PPL Corporation Delivers Solid Second-Quarter 2026 Earnings; Reaffirms Guidance and Long‑Term Growth Outlook

• Announces 2026 second-quarter reported earnings (GAAP) of $0.30 per share.
• Achieves 2026 second-quarter ongoing earnings per share of $0.33 versus $0.32 in 2025.
• Reaffirms 2026 ongoing earnings forecast range of $1.90 to $1.98 per share with a midpoint of $1.94.
• Reaffirms annual EPS growth target of 6% to 8% through at least 2029 with compound annual growth expected to be near top end of the target range.
• Estimates current economic development in Pennsylvania and Kentucky could present potential generation investment upside of $10 billion to $12 billion through 2032.

ALLENTOWN, Pa., Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) today announced second-quarter 2026 reported earnings (GAAP) of $230 million, or $0.30 per share, compared with second-quarter 2025 reported earnings of $183 million, or $0.25 per share.

PPL reported earnings of $682 million, or $0.90 per share for the first six months of 2026, compared with reported earnings of $597 million, or $0.80 per share, for the first six months of 2025.

Adjusting for special items, second-quarter 2026 earnings from ongoing operations (non-GAAP) were $247 million, or $0.33 per share, compared with $240 million, or $0.32 per share, a year ago.

Earnings from ongoing operations for the first six months of 2026 were $725 million, or $0.96 per share, compared with $684 million, or $0.92 per share, for the first six months of 2025.

"Our solid second-quarter results demonstrate continued execution across our regulated utility portfolio and keep us on track to deliver our 2026 commitments," said Vincent Sorgi, PPL president and chief executive officer. "We are benefiting from disciplined cost management, strong operational focus and timely recovery of prudent investments that strengthen service for customers. Those investments are designed to modernize the grid, improve system resilience and support growing demand in a way that protects our existing customers while delivering long-term shareowner returns.

"With constructive regulatory frameworks across our jurisdictions and a clear capital investment plan, we believe PPL is well positioned to capture emerging growth opportunities while maintaining our commitment to affordability and reliability."

Based on the company's financial performance year to date, PPL reaffirmed its 2026 ongoing earnings forecast range of $1.90 to $1.98 per share with a midpoint of $1.94 per share. The company continues to expect stronger earnings growth in the second half of 2026, supported by improved rate recovery and capital tracking mechanisms that enable timely recovery of investments.

PPL also reaffirmed its projection of 6% to 8% annual earnings-per-share (EPS) growth through at least 2029 and continues to expect compound annual growth near the top end of that range compared with 2025 actual ongoing earnings. The company expects stronger earnings growth beginning in 2027 and continuing through 2029. PPL's business plan does not include any earnings contributions or capital investments related to Invitium Energy, LLC, its 51% joint venture with Blackstone Infrastructure to build and operate generation resources to directly support data centers in Pennsylvania.

Economic Development Expands Long-Term Investment Opportunities

PPL continues to see growing development and interest from data center developers and other large energy users across its Pennsylvania and Kentucky service territories, creating greater visibility into future infrastructure and generation investment opportunities.

The company estimates current economic development activity in its Pennsylvania and Kentucky service territories could present $10 billion to $12 billion of total investment upside through 2032 tied to generation needs. The estimated opportunity includes regulated generation investment to support growing demand in Kentucky, as well as PPL's ownership interest in generation development opportunities through Invitium Energy in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania

PPL Electric Utilities' data center pipeline grew to 31.8 gigawatts (GW) in advanced stages of planning in the second quarter, with over 11 GW under signed electric service agreements and more than 6.5 GW under construction. Importantly, PPL Electric Utilities has established a regulatory-approved tariff that includes strong protections for existing customers as large-load development expands. These protections help ensure that data centers and other large-load customers fund the infrastructure required to serve them, helping support continued affordability for existing customers while enabling economic development across the Commonwealth.

In Pennsylvania, Invitium Energy remains focused on building, owning and operating new generation to serve new data center demand under long-term energy supply services agreements (ESSAs). The joint venture has secured land sites capable of supporting 8 GW to 14 GW of new generation capacity, depending on the type of generation resources built, and it continues to develop and build its inventory of viable generation sites. PJM has accepted more than 5 GW of Invitium Energy generation interconnection requests, and the joint venture has secured reservation agreements for more than 5 GW of combined-cycle gas turbines.

The 5 GW of turbine capacity alone represents $12.5 billion to $15.0 billion of potential future investment opportunities at the joint-venture level through 2032. And Invitium Energy's continued progress positions the joint venture to move quickly upon signing ESSAs. Importantly, Invitium Energy will not begin construction or make material financial commitments until it has signed ESSAs with appropriate risk profiles or cost reimbursement agreements are in place. Based on progress to date, PPL expects to have one or more commercial agreements by the end of 2026.

PPL said it does not expect the earnings contributions from the joint venture to be material through 2030 but said batteries or other shorter-lead-time technologies could begin contributing earnings in 2029 or 2030, potentially enhancing PPL's projected earnings-per-share growth rate above the top end of the company's 6% to 8% range. The company would expect more meaningful earnings and cash flows when the combined-cycle gas turbines come online, which could be as early as the 2031 to 2032 timeframe.

Invitium Energy operates separately from PPL Electric Utilities, and PPL Electric Utilities customers are not funding these activities.

Kentucky

The potential economic development pipeline in the Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company (KU) service territories grew to 13.7 GW in the second quarter, of which 11.6 GW are tied to data center opportunities, with 1.3 GW under signed agreements.

PPL said the growing Kentucky project pipeline makes it more likely LG&E and KU will file a CPCN request by the end of 2026 to build additional generation beyond the 2.3 GW the utilities are already developing from prior CPCN approvals. The company estimates the additional generation represents $3.5 billion to $4.0 billion of incremental investment need between 2027 and 2032.

LG&E and KU also have established regulatory-approved large-load tariffs that include strong protection for their existing customers.

Second-Quarter 2026 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.

Key Factors Impacting Earnings

In addition to the segment drivers outlined below, PPL's reported earnings in the second quarter of 2026 included net special-item after-tax charges of $17 million, or $0.03 per share, primarily attributable to PPL's IT transformation and system integration impacts. Reported earnings in the second quarter of 2025 included net special-item after-tax charges of $57 million, or $0.07 per share, primarily attributable to PPL's IT transformation and integration-related expenses and adjustments associated with the acquisition of Rhode Island Energy.

Reported earnings in the first six months of 2026 included net special-item after-tax charges of $43 million or $0.06 per share, primarily attributable to prior-year impacts associated with an ISO New England transmission return on equity reduction and system integration impacts. Reported earnings in the first six months of 2025 included net special-item after-tax charges of $87 million, or $0.12 per share, primarily attributable to PPL's IT transformation and integration-related expenses and adjustments 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 in the second quarter of 2026 increased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the second quarter of 2026 were flat compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher income due to higher retail rates effective January 1, 2026, offset by higher operating costs, higher depreciation expense and higher interest expense.

Reported earnings in the first six months of 2026 increased by $0.06 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the first six months of 2026 increased by $0.03 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher income due to higher retail rates effective January 1, 2026, and increased returns on capital investments, partially offset by lower sales volumes, higher operating costs, higher depreciation expense and higher interest expense.

Pennsylvania Regulated Segment

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

Reported earnings in the second quarter of 2026 decreased by $0.02 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the second quarter of 2026 decreased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher depreciation expense and higher interest expense, partially offset by higher transmission revenue from additional capital investments.

Reported earnings in the first six months of 2026 decreased by $0.02 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the first six months of 2026 decreased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher operating costs, higher depreciation expense and higher interest expense, partially offset by higher transmission revenue from additional capital investments and higher sales volumes largely due to weather.

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 second quarter of 2026 increased by $0.03 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the second quarter of 2026 increased by $0.02 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included lower operating costs and higher rider revenue, partially offset by higher depreciation expense.

Reported earnings in the first six months of 2026 decreased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the first six months of 2026 increased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included lower operating costs and higher rider revenue, partially offset by higher depreciation expense and higher interest expense.

Corporate and Other

PPL's Corporate and Other category primarily includes financing costs incurred at the corporate level, certain non-recoverable costs prior to 2026 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 second quarter of 2026 increased by $0.03 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the second quarter of 2026 were flat compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher interest expense, offset by factors that were not individually significant.

Reported earnings in the first six months of 2026 increased by $0.07 per share compared with a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in the first six months of 2026 increased by $0.01 per share compared with a year ago. Factors driving earnings results primarily included higher interest income and lower income taxes, partially offset by higher interest expense.

2026 Earnings Forecast

PPL's 2026 earnings from ongoing operations forecast range is $1.90 to $1.98 per share, with a midpoint of $1.94 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 second-quarter 2026 financial results at 11 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, Aug. 7. 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 by 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: 4896257. 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.

• 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: weather conditions affecting customer energy usage and operating costs; strategic acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures or similar transactions and our ability to consummate these business transactions, integrate the acquired entities or realize expected benefits from them; the outcome of rate cases or other cost recovery, revenue or regulatory proceedings; war, armed conflicts, terrorist attacks or similar disruptive events including ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; 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; 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.

Contacts:
For news media: Ryan Hill, 610-774-4033
For financial analysts: Andy Ludwig, 610-774-3389

SOURCE PPL Services Corporation