PPL Corporation reports first-quarter 2025 earnings

    --  Announces 2025 first-quarter reported earnings (GAAP) per share of
        $0.56.
    --  Achieves 2025 first-quarter ongoing earnings per share of $0.60 versus
        $0.54 in 2024.
    --  Reaffirms 2025 ongoing earnings forecast range of $1.75 to $1.87 per
        share with a midpoint of $1.81 per share.
    --  Reaffirms 6% to 8% annual EPS and dividend growth targets through at
        least 2028; expects to achieve EPS growth in the top half of targeted
        growth range.

ALLENTOWN, Pa., April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) today announced first-quarter 2025 reported earnings (GAAP) of $414 million, or $0.56 per share, compared with first-quarter 2024 reported earnings of $307 million, or $0.42 per share.

Adjusting for special items, first-quarter 2025 earnings from ongoing operations (non-GAAP) were $444 million, or $0.60 per share, compared with $402 million, or $0.54 per share, a year ago.

"We're off to a strong start in 2025, with year-over-year growth in the first quarter reflecting our continued strong financial discipline and operational execution, along with a return to more typical seasonal weather patterns," said PPL President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Sorgi.

"Across PPL, we're focused on creating utilities of the future and leveraging technology, talent and strategic partnerships to modernize our energy networks, better meet the evolving needs of our customers, and deliver increased value for all stakeholders.

"Looking forward, we're well-positioned to build on this success throughout the year, and sustained strong interest from data center developers in Pennsylvania and Kentucky further highlights the critical role we continue to play in powering progress and innovation."

Today the company reaffirmed its 2025 ongoing earnings forecast range of $1.75 to $1.87 per share with a midpoint of $1.81 per share.

In addition, the company reaffirmed its projection of 6% to 8% annual earnings per share (EPS) and dividend growth through at least 2028, with EPS growth expected to be in the top half of the targeted range. The company's projected growth is based off its 2025 forecast midpoint of $1.81 per share.

First-Quarter 2025 Earnings Details

As discussed in this news release, reported earnings are calculated in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). "Earnings from ongoing operations" is a non-GAAP financial measure that is adjusted for special items. See the tables at the end of this news release for a reconciliation of reported earnings (net income) to earnings from ongoing operations, including an itemization of special items.


                 (Dollars in millions, except for per share amounts)       
     
           1st Quarter


                                                                      2025      2024             Change



     Reported earnings                                               $414      $307               35 %



     Reported earnings per share                                    $0.56     $0.42               33 %




                                                                           
     
           1st Quarter


                                                                      2025      2024             Change



     Earnings from ongoing operations                                $444      $402               10 %



     Earnings from ongoing operations per share                     $0.60     $0.54               11 %

First-Quarter 2025 Earnings by Segment


                                                                 1st Quarter



     
                Per share                               2025                  2024



     
                Reported earnings



     Kentucky Regulated                                  $0.30                 $0.25



     Pennsylvania Regulated                               0.25                  0.21



     Rhode Island Regulated                               0.10                  0.09



     Corporate and Other                                (0.09)               (0.13)



         Total                                           $0.56                 $0.42




                                                                 1st Quarter


                                                           2025                  2024



     
                Special items (expense) benefit



     Kentucky Regulated                            
     $       - 
              $       -



     Pennsylvania Regulated                                                  (0.01)



     Rhode Island Regulated                                                  (0.02)



     Corporate and Other                                (0.04)               (0.09)



     Total                                             $(0.04)              $(0.12)




                                                                 1st Quarter


                                                           2025                  2024



     
                Earnings from ongoing operations



     Kentucky Regulated                                  $0.30                 $0.25



     Pennsylvania Regulated                               0.25                  0.22



     Rhode Island Regulated                               0.10                  0.11



     Corporate and Other                                (0.05)               (0.04)



         Total                                           $0.60                 $0.54

Key Factors Impacting Earnings

In addition to the segment drivers outlined below, PPL's reported earnings in the first quarter of 2025 included net special item after-tax charges of $30 million, or $0.04 per share, primarily attributable to PPL's IT transformation, a Rhode Island Energy settlement related to an energy efficiency program matter that occurred prior to PPL's ownership of the company, and integration and related expenses associated with the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy. Reported earnings in the first quarter of 2024 included net special item after-tax charges of $95 million, or $0.12 per share, primarily attributable to integration and related expenses associated with the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy.

Kentucky Regulated Segment

PPL's Kentucky Regulated segment primarily consists of the regulated electricity and natural gas operations of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and the regulated electricity operations of Kentucky Utilities Company.

Reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2025 increased by $0.05 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher sales volumes largely due to weather, as well as other factors.

Pennsylvania Regulated Segment

PPL's Pennsylvania Regulated segment consists of the regulated electricity delivery operations of PPL Electric Utilities.

Reported earnings in the first quarter of 2025 increased by $0.04 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2025 increased by $0.03 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher sales volumes largely due to weather, as well as higher transmission revenue.

Rhode Island Regulated Segment

PPL's Rhode Island Regulated segment consists of the regulated electricity and natural gas operations of Rhode Island Energy.

Reported earnings in the first quarter of 2025 increased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2025 decreased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher operating costs and lower transmission revenues, partially offset by higher distribution revenue from capital investments.

Corporate and Other

PPL's Corporate and Other category primarily includes financing costs incurred at the corporate level, certain non-recoverable costs resulting from commitments made to the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office in conjunction with the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy, and certain other unallocated costs.

Reported earnings in the first quarter of 2025 increased by $0.04 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the first quarter of 2025 decreased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher interest expense.

2025 Earnings Forecast

PPL's 2025 earnings from ongoing operations forecast range is $1.75 to $1.87 per share, with a midpoint of $1.81 per share.

Earnings from ongoing operations is a non-GAAP measure that could differ from reported earnings due to special items that are, in management's view, non-recurring or otherwise not reflective of the company's ongoing operations. PPL management is not able to forecast whether any of these factors will occur or whether any amounts will be reported for future periods. Therefore, PPL is not able to provide an equivalent GAAP measure for earnings guidance.

See the table at the end of this news release for a complete reconciliation of the earnings forecast.

About PPL

PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a leading U.S. energy company focused on providing electricity and natural gas safely, reliably and affordably to more than 3.6 million customers in the U.S. PPL's high-performing, award-winning utilities are addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions. For more information, visit www.pplweb.com.

(Note: All references to earnings per share in the text and tables of this news release are stated in terms of diluted earnings per share unless otherwise noted.)

Conference Call and Webcast

PPL invites interested parties to listen to a live internet webcast of management's teleconference with financial analysts about first-quarter 2025 financial results at 11 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, April 30. The call will be webcast live, in audio format, together with slides of the presentation. For those who are unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay with slides will be accessible at www.pplweb.com/investors for 90 days after the call.

Interested individuals can access the live conference call via telephone at 1-844-512-2926. International participants should call 1-412-317-6300. Participants will need to enter the following "Elite Entry" number to join the conference: 9677002. Callers can access the webcast link at www.pplweb.com/investors under "Events."

Management utilizes "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" or "Ongoing Earnings" as a non-GAAP financial measure that should not be considered as an alternative to reported earnings, or net income, an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with GAAP. PPL believes that Earnings from Ongoing Operations is useful and meaningful to investors because it provides management's view of PPL's earnings performance as another criterion in making investment decisions. In addition, PPL's management uses Earnings from Ongoing Operations in measuring achievement of certain corporate performance goals, including targets for certain executive incentive compensation. Other companies may use different measures to present financial performance.

Earnings from Ongoing Operations is adjusted for the impact of special items. Special items are presented in the financial tables on an after-tax basis with the related income taxes on special items separately disclosed. Income taxes on special items, when applicable, are calculated based on the statutory tax rate of the entity where the activity is recorded. Special items may include items such as:

    --  Gains and losses on sales of assets not in the ordinary course of
        business.
    --  Impairment charges.
    --  Significant workforce reduction and other restructuring effects.
    --  Acquisition and divestiture-related adjustments.
    --  Significant losses on early extinguishment of debt.
    --  Other charges or credits that are, in management's view, non-recurring
        or otherwise not reflective of the company's ongoing operations.

Statements contained in this news release, including statements with respect to future earnings, cash flows, dividends, financing, regulation and corporate strategy, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although PPL Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the statements. The following are among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: asset or business acquisitions and dispositions; pandemic health events or other catastrophic events and their effect on financial markets, economic conditions and our businesses; market demand for energy in our service territories; weather conditions affecting customer energy usage and operating costs; volatility in or the impact of other changes on financial markets, commodity prices and economic conditions, including inflation; the effect of any business or industry restructuring; the profitability and liquidity of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; new accounting requirements or new interpretations or applications of existing requirements; operating performance of our facilities; the length of scheduled and unscheduled outages at our generating plants; environmental conditions and requirements and the related costs of compliance; system conditions and operating costs; development of new projects, markets and technologies; performance of new ventures; any impact of severe weather on our business; receipt of necessary government permits, approvals, rate relief and regulatory cost recovery; capital market conditions and decisions regarding capital structure; the impact of state, federal or foreign investigations applicable to PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; the outcome of litigation against PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; PPL Corporation's stock price performance; the market prices of equity securities and the impact on pension income and resultant cash funding requirements for defined benefit pension plans; the securities and credit ratings of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; political, regulatory or economic conditions in jurisdictions where PPL Corporation or its subsidiaries conduct business, including any potential effects of threatened or actual cyberattack, terrorism, or war or other hostilities; new state, federal or foreign legislation, including new tax legislation; and the commitments and liabilities of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries. Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in light of such important factors and in conjunction with factors and other matters discussed in PPL Corporation's Form 10-K and other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news and background about PPL Corporation.


                                                                 
              
                PPL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES


                                                          
              
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION(1)


                                                         
              
                Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)


                                                                       
              
                (Millions of Dollars)




                                                                                                                                   March 31, December 31,


                                                                                                                                        2025          2024



     
                Assets



     Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                         $312          $306



     Accounts receivable                                                                                                              1,301         1,037



     Unbilled revenues                                                                                                                  377           485



     Fuel, materials and supplies                                                                                                       476           511



     Regulatory assets                                                                                                                  274           320



     Other current assets                                                                                                               356           221



     Property, Plant and Equipment



     Regulated utility plant                                                                                                         40,648        40,391



     Less: Accumulated depreciation - regulated utility plant                                                                         9,751         9,682



        Regulated utility plant, net                                                                                                 30,897        30,709



     Non-regulated property, plant and equipment                                                                                         80            79



     Less: Accumulated depreciation - non-regulated property, plant and equipment                                                        30            29



        Non-regulated property, plant and equipment, net                                                                                 50            50



     Construction work in progress                                                                                                    2,695         2,390



     Property, Plant and Equipment, net                                                                                              33,642        33,149



     Noncurrent regulatory assets                                                                                                     2,049         2,060



     Goodwill and other intangibles                                                                                                   2,559         2,561



     Other noncurrent assets                                                                                                            463           419



     
                Total Assets                                                                                                      $41,809       $41,069





     
                Liabilities and Equity



     Short-term debt                                                                                                                   $778          $303



     Long-term debt due within one year                                                                                                 569           551



     Accounts payable                                                                                                                 1,097         1,196



     Other current liabilities                                                                                                        1,383         1,283



     Long-term debt                                                                                                                  15,938        15,952



     Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits                                                                                 3,532         3,467



     Accrued pension obligations                                                                                                        298           317



     Asset retirement obligations                                                                                                       130           136



     Noncurrent regulatory liabilities                                                                                                3,338         3,335



     Other deferred credits and noncurrent liabilities                                                                                  449           452



     Common stock and additional paid-in capital                                                                                     12,338        12,354



     Treasury stock                                                                                                                   (904)        (928)



     Earnings reinvested                                                                                                              3,047         2,835



     Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                                             (184)        (184)



     
                Total Liabilities and Equity                                                                                      $41,809       $41,069




     (1) The Financial Statements in this news release have been condensed and summarized for purposes of this presentation. Please refer to PPL Corporation's periodic
            filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for full financial statements, including note disclosure.


                                                      
              
                 PPL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES


                                           
              
                 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)


                                                   
              
                (Millions of Dollars, except share data)




                                                                                                                                          Three Months Ended
                                                                                                                                March 31,


                                                                                                                               2025          2024



     
                Operating Revenues                                                                                        $2,504        $2,304





     
                Operating Expenses



     Operation



        Fuel                                                                                                                   234           209



        Energy purchases                                                                                                       559           520



        Other operation and maintenance                                                                                        598           626



     Depreciation                                                                                                              322           316



     Taxes, other than income                                                                                                  113            88



     Total Operating Expenses                                                                                                1,826         1,759





     
                Operating Income                                                                                             678           545





     Other Income (Expense) - net                                                                                               28            22





     Interest Expense                                                                                                          190           179





     
                Income Before Income Taxes                                                                                   516           388





     Income Taxes                                                                                                              102            81





     
                Net Income                                                                                                  $414          $307





     
                Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:



     
                Basic and Diluted



     Net Income Available to PPL Common Shareowners                                                                          $0.56         $0.42





     
                Weighted-Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding (in thousands)



       Basic                                                                                                               738,691       737,512



       Diluted                                                                                                             741,400       738,820


                                                          
              
                PPL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES


                                            
              
                Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)


                                                               
              
                (Millions of Dollars)




                                                                                                                                           Three Months Ended
                                                                                                                                 March 31,


                                                                                                                                 2025         2024



     
                Cash Flows from Operating Activities



     Net income                                                                                                                 $414         $307



     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities



        Depreciation                                                                                                             322          316



        Amortization                                                                                                              20           24



        Defined benefit plans - income                                                                                          (16)        (15)



        Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits                                                                          38           72



        Other                                                                                                                     13            3



     Change in current assets and current liabilities



        Accounts receivable                                                                                                    (277)        (75)



        Accounts payable                                                                                                       (120)       (221)



        Unbilled revenues                                                                                                        108           57



        Fuel, materials and supplies                                                                                              37           33



        Prepayments                                                                                                             (87)       (108)



        Taxes payable                                                                                                             40         (47)



        Regulatory assets and liabilities, net                                                                                    79         (61)



        Accrued interest                                                                                                          67           90



        Other                                                                                                                   (80)       (103)



     Other operating activities



        Defined benefit plans - funding                                                                                          (5)         (5)



        Other                                                                                                                   (40)          15



       Net cash provided by operating activities                                                                                 513          282





     
                Cash Flows from Investing Activities



     Expenditures for property, plant and equipment                                                                            (793)       (596)



     Other investing activities                                                                                                   10            5



     Net cash used in investing activities                                                                                     (783)       (591)





     
                Cash Flows from Financing Activities



     Issuance of long-term debt                                                                                                    -       1,148



     Payment of common stock dividends                                                                                         (190)       (177)



     Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt                                                                                  475        (701)



     Other financing activities                                                                                                 (14)        (22)



     Net cash provided by financing activities                                                                                   271          248





     
                Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash                                            1         (61)



     Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period                                                           339          382



     Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Period                                                                $340         $321





     
                Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information



     Significant non-cash transactions:



     Accrued expenditures for property, plant and equipment at March 31,                                                        $397         $253


      
            
                Operating - Electricity Sales (Unaudited)(1)




                                                                            Three Months Ended
                                                            March 31,


                                                                                               Percent



       (GWh)                                           2025             2024                    Change




                     PA Regulated Segment


        Retail Delivered                              10,144            9,627                      5.4 %




                     KY Regulated Segment


        Retail Delivered                               7,803            7,454                      4.7 %


        Wholesale(2)                                     439              167                    162.9 %



          Total                                       8,242            7,621                      8.1 %




                     Total                            18,386           17,248                      6.6 %




     (1)   Excludes the Rhode Island Regulated segment electricity sales as revenues are decoupled from
              volumes delivered.



     (2) 
     Represents FERC-regulated municipal and unregulated off-system sales.



     
                Reconciliation of Segment Reported Earnings to Earnings from Ongoing Operations



     
                (After-Tax)



     
                (Unaudited)





     Year-to-Date March 31, 2025                                                                        
           (millions of dollars)


                                                                                                     KY     PA                  RI      Corp.


                                                                                                    Reg.   Reg.                Reg.    & Other     Total



     
                Reported Earnings(1)                                                             $223    $184                  $70       $(63)      $414



     Less: Special Items (expense) benefit:



         Talen litigation costs, net of tax of $0(2)                                                  -                                   (1)       (1)



         Acquisition integration, net of tax of ($2), $4(3)                                           -                          7        (14)       (7)



         IT transformation, net of tax of $1, $0, $3(4)                                             (1)                        (1)       (10)      (12)



         Energy efficiency programs settlement, net of tax of $0(5)                                   -                        (8)                  (8)



         Office relocation and related costs, net of tax of $0, $1(6)                               (1)    (1)                                      (2)



     
                Total Special Items                                                               (2)    (1)                 (2)       (25)      (30)



     
                Earnings from Ongoing Operations                                                 $225    $185                  $72       $(38)      $444






                                                                                                         
           (per share - diluted)


                                                                                                     KY     PA                  RI      Corp.


                                                                                                    Reg.   Reg.                Reg.    & Other     Total



     
                Reported Earnings(1)                                                            $0.30   $0.25                $0.10     $(0.09)     $0.56



     Less: Special Items (expense) benefit:



         Acquisition integration(3)                                                                   -                       0.01      (0.02)    (0.01)



         IT transformation(4)                                                                         -                                (0.02)    (0.02)



         Energy efficiency programs settlement(5)                                                     -                     (0.01)               (0.01)



     
                Total Special Items                                                                 -                                (0.04)    (0.04)



     
                Earnings from Ongoing Operations                                                $0.30   $0.25                $0.10     $(0.05)     $0.60




     (1) 
     Reported Earnings represents Net Income.



     (2) 
     PPL incurred legal expenses related to litigation associated with its former affiliate.



     (3) 
     Primarily integration and related costs associated with the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy.



     (4)   Costs associated with PPL's restructuring and rebuilding of its IT infrastructure, organization and
              systems.



     (5)   Costs associated with a settlement agreement regarding energy efficiency programs prior to PPL's
              acquisition of Rhode Island Energy.



     (6) 
     Certain costs related to the relocation of corporate offices.



     
                Reconciliation of Segment Reported Earnings to Earnings from Ongoing Operations



     
                (After-Tax)



     
                (Unaudited)





     Year-to-Date March 31, 2024                                                                        
            (millions of dollars)


                                                                                                     KY      PA                  RI      Corp.


                                                                                                    Reg.    Reg.                Reg.    & Other     Total



     
                Reported Earnings(1)                                                             $190     $149                  $64       $(96)      $307



     Less: Special Items (expense) benefit:



         Strategic corporate initiatives, net of tax of $0, $0, $1(2)                               (1)     (1)                            (2)       (4)



         Acquisition integration, net of tax of $4, $17(3)                                            -                        (14)       (66)      (80)



         PPL Electric billing issue, net of tax of $4(4)                                              -    (11)                                     (11)



     
                Total Special Items                                                               (1)    (12)                (14)       (68)      (95)



     
                Earnings from Ongoing Operations                                                 $191     $161                  $78       $(28)      $402






                                                                                                         
            (per share - diluted)


                                                                                                     KY      PA                  RI      Corp.


                                                                                                    Reg.    Reg.                Reg.    & Other     Total



     
                Reported Earnings(1)                                                            $0.25    $0.21                $0.09     $(0.13)     $0.42



     Less: Special Items (expense) benefit:



         Acquisition integration(3)                                                                   -                      (0.02)     (0.09)    (0.11)



         PPL Electric billing issue(4)                                                                -  (0.01)                                   (0.01)



     
                Total Special Items                                                                 -  (0.01)              (0.02)     (0.09)    (0.12)



     
                Earnings from Ongoing Operations                                                $0.25    $0.22                $0.11     $(0.04)     $0.54




     (1) 
     Reported Earnings represents Net Income.



     (2)   Represents costs primarily related to PPL's corporate centralization and
              other strategic efforts.



     (3)   Primarily integration and related costs associated with the acquisition of
              Rhode Island Energy.



     (4) 
     Certain expenses related to billing issues.



     
                Reconciliation of PPL's Earnings Forecast



     
                After-Tax (Unaudited)



     
                (per share - diluted)




                                                                 
           2025 Forecast Range


                                                                Midpoint               High     Low



     
                Estimate of Reported Earnings                   $1.77               $1.83    $1.71



     Less: Special Items (expense) benefit:(1)



         Acquisition integration(2)                              (0.01)             (0.01)  (0.01)



         IT transformation(3)                                    (0.02)             (0.02)  (0.02)



         Energy efficiency programs settlement(4)                (0.01)             (0.01)  (0.01)



     
                Total Special Items                            (0.04)             (0.04)  (0.04)



     
                Forecast of Earnings from Ongoing Operations    $1.81               $1.87    $1.75




     (1)   Reflects only special items recorded through March 31, 2025. PPL is not able to forecast special items for
              future periods.



     (2) 
     Primarily integration and related costs associated with the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy.



     (3)   Costs associated with PPL's restructuring and rebuilding of its IT infrastructure, organization and
              systems.



     (4)   Costs associated with a settlement agreement regarding energy efficiency programs prior to PPL's
              acquisition of Rhode Island Energy.



     Contacts: For news media: Ryan Hill, 610-774-4033


                For financial analysts: Andy Ludwig,
                 610-774-3389

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SOURCE PPL Services Corporation