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PNW vs. PPL: Pinnacle West Capital vs. PPL Stock Comparison

How do Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL)
Profile ItemPNWPPL
NamePinnacle West Capital CorporationPPL Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization12.63 billion USD26.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PNW
PPL
GSPC
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPNWPPL
Total Return (1Y)24.23%1.73%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.78%16.47%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.87%8.32%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PNW
PPL
GSPC
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPNWPPL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.21%18.30%
Beta (5Y)0.480.54
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.02%-24.73%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.28M7.63M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PNW 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPNWPPL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.16-0.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.77-0.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 9.09% 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.

PNW

Utilities industry group

9.09%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
PNW
9.09%
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 11.59% 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.

PNW

Utilities industry group

11.59%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
PNW
11.59%
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 31.70% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of PPL (PPL) at 23.59%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

PNW

Utilities industry group

31.70%

Max
53.83%
PNW
31.70%
Q3
31.12%
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPNWPPL
ROE (TTM)9.09%8.63%
ROA (TTM)2.36%3.20%
Net Margin (TTM)11.59%13.47%
Operating Margin (TTM)31.70%23.59%
Gross Margin (TTM)43.84%44.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 4.20% 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.

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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at -3.63% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for PPL.

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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPNWPPL
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.20%6.85%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.28%4.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.63%32.50%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.83%15.95%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 0.71 and PPL (PPL) at 0.91 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

PNW

Utilities industry group

0.71

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
PNW
0.71
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.26 uses more debt funding than most peers.

PNW

Utilities industry group

2.26

Max
2.63
PNW
2.26
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPNWPPL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.710.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.261.35
Net Debt / EBITDA7.675.33

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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) reports a yield of 3.51%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PNW

Utilities industry group

3.51%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
PNW
3.51%
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 68.42% and PPL (PPL) at 65.98% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

PNW

Utilities industry group

68.42%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
PNW
68.42%
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPNWPPL
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.51%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)68.42%65.98%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 19.59 and PPL (PPL) at 20.57 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

PNW

Utilities industry group

19.59

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
PNW
19.59
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.21 and PPL (PPL) at 2.87 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

PNW

Utilities industry group

2.21

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
PNW
2.21
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 1.69 and PPL (PPL) at 1.81 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

PNW

Utilities industry group

1.69

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
PNW
1.69
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. PPL (PPL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and PPL (PPL)
MetricPNWPPL
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.5920.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.212.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.691.81
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.90%-7.19%