FE
FirstEnergy Corp.
Regulated Electric
Market Cap$26.33B
5Y Perf.+7.7%
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Stock Comparison
FE vs PPL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PPL
PPL Corporation
Regulated Electric
Market Cap$27.48B
5Y Perf.+32.0%
FE vs PPL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | FE | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Regulated Electric | Regulated Electric |
| Market Cap | $26.33B | $27.48B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $15.53B | $9.04B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.06B | $1.18B |
| Gross Margin | 53.8% | 39.1% |
| Operating Margin | 18.7% | 23.6% |
| Forward P/E | 16.7x | 18.9x |
| Total Debt | $27.07B | $18.45B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $99M | $1.07B |
FE vs PPL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
FE
PPL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) | 100 | 107.7 | +7.7% |
| PPL Corporation (PPL) | 100 | 132.0 | +32.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FE vs PPL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: FE leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. PPL Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
FE
FirstEnergy Corp.
The Income Pick
FE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta -0.02, yield 3.9%
- Rev growth 12.0%, EPS growth 3.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.6%
- 83.7% 10Y total return vs PPL's 31.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
PPL
PPL Corporation
The Defensive Pick
PPL is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.05, Low D/E 85.3%, current ratio 1.14x
- 13.1% margin vs FE's 6.9%
- Lower D/E ratio (85.3% vs 194.4%)
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | FE | 12.0% revenue growth vs PPL's 6.9% |
| Value | FE | Lower P/E (16.7x vs 18.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | PPL | 13.1% margin vs FE's 6.9% |
| Stability / Safety | PPL | Lower D/E ratio (85.3% vs 194.4%) |
| Dividends | FE | 3.9% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs PPL's 2.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | FE | +9.6% vs PPL's +5.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PPL | 2.6% ROA vs FE's 1.9%, ROIC 4.6% vs 5.4% |
FE vs PPL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
FE vs PPL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLFELAGGINGPPL
PPLPPL Corporation
2leads
FEFirstEnergy Corp.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PPLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
FE3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
PPL6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PPL4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
FE2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — FE and PPL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FE is the larger business by revenue, generating $15.5B annually — 1.7x PPL's $9.0B. PPL is the more profitable business, keeping 13.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FE's 6.9%. On growth, FE holds the edge at +11.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | PPLPPL Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.5B | $9.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.5B | $3.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | $1.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.8B | -$1.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +53.8% | +39.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.7% | +23.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.9% | +13.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.6% | -15.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.6% | +2.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.9% | +50.0% |
Evenly matched — FE and PPL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
FE leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 23.1x trailing earnings, PPL trades at a 11% valuation discount to FE's 25.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, FE's 12.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PPL's 12.7x.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | PPLPPL Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $26.3B | $27.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $53.3B | $44.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 25.87x | 23.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.67x | 18.91x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.15x | 12.69x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.75x | 3.04x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.89x | 1.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
FE leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PPL leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FE delivers a 7.6% 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 FE's 1.94x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PPL scores 6/9 vs FE's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | PPLPPL Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.6% | +5.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.9% | +2.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.4% | +4.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.8% | +5.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.94x | 0.85x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $27.0B | $17.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $99M | $1.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $27.1B | $18.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.49x | 2.64x |
PPL leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PPL leads this category, winning 4 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 $14,358 for FE. Over the past 12 months, FE leads with a +9.6% total return vs PPL's +5.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PPL at 11.8% vs FE's 8.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | PPLPPL Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.6% | +5.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +9.6% | +5.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +28.5% | +39.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +43.6% | +46.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +83.7% | +31.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +8.7% | +11.8% |
PPL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FE and PPL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FE is the less volatile stock with a -0.02 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. PPL currently trades 92.0% from its 52-week high vs FE's 87.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | PPLPPL Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.02x | 0.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $52.34 | $40.10 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $39.28 | $33.12 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +87.0% | +92.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 24.6 | 39.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.4M | 7.5M |
Evenly matched — FE and PPL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
FE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FE as "Hold" and PPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 13.0% upside for FE (target: $51) vs 12.7% for PPL (target: $42). For income investors, FE offers the higher dividend yield at 3.86% vs PPL's 2.89%.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | PPLPPL Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $51.43 | $41.57 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.9% | +2.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.76 | $1.07 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
FE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
FE leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). PPL leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallFirstEnergy Corp. (FE)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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FE vs PPL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FE or PPL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, FirstEnergy Corp.
(FE) is the stronger pick with 12. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 9% for PPL Corporation (PPL). PPL Corporation (PPL) offers the better valuation at 23. 1x trailing P/E (18. 9x 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 — FE or PPL?
On trailing P/E, PPL Corporation (PPL) is the cheapest at 23.
1x versus FirstEnergy Corp. at 25. 9x. On forward P/E, FirstEnergy Corp. is actually cheaper at 16. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FE or PPL?
Over the past 5 years, PPL Corporation (PPL) delivered a total return of +46.
9%, compared to +43. 6% for FirstEnergy Corp. (FE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FE returned +83. 7% 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 — FE or PPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), FirstEnergy Corp.
(FE) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 02β versus PPL Corporation's 0. 05β — meaning PPL is approximately -392% more volatile than FE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PPL Corporation (PPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 85% versus 194% for FirstEnergy Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — FE or PPL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), FirstEnergy Corp.
(FE) is pulling ahead at 12. 0% versus 6. 9% for PPL Corporation (PPL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PPL Corporation grew EPS 33. 3% year-over-year, compared to 3. 5% for FirstEnergy Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FE leads at 6. 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 — FE or PPL?
PPL Corporation (PPL) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
1% net margin versus 6. 8% for FirstEnergy Corp. — 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. 8% for FE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FE leads at 54. 8%, 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 FE or PPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, FirstEnergy Corp.
(FE) trades at 16. 7x forward P/E versus 18. 9x for PPL Corporation — 2. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FE: 13. 0% to $51. 43.
08Which pays a better dividend — FE or PPL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) offers the highest yield at 3. 9%, versus 2. 9% for PPL Corporation (PPL).
09Is FE or PPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, FirstEnergy Corp.
(FE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 02), 3. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FE: +83. 7%, 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 FE 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: FE is a mid-cap income-oriented 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(FE: 11.6% · PPL: 2.8%)Net Margin>
%
(FE: 6.9% · PPL: 13.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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