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CMS vs. PPL: CMS Energy vs. PPL Stock Comparison

How do CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CMS is classified in Multi-Utilities while PPL is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL)
Profile ItemCMSPPL
NameCMS Energy Corporation Common StockPPL Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization21.70 billion USD26.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMS
PPL
GSPC
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL)
MetricCMSPPL
Total Return (1Y)-1.93%1.73%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.79%16.47%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.25%8.32%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMS
PPL
GSPC
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL)
MetricCMSPPL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.58%18.30%
Beta (5Y)0.310.54
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.04%-24.73%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.84M7.63M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CMS and PPL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL)
MetricCMSPPL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.35-0.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.49-0.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

PPL (PPL) at 8.63% is around its peer norm for ROE, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 5.31% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

CMS

Utilities industry group

5.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
CMS
5.31%
Min
2.17%

PPL

Utilities industry group

8.63%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
PPL
8.63%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 9.72% and PPL (PPL) at 13.47% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

9.72%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CMS
9.72%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%

PPL

Utilities industry group

13.47%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
PPL
13.47%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 28.45% and PPL (PPL) at 23.59% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CMS

Utilities industry group

28.45%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
CMS
28.45%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%

PPL

Utilities industry group

23.59%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
PPL
23.59%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL)
MetricCMSPPL
ROE (TTM)5.31%8.63%
ROA (TTM)3.07%3.20%
Net Margin (TTM)9.72%13.47%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.45%23.59%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.76%44.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CMS Energy (CMS) at 13.63% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while PPL (PPL) at 6.85% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for CMS.

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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

PPL (PPL) at 32.50% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 4.19% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for PPL.

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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL)
MetricCMSPPL
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.63%6.85%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.22%4.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.19%32.50%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.84%15.95%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 0.95 and PPL (PPL) at 0.91 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

0.95

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
CMS
0.95
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29

PPL

Utilities industry group

0.91

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
PPL
0.91
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

PPL (PPL) at 1.35 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 1.96 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

1.96

Max
2.63
CMS
1.96
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00

PPL

Utilities industry group

1.35

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
PPL
1.35
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL)
MetricCMSPPL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.950.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.961.35
Net Debt / EBITDA6.335.33

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

PPL (PPL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile CMS Energy (CMS) reports a yield of 3.21%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CMS

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
CMS
3.21%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%

PPL

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
PPL
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

PPL (PPL) at 65.98% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 80.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CMS

Utilities industry group

80.45%

Max
113.04%
CMS
80.45%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%

PPL

Utilities industry group

65.98%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
PPL
65.98%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL)
MetricCMSPPL
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.21%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)80.45%65.98%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

PPL (PPL) at 20.57 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 24.71 sits in the richer quartile — CMS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CMS

Utilities industry group

24.71

Max
31.22
CMS
24.71
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34

PPL

Utilities industry group

20.57

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
PPL
20.57
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.42 and PPL (PPL) at 2.87 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.42

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
CMS
2.42
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00

PPL

Utilities industry group

2.87

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
PPL
2.87
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

PPL (PPL) at 1.81 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.28 carries an above-peer premium to book — CMS is pricier on assets.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.28

Max
3.12
CMS
2.28
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34

PPL

Utilities industry group

1.81

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
PPL
1.81
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and PPL (PPL)
MetricCMSPPL
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.7120.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.422.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.281.81
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.54%-7.19%