Regulated Electric
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EMA vs PPL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Regulated Electric
EMA vs PPL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Regulated Electric | Regulated Electric |
| Market Cap | $15.77B | $27.48B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $8.79B | $9.04B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.09B | $1.18B |
| Gross Margin | 39.1% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 21.8% | 23.6% |
| Forward P/E | 19.6x | 18.9x |
| Total Debt | $21.62B | $18.45B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $365M | $1.07B |
EMA vs PPL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emera Incorporated (EMA) | 100 | 132.3 | +32.3% |
| PPL Corporation (PPL) | 100 | 132.0 | +32.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: EMA vs PPL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
EMA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 15.3%, EPS growth 97.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.0%
- 100.1% 10Y total return vs PPL's 31.7%
- 15.3% revenue growth vs PPL's 6.9%
PPL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.05, yield 2.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.05, Low D/E 85.3%, current ratio 1.14x
- Beta 0.05, yield 2.9%, current ratio 1.14x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 15.3% revenue growth vs PPL's 6.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (18.9x vs 19.6x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 13.1% margin vs EMA's 12.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Lower D/E ratio (85.3% vs 161.5%) | |
| Dividends | 2.7% yield, 10-year raise streak, vs PPL's 2.9% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +24.0% vs PPL's +5.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 2.6% ROA vs EMA's 2.4%, ROIC 4.6% vs 3.5% |
EMA vs PPL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
EMA vs PPL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PPL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PPL and EMA operate at a comparable scale, with $9.0B and $8.8B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.1% (PPL) to 12.4% (EMA). On growth, EMA holds the edge at +14.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.8B | $9.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.2B | $3.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | $1.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1.7B | -$1.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +39.1% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.8% | +23.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.4% | +13.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -19.7% | -15.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.4% | +2.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -57.7% | +50.0% |
Valuation Metrics
PPL leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 21.0x trailing earnings, EMA trades at a 9% valuation discount to PPL's 23.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PPL's 12.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than EMA's 15.0x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $15.8B | $27.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $31.4B | $44.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.01x | 23.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.59x | 18.91x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.97x | 12.69x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.58x | 3.04x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.59x | 1.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
PPL leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
EMA delivers a 8.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $5 for PPL. PPL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.85x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to EMA's 1.62x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PPL scores 6/9 vs EMA's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.1% | +5.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.4% | +2.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.5% | +4.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.1% | +5.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.62x | 0.85x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $21.3B | $17.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $365M | $1.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $21.6B | $18.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.50x | 2.64x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — EMA and PPL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PPL five years ago would be worth $14,690 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,746 for EMA. Over the past 12 months, EMA leads with a +24.0% total return vs PPL's +5.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PPL at 11.8% vs EMA's 10.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +8.4% | +5.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +24.0% | +5.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.1% | +39.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +37.5% | +46.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +100.1% | +31.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.3% | +11.8% |
Risk & Volatility
EMA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
EMA is the less volatile stock with a -0.25 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PPL's 0.05 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. EMA currently trades 96.7% from its 52-week high vs PPL's 92.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.25x | 0.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $54.06 | $40.10 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $41.90 | $33.12 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.7% | +92.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.7 | 39.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 253K | 7.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — EMA and PPL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EMA as "Hold" and PPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 12.7% upside for PPL (target: $42) vs 1.4% for EMA (target: $53). For income investors, PPL offers the higher dividend yield at 2.89% vs EMA's 2.70%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $53.00 | $41.57 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.7% | +2.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 10 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.92 | $1.07 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
PPL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). EMA leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
EMA vs PPL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EMA or PPL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Emera Incorporated (EMA) is the stronger pick with 15.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 9% for PPL Corporation (PPL). Emera Incorporated (EMA) offers the better valuation at 21. 0x trailing P/E (19. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PPL Corporation (PPL) a "Buy" — based on 29 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — EMA or PPL?
On trailing P/E, Emera Incorporated (EMA) is the cheapest at 21.
0x versus PPL Corporation at 23. 1x. On forward P/E, PPL Corporation is actually cheaper at 18. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EMA or PPL?
Over the past 5 years, PPL Corporation (PPL) delivered a total return of +46.
9%, compared to +37. 5% for Emera Incorporated (EMA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EMA returned +100. 1% versus PPL's +31. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — EMA or PPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Emera Incorporated (EMA) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
25β versus PPL Corporation's 0. 05β — meaning PPL is approximately -120% more volatile than EMA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PPL Corporation (PPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 85% versus 162% for Emera Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — EMA or PPL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Emera Incorporated (EMA) is pulling ahead at 15.
3% versus 6. 9% for PPL Corporation (PPL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Emera Incorporated grew EPS 97. 7% year-over-year, compared to 33. 3% for PPL Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PPL leads at 4. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — EMA or PPL?
Emera Incorporated (EMA) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
1% net margin versus 13. 1% for PPL Corporation — meaning it keeps 13. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PPL leads at 23. 6% versus 18. 7% for EMA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PPL leads at 39. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is EMA or PPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, PPL Corporation (PPL) trades at 18.
9x forward P/E versus 19. 6x for Emera Incorporated — 0. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PPL: 12. 7% to $41. 57.
08Which pays a better dividend — EMA or PPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
PPL Corporation (PPL) offers the highest yield at 2. 9%, versus 2. 7% for Emera Incorporated (EMA).
09Is EMA or PPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Emera Incorporated (EMA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.
25), 2. 7% yield, +100. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EMA: +100. 1%, PPL: +31. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between EMA and PPL?
Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: EMA is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PPL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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