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PPL Corp (PPL) Beats on Q4 Earnings, Reaffirms '17 View
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PPL Corporation (PPL - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of 60 cents per share, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52 cents by 15.4%. Reported earnings also surged 39.5% on a year-over-year basis.
On a GAAP basis, the company posted earnings per share of 68 cents in the quarter, compared with 59 cents a year ago. The difference between GAAP and operating earnings in the reported quarter was due to 8 cents of foreign currency-related economic hedges.
Full-year adjusted earnings came in at $2.45, up 10.8% from $2.21 in 2015 and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.37 by 3.4%.
Full-year GAAP earnings amounted to $2.79, up 176% year over year.
Total Revenue
PPL Corp.’s total revenue of $1,832 million in the fourth quarter missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,209 million but were up 2.9% from the year-ago tally of $1,780 million.
Full-year revenues amounted to $7,517 million, down 2% from $7,669 million in 2015. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was $7,800 million.
Segment Results
UK Regulated: Adjusted earnings of 40 cents per share surged 38% from the prior-year figure of 29 cents. This was primarily backed by the Apr 1, 2016 price increase, and lower operation and maintenance expenses, partially offset by the adverse impact of lower British pound sterling exchange rates.
Kentucky Regulated: Adjusted earnings increased by 3 cents to 12 cents per share. This was primarily due to higher sales volumes,which in turn resulted from favorable weather and lower operation and maintenance expense.
Pennsylvania Regulated: Adjusted earnings in the reported quarter increased by 2 cents per share to 11 cents driven primarily by higher base electricity rates for distribution effective Jan 1, 2016, and higher transmission margins.
Corporate and Other: It includes unallocated corporate-level financing and other costs. Adjusted loss narrowed from 4 cents to 3 cents per share.
PPL Corp.’s total operating expenses decreased 3.9% year over year to $1,118 million in the reported quarter, primarily due to a decline in other operation and maintenance expenses.
The company registered operating income of $714 million, up 15.7% from $617 million a year ago.
Interest expenses were down to $217 million from $226 million a year ago.
Financial Position
As of Dec 31, 2016, PPL Corp. had cash and cash equivalents of $341 million, compared with $836 million as of Dec 31, 2015.
Long-term debt (excluding debts due within one year) was $17,808 million as of Dec 31, 2016, compared with $18,563 million as of 2015 end.
In 2016, net cash flow from operating activities (continuing operations) was $2,890 million, compared with $2,272 million in the prior-year period.
Guidance
PPL Corp. has reiterated its 2017 adjusted earnings guidance in the range of $2.05–$2.25 per share (midpoint: $2.15 per share).The midpoints of the adjusted earnings guidance for UK Regulated, Kentucky Regulated and Pennsylvania Regulated are $1.18, 58 cents and 50 cents, respectively, for the year.
The company expects annual earnings growth of 5–6% between 2017 and 2020.
Peer Releases
American Electric Power Co., Inc. (AEP - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 67 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents by 21.8%.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of $1.21 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.29 by 6.2%. Reported earnings were, however, up 3.4% year over year.
WEC Energy Group (WEC - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of 61 cents per share, a penny lower than both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-ago figure of 62 cents.
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PPL Corp (PPL) Beats on Q4 Earnings, Reaffirms '17 View
PPL Corporation (PPL - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of 60 cents per share, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52 cents by 15.4%. Reported earnings also surged 39.5% on a year-over-year basis.
On a GAAP basis, the company posted earnings per share of 68 cents in the quarter, compared with 59 cents a year ago. The difference between GAAP and operating earnings in the reported quarter was due to 8 cents of foreign currency-related economic hedges.
Full-year adjusted earnings came in at $2.45, up 10.8% from $2.21 in 2015 and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.37 by 3.4%.
Full-year GAAP earnings amounted to $2.79, up 176% year over year.
Total Revenue
PPL Corp.’s total revenue of $1,832 million in the fourth quarter missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,209 million but were up 2.9% from the year-ago tally of $1,780 million.
Full-year revenues amounted to $7,517 million, down 2% from $7,669 million in 2015. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was $7,800 million.
Segment Results
UK Regulated: Adjusted earnings of 40 cents per share surged 38% from the prior-year figure of 29 cents. This was primarily backed by the Apr 1, 2016 price increase, and lower operation and maintenance expenses, partially offset by the adverse impact of lower British pound sterling exchange rates.
Kentucky Regulated: Adjusted earnings increased by 3 cents to 12 cents per share. This was primarily due to higher sales volumes,which in turn resulted from favorable weather and lower operation and maintenance expense.
Pennsylvania Regulated: Adjusted earnings in the reported quarter increased by 2 cents per share to 11 cents driven primarily by higher base electricity rates for distribution effective Jan 1, 2016, and higher transmission margins.
Corporate and Other: It includes unallocated corporate-level financing and other costs. Adjusted loss narrowed from 4 cents to 3 cents per share.
PPL Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
PPL Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | PPL Corporation Quote
Operational Highlights
PPL Corp.’s total operating expenses decreased 3.9% year over year to $1,118 million in the reported quarter, primarily due to a decline in other operation and maintenance expenses.
The company registered operating income of $714 million, up 15.7% from $617 million a year ago.
Interest expenses were down to $217 million from $226 million a year ago.
Financial Position
As of Dec 31, 2016, PPL Corp. had cash and cash equivalents of $341 million, compared with $836 million as of Dec 31, 2015.
Long-term debt (excluding debts due within one year) was $17,808 million as of Dec 31, 2016, compared with $18,563 million as of 2015 end.
In 2016, net cash flow from operating activities (continuing operations) was $2,890 million, compared with $2,272 million in the prior-year period.
Guidance
PPL Corp. has reiterated its 2017 adjusted earnings guidance in the range of $2.05–$2.25 per share (midpoint: $2.15 per share).The midpoints of the adjusted earnings guidance for UK Regulated, Kentucky Regulated and Pennsylvania Regulated are $1.18, 58 cents and 50 cents, respectively, for the year.
The company expects annual earnings growth of 5–6% between 2017 and 2020.
Peer Releases
American Electric Power Co., Inc. (AEP - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 67 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents by 21.8%.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of $1.21 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.29 by 6.2%. Reported earnings were, however, up 3.4% year over year.
WEC Energy Group (WEC - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of 61 cents per share, a penny lower than both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-ago figure of 62 cents.
Zacks Rank
PPL Corp. currently has a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2017
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2017?
Who wouldn't? As of early December, the 2016 Top 10 produced 5 double-digit winners including oil and natural gas giant Pioneer Natural Resources which racked up a stellar +50% gain. The new list is painstakingly hand-picked from 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Be among the very first to see it>>