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FE vs PPL
Which Stock Would AI Choose? FirstEnergy (FE) vs. PPL Corporation (PPL) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both FE and PPL operate in the regulated utilities sector, focusing on electricity transmission and distribution with recent investments in grid modernization driven by data center demand.
- FE reported solid Q1 2026 core earnings of $0.72 per share, reaffirming 2026 guidance of $2.62–$2.82, supported by a $36 billion five-year capital plan targeting 10% rate base growth.
- PPL anticipates Q1 2026 EPS of $0.61, with a $23 billion capital plan through 2029 aiming for ~10.3% annual rate base growth amid rising load from data centers.
- Year-to-date, PPL outperforms FE with ~8% return versus ~5%, though both offer yields around 3-4% and low betas indicating stability.
- Recent market activity shows short-term pressure on both stocks, with FE down ~8% over the past month amid broader utility sector volatility.
- Tickeron's AI tools highlight utilities' defensive positioning, with growth from infrastructure spending offsetting interest rate sensitivities.
Introduction
In the regulated utilities sector, FE (FirstEnergy Corp.) and PPL (PPL Corporation) stand out for their focus on electricity transmission, distribution, and grid upgrades. These stocks appeal to income-oriented investors and traders seeking stability amid market volatility, as both benefit from predictable regulated revenues and rising demand from data centers and electrification trends. This comparison examines their recent performance, business drivers, and relative positioning in the current environment, where infrastructure investments are key to long-term growth and resilience. Utilities like these offer low-beta exposure (beta measures volatility relative to the market), making them relevant for diversified portfolios navigating interest rate fluctuations and economic shifts.
FE Overview and Recent Performance
FirstEnergy Corp. (FE), headquartered in Akron, Ohio, is a leading regulated electric utility serving over 6 million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. The company operates through distribution, integrated generation, and stand-alone transmission segments, managing 252,959 distribution line miles and 24,157 transmission line miles. Its business model emphasizes formula-rate recovery (a regulatory mechanism ensuring timely returns on investments) for about 75% of its capital plan, supporting grid reliability and modernization.
In recent market activity, FE shares have traded around $46-47, reflecting year-to-date gains of approximately 5% but pressure over the past month with an ~8% decline amid broader sector rotation. Q1 2026 core earnings rose 7.5% year-over-year to $0.72 per share, beating expectations, driven by $1.4 billion in capital deployment and operational efficiencies. The company reaffirmed 2026 core EPS guidance of $2.62–$2.82 and unveiled a $36 billion Energize365 plan through 2030, targeting ~10% compounded annual rate base growth, fueled by transmission expansions and data center connections (long-term pipeline at 12.9 GW). Sentiment has been supported by a 4% dividend yield and low beta of 0.47, though short-term volatility persists from interest rate concerns.
PPL Overview and Recent Performance
PPL Corporation (PPL), based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, delivers electricity and natural gas to 3.6 million customers via its Kentucky Regulated, Pennsylvania Regulated, and Rhode Island Regulated segments. It generates power from coal, gas, hydro, and solar sources, with operations spanning transmission, distribution, and regulated generation, particularly in Kentucky and Virginia.
Recent weeks have seen PPL shares around $37-38, with stronger year-to-date performance of ~8% but a ~3% dip over the past month. The stock carries a 3% dividend yield and beta of 0.62. Upcoming Q1 2026 earnings are expected at $0.61 EPS, reflecting modest growth, amid a $23 billion capital plan through 2029 for ~10.3% annual rate base expansion. Key influences include surging data center demand—25.2 GW potential in Pennsylvania and 9.3 GW in Kentucky—driving infrastructure upgrades and load growth. Reduced outages and transmission expansions bolster reliability, though competition in transmission and regulatory proceedings temper sentiment.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both FE and PPL pursue regulated, customer-focused models with heavy capex in transmission (FE: $19B, PPL: part of $23B plan), but FE emphasizes formula rates (75% of investments) for faster recovery, while PPL balances generation and gas. Growth drivers overlap in data center load—FE's 12.9 GW pipeline vs. PPL's 25.2 GW in PA—but PPL shows stronger 3-month momentum (~6% vs. flat for FE).
Risk factors include regulatory approvals, weather extremes, and interest rates impacting capex funding; FE faces legacy investigation overhangs, PPL competition in transmission. Sector exposure is similar (regulated electric), but FE's larger transmission footprint (~24,000 miles) contrasts PPL's multi-state generation mix. Market sentiment favors PPL's YTD edge and lower P/E (~24 vs. FE's 26), though FE's reaffirmed earnings provide stability. Trade-offs: FE for transmission purity, PPL for diversified revenue.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward PPL based on superior recent momentum, higher YTD returns (~8% vs. 5%), and robust data center catalysts positioning it for consistent load growth. While FE offers strong earnings stability and transmission scale, PPL's rate base expansion and lower relative volatility suggest a probabilistic edge in the near term for trend-following strategies.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is FE is a Hold and PPL is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
FE’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whilePPL’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- FE’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- PPL’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
FE’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while PPL’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- FE’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- PPL’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
FE (@Electric Utilities) experienced а -3.68% price change this week, while PPL (@Electric Utilities) price change was -4.13% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electric Utilities industry was -0.64%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.82%, and the average quarterly price growth was +4.29%.
Reported Earning Dates
FE is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
PPL is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electric Utilities (-0.64% weekly)Electric utilities companies generate, transmit and distribute electricity to businesses/offices and residences. Companies may be owned by the government or investors or public shareholders, or a combination thereof. The industry also includes firms that buy and sell electricity. Companies in this industry typically require significant investments in infrastructure. Many firms in this industry pay substantial and regular dividends to shareholders. However, changes in interest rates (and their impact on debt burdens), natural disasters and changing commodity prices could be factors affecting energy utilities’ profit margins. NextEra Energy, Inc., Duke Energy Corporation, Dominion Energy Inc. and Southern Company are among U.S. electric utilities companies with the largest market capitalizations.
| FE | PPL | FE / PPL | |
| Capitalization | 25.8B | 27.3B | 95% |
| EBITDA | 4.35B | 3.82B | 114% |
| Gain YTD | 1.610 | 4.259 | 38% |
| P/E Ratio | 24.24 | 22.23 | 109% |
| Revenue | 15.5B | 9.31B | 166% |
| Total Cash | 52M | 1.24B | 4% |
| Total Debt | 28.1B | 20.2B | 139% |
FE | PPL | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 51 | 54 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 41 Fair valued | 56 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 37 | 28 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 75 | 76 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 61 | 60 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 40 | 66 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 65 | 55 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
FE's Valuation (41) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as PPL (56). This means that FE’s stock grew similarly to PPL’s over the last 12 months.
PPL's Profit vs Risk Rating (28) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as FE (37). This means that PPL’s stock grew similarly to FE’s over the last 12 months.
FE's SMR Rating (75) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as PPL (76). This means that FE’s stock grew similarly to PPL’s over the last 12 months.
PPL's Price Growth Rating (60) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as FE (61). This means that PPL’s stock grew similarly to FE’s over the last 12 months.
FE's P/E Growth Rating (40) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as PPL (66). This means that FE’s stock grew similarly to PPL’s over the last 12 months.
| FE | PPL | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 52% | 2 days ago 46% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 53% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 43% | 2 days ago 36% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 51% | 2 days ago 49% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 37% | 2 days ago 37% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 37% | 2 days ago 31% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 15 days ago 48% | 9 days ago 54% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 34% | 5 days ago 36% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 45% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 35% | 2 days ago 36% |
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| 1 Day | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs / NAME | Price $ | Chg $ | Chg % |
| ADX | 24.60 | 0.06 | +0.24% |
| Adams Diversified Equity Fund | |||
| MCDS | 64.38 | 0.08 | +0.12% |
| JPMorgan Fundamental Data Sci Md Cor ETF | |||
| PQJA | 31.31 | 0.02 | +0.06% |
| PGIM NASDAQ-100 BUFFER 12 ETF - JANUARY | |||
| CEV | 10.40 | N/A | N/A |
| Eaton Vance California Municipal Income Trust | |||
| HPI | 16.04 | -0.25 | -1.51% |
| John Hancock Preferred Income Fund | |||
FE and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, FE has been closely correlated with EXC. These tickers have moved in lockstep 75% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if FE jumps, then EXC could also see price increases.