KEP vs. PPL: Korea Electric Power vs. PPL Stock Comparison
How do Korea Electric Power (KEP) 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
Korea Electric Power (KEP) and PPL (PPL) are both classified in the Electric Utilities sub-industry within the broader Electric Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
PPL (PPL) trades as ordinary local shares, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | KEP | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Korea Electric Power Corporation Sponsored ADR | PPL Corporation |
| Country/Region | South Korea | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electric Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 14.38 billion USD | 26.94 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 27, 1994 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | KEP | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -25.98% | 1.73% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 20.85% | 16.47% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.90% | 8.32% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | KEP | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 46.68% | 18.30% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.97 | 0.54 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.55% | -24.73% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 949.70K | 7.63M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | KEP | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.65 | -0.14 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.93 | -0.19 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 16.60% sits in the top ROE quartile, while PPL (PPL) at 8.63% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for KEP.
KEP
Utilities industry group
16.60%
- Max
- 17.99%
- KEP
- 16.60%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
PPL (PPL) at 13.47% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 8.04% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
KEP
Utilities industry group
8.04%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- KEP
- 8.04%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
PPL (PPL) at 23.59% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.73% operates in the bottom quartile.
KEP
Utilities industry group
4.73%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- KEP
- 4.73%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | KEP | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.60% | 8.63% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.04% | 3.20% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.04% | 13.47% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 4.73% | 23.59% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 15.97% | 44.09% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.31% and PPL (PPL) at 6.85% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 144.73% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; PPL (PPL) at 32.50% also sits in the top quartile.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | KEP | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.31% | 6.85% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.03% | 4.59% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 144.73% | 32.50% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 15.95% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
PPL (PPL) at 0.91 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.44 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KEP.
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.44
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- KEP
- 0.44
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
PPL (PPL) at 1.35 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.63 uses more debt funding than most peers.
KEP
Utilities industry group
2.63
- KEP
- 2.63
- Max
- 2.63
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | KEP | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.44 | 0.91 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.63 | 1.35 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.13 | 5.33 |
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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) reports a yield of 13,891.89%, ranking against industry peers normally.
KEP
Utilities industry group
13,891.89%
- KEP
- 13,891.89%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
PPL (PPL) at 65.98% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 12.22% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.
KEP
Utilities industry group
12.22%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- KEP
- 12.22%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | KEP | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 13,891.89% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 12.22% | 65.98% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.66 trades below its industry P/E ratio range, while PPL (PPL) at 20.57 is closer to a normal peer multiple — a clearer earnings-valuation discount for KEP, subject to growth and earnings quality.
KEP
Utilities industry group
2.66
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
- KEP
- 2.66
PPL
Utilities industry group
20.57
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- PPL
- 20.57
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.00 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while PPL (PPL) at 2.87 prices around its industry’s middle — KEP costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.00
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- KEP
- 0.00
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.38 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while PPL (PPL) at 1.81 is valued near its industry’s middle — KEP is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.38
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- KEP
- 0.38
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | KEP | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 2.66 | 20.57 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.00 | 2.87 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.38 | 1.81 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4,799.31% | -7.19% |