1.82 midpoint (high $1.84, low $1.80)Lowered from $1.88 midpoint (high $1.92, low $1.84)
2027 ongoing EPS forecast Source2027$2.06 to $2.14 per share, midpoint $2.10New
Long-term annual EPS growth target Sourcethrough at least 20307% to 9%, expected in the top half of the rangeRaised from 6% to 8% through at least 2029
EPS compound annual growth if Kentucky investment proceeds Source2026 to 20309%+New
Capital plan Source2027 to 2030$25 billionRaised from prior 2026-2029 plan was $2 billion lower
Rate base growth Source2026 to 2030average 10% a year
Potential generation investment Sourcethrough 2032$12 billion to $16 billionRaised from $10 billion to $12 billion
Kentucky incremental generation investment need Source2027 to 2032$6.0 billion to $7.0 billionRaised from $3.5 billion to $4.0 billion
Kentucky investment in plan period Source2027 to 2030$3.5 billion to $4.5 billionNew
Equity financing needs Sourceupdated business planapproximately $3.0 billionNew
FFO/CFO to debt ratio Sourceplan period16% to 18%, expected to improve toward midpointKept
Dividend per share growth Sourceannualabout 4% to 6%, expected at the low end of the rangeKept
Invitium Energy generation investment for PPL Sourcethrough 2032$6 billion to $9 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Long-term annual EPS growth target raised to 7% to 9% through at least 2030, from 6% to 8% through 2029. Source
  • Guidance raised: Capital plan for 2027 to 2030 set at $25 billion, $2 billion above the prior 2026 to 2029 plan, mainly for an added gas combined-cycle unit. Source
  • Guidance raised: Potential generation investment through 2032 raised to $12 billion to $16 billion, from $10 billion to $12 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Kentucky incremental generation investment need for 2027 to 2032 raised to $6.0 billion to $7.0 billion, from $3.5 billion to $4.0 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Estimate of reported 2026 EPS midpoint lowered to $1.82 from $1.88; the ongoing forecast midpoint is unchanged at $1.94. Source
  • New guidance: A 2027 ongoing EPS forecast range of $2.06 to $2.14 was provided for the first time. Source
  • Guidance kept: The 2026 ongoing EPS forecast range was narrowed to $1.92 to $1.96 from $1.90 to $1.98; the midpoint stays at $1.94. Source
  • New: Invitium Energy agreed to key commercial terms with QTS for about 2 GW of generation for the Salem Township data center; the term sheet is nonbinding. Source
  • New: Invitium executed a cost reimbursement agreement with QTS covering specified development costs and commitments. Source
  • New: New Pennsylvania distribution base rates took effect July 1, 2026. Source
  • New: New Rhode Island gas and electric distribution base rates took effect Sept. 1, 2026. Source
  • New: Kentucky signed reimbursement agreements for large-load demand reached 2.3 GW, up 1 GW from the prior quarter. Source
  • New: Equity financing needs of about $3.0 billion were added to the updated business plan. Source

Results and earnings growth

  • Third-quarter ongoing EPS rose: Ongoing earnings were $411 million, or $0.54 per share, against $355 million, or $0.48 per share, a year earlier; the company reported a 13% increase per share. Source
  • Reported EPS rose in quarter: Reported earnings were $367 million, or $0.49 per share, against $318 million, or $0.43 per share, a year earlier, including $44 million of after-tax special-item charges. Source
  • Nine-month ongoing EPS up 7%: Ongoing earnings for the first nine months were $1.14 billion, or $1.50 per share, against $1.04 billion, or $1.40 per share; reported EPS was $1.38. Source
  • Operating revenue rose in quarter: Operating revenues were $2,497 million for the quarter against $2,239 million a year earlier; nine-month revenues were $7,382 million against $6,768 million. Source

Segments and regional drivers

  • Kentucky ongoing EPS up on rates: Kentucky Regulated ongoing EPS was $0.30 against $0.26; the company cited higher income from retail rates effective January 1, 2026 and higher sales volumes. Source
  • Pennsylvania ongoing EPS up on rates: Pennsylvania Regulated ongoing EPS was $0.25 against $0.21, driven by new distribution base rates and higher transmission revenue from capital investments. Source
  • Rhode Island reported EPS declined: Rhode Island reported earnings fell $0.04 per share to nil, while ongoing EPS was flat at $0.05; the company cited new base rates and rider revenue. Source
  • Corporate costs rose on interest: Corporate and Other ongoing result was a $0.06 per share loss against a $0.04 loss, mainly from higher interest expense. Source

“the progress we’re making across our businesses has strengthened PPL’s long-term growth outlook”

Vincent Sorgi, PPL President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, interest and special items

  • Interest expense climbed on debt: Quarterly interest expense was $234 million against $210 million; nine-month interest was $690 million against $599 million, and depreciation was $366 million against $331 million. Source
  • Quarter special items were $44 million: After-tax special items of $44 million were mainly system and integration impacts and the Rhode Island hold harmless commitment. Source
  • Nine-month special items reduced earnings: Nine-month special items were $87 million, or $0.12 per share, mainly prior-year effects of an ISO New England transmission ROE reduction, plus integration and IT costs. Source
  • Energy purchases and O&M rose: Energy purchases were $486 million against $422 million; other operation and maintenance was $617 million against $586 million in the quarter. Source

Rates, sales and rate cases

  • Electricity sales rose in quarter: Total electricity sales rose 3.1% in the quarter, with Pennsylvania retail up 3.0% and Kentucky retail up 3.7%; nine-month total sales rose 0.4%. Source
  • Kentucky wholesale sales fell: Kentucky wholesale sales fell 8.5% in the quarter and 27.9% for the nine months; the table defines these as FERC-regulated municipal and off-system sales. Source
  • Rhode Island rate case costs disallowed: The Rhode Island commission disallowed certain costs from the 2025 rate case; the charge is in special items, $4 million after tax. Source

“Just as importantly, these projects will help meet rising energy demand while strengthening the PJM grid and supporting long-term energy affordability.”

Vincent Sorgi, PPL President and Chief Executive Officer

Large-load demand pipeline

  • Kentucky large-load pipeline expanded: The Kentucky pipeline is about 14.7 GW through 2032, including 12.8 GW tied to data centers, up from 13.7 GW in the prior quarter. Source
  • Pennsylvania data center pipeline grew: The Pennsylvania data center pipeline reached about 35.3 GW in advanced planning, including 11.4 GW under signed agreements and 8.5 GW under construction. Source
  • Kentucky generation need beyond plan: Projects at 50% or greater probability of success represent about 4 GW of added peak demand through 2032; the capital plan covers about 2.4 GW of it. Source

Invitium Energy and QTS

  • Invitium agreed key terms with QTS: Invitium agreed to all key commercial terms with QTS for about 2 GW for the Salem Township data center; the term sheet is nonbinding and subject to conditions. Source
  • Cost reimbursement covers development risk: The QTS arrangement includes a fixed monthly payment with annual escalation and variable payments covering fuel and operating costs, under a regulated-like structure. Source
  • Proposed portfolio mixes gas and storage: The portfolio is two combined-cycle gas plants plus fuel cells and battery storage; fuel cells and batteries could be online by 2029, and gas units in 2032 and 2033. Source
  • Invitium reservations cover 5 GW: Invitium holds executed reservation agreements for 5 GW of combined-cycle gas turbines, with potential investment of $6 billion to $9 billion for PPL through 2032. Source
  • Business plan excludes Invitium: The updated business plan does not include Invitium capital investments or earnings contributions. Source

Capital plan, financing and cash

  • Capital plan rises to $25 billion: The 2027 to 2030 plan adds a gas combined-cycle unit to serve large-load growth in Kentucky and supports reliability and infrastructure replacement. Source
  • Rate base to grow 10% annually: Management expects the investments to drive average annual rate base growth of 10% from 2026 through 2030. Source
  • Capital spending rose in nine months: Nine-month capital expenditures were $3,530 million against $2,868 million, while operating cash flow was $2,056 million against $2,081 million. Source
  • Cash balance declined to $393 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $393 million at September 30, against $1,071 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Dividends and share count

  • Dividend payments rose: Common dividends paid were $630 million for the nine months, against $593 million a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted share count increased: Third-quarter diluted weighted-average shares were 755,338 thousand, against 744,290 thousand a year earlier. Source

Long-term growth and 2027 forecast

  • 2027 EPS forecast midpoint $2.10: The 2027 ongoing EPS midpoint of $2.10 is 8.2% above the 2026 projected midpoint of $1.94. Source
  • EPS growth target raised to 7 - 9%: The annual EPS growth target is 7% to 9% through at least 2030, with growth expected in the top half of the range; the prior plan was 6% to 8%. Source
  • Kentucky investment could lift growth: If realized, the Kentucky investment could raise projected compound annual EPS growth to 9% or more from 2026 to 2030. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2026

  • More Invitium generation deals: Invitium is in discussions with several counterparties on more Pennsylvania generation projects; no dates were given. Source
  • Invitium generation timing: The fuel cells and battery storage could be online as early as 2029; the combined-cycle units are expected in 2032 and 2033. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate base growth Sourceaverage 10% a year, 2026 through 2030
Capital plan Source$25 billion for 2027 to 2030
EPS growth target Source7% to 9% through at least 2030
Rate cases Sourcenew distribution base rates effective July 1, 2026 (Pennsylvania) and Sept. 1, 2026 (Rhode Island)
Customer growth Sourcemore than 3.6 million customers
Load growth Sourcetotal electricity sales up 3.1% in the quarter

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Kentucky investment depends on customer agreements and regulatory approval, with timing that could change. Source
  • Regulatory: The QTS term sheet is nonbinding; the cost reimbursement agreement applies if certain approvals and conditions are not achieved. Source
  • Operational: Customer system integration created collection process costs, reported as special items. Source
  • Regulatory: Rhode Island hold harmless commitment reduced the gas cost recovery rate adjustment, recorded as a special item. Source
  • Financial: The updated plan requires about $3.0 billion of equity financing, beyond more than $1.5 billion already executed through forward sales. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the company is on track to meet or exceed the midpoint of the 2026 ongoing EPS range. Source
  • Not stated: The company continues to target this ratio range, expected to improve toward the midpoint over the plan period. Source
  • Not stated: The prior quarter expected commercial agreements by end-2026; the current release announces a nonbinding QTS term sheet and a cost reimbursement agreement.
  • Not stated: The prior quarter said a CPCN request was more likely by end-2026; the current release does not restate this timing.

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.