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PCG vs. PPL: PG&E vs. PPL Stock Comparison

How do PG&E (PCG) 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

PG&E (PCG) 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.

Company profile comparison for PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL)
Profile ItemPCGPPL
NamePG&E CorporationPPL Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization28.57 billion USD26.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PCG
PPL
GSPC
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PG&E (PCG) 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 PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPCGPPL
Total Return (1Y)-19.03%1.73%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.50%16.47%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)2.05%8.32%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PCG
PPL
GSPC
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PG&E (PCG) 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 PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPCGPPL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.84%18.30%
Beta (5Y)0.170.54
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.92%-24.73%
Avg. Volume (3M)39.33M7.63M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PCG 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 PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPCGPPL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.67-0.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.81-0.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both PG&E (PCG) at 8.89% and PPL (PPL) at 8.63% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

PCG

Utilities industry group

8.89%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
PCG
8.89%
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%
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PG&E (PCG) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both PG&E (PCG) at 11.57% 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.

PCG

Utilities industry group

11.57%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
PCG
11.57%
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both PG&E (PCG) at 23.64% and PPL (PPL) at 23.59% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

PCG

Utilities industry group

23.64%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
PCG
23.64%
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPCGPPL
ROE (TTM)8.89%8.63%
ROA (TTM)2.59%3.20%
Net Margin (TTM)11.57%13.47%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.64%23.59%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.57%44.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

PPL (PPL) at 6.85% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while PG&E (PCG) at 2.11% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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PG&E (PCG) 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 PG&E (PCG) at 2.61% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for PPL.

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PG&E (PCG) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPCGPPL
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.11%6.85%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.77%4.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.61%32.50%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)12.00%15.95%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both PG&E (PCG) at 1.03 and PPL (PPL) at 0.91 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.03

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
PCG
1.03
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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PG&E (PCG) 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 PG&E (PCG) at 1.88 uses more debt funding than most peers.

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.88

Max
2.63
PCG
1.88
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPCGPPL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.030.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.881.35
Net Debt / EBITDA6.055.33

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 PG&E (PCG) reports a yield of 1.51%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.51%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
PCG
1.51%
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

PPL (PPL) at 65.98% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; PG&E (PCG) at 14.81% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

PCG

Utilities industry group

14.81%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
PCG
14.81%
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPCGPPL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.51%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)14.81%65.98%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

PG&E (PCG) at 9.61 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while PPL (PPL) at 20.57 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for PCG, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

PCG

Utilities industry group

9.61

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
PCG
9.61
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

PG&E (PCG) at 1.11 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while PPL (PPL) at 2.87 prices around its industry’s middle — PCG costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.11

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
PCG
1.11
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

PG&E (PCG) at 0.87 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while PPL (PPL) at 1.81 is valued near its industry’s middle — PCG is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

PCG

Utilities industry group

0.87

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
PCG
0.87
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for PG&E (PCG) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPCGPPL
P/E Ratio (TTM)9.6120.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.112.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)0.871.81
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-22.73%-7.19%