PPL vs. SBS: PPL vs. Sabesp Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS) 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

PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but PPL is classified in Electric Utilities while SBS is classified in Water Utilities.

PPL (PPL) trades as ordinary local shares, while Sabesp (SBS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS)
Profile Item	PPL	SBS
Name	PPL Corporation	Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP ADR
Country/Region	United States	Brazil
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Electric Utilities	Water Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Electric Utilities	Water Utilities
Market Capitalization	26.94 billion USD	16.96 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	May 10, 2002
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PPL

SBS

GSPC

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS), 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 PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	PPL	SBS
Total Return (1Y)	1.73%	-3.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	16.47%	28.33%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.32%	32.85%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PPL

SBS

GSPC

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS), 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 PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	PPL	SBS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	18.30%	46.80%
Beta (5Y)	0.54	0.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-24.73%	-37.59%
Avg. Volume (3M)	7.63M	11.85M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

PPL and SBS 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 PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	PPL	SBS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.14	-0.17
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.19	-0.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 16.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while PPL (PPL) at 8.63% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SBS.

PPL

Utilities industry group

8.63%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
PPL: 8.63%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

SBS

Utilities industry group

16.27%

Max: 17.99%
SBS: 16.27%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 17.52% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of PPL (PPL) at 13.47%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

PPL

Utilities industry group

13.47%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
PPL: 13.47%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

SBS

Utilities industry group

17.52%

Max: 28.78%
SBS: 17.52%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both PPL (PPL) at 23.59% and Sabesp (SBS) at 29.28% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

PPL

Utilities industry group

23.59%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
PPL: 23.59%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

SBS

Utilities industry group

29.28%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
SBS: 29.28%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	PPL	SBS
ROE (TTM)	8.63%	16.27%
ROA (TTM)	3.20%	8.08%
Net Margin (TTM)	13.47%	17.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)	23.59%	29.28%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.09%	36.96%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both PPL (PPL) at 6.85% and Sabesp (SBS) at 5.39% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): 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 Sabesp (SBS) at -11.79% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	PPL	SBS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.85%	5.39%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.59%	19.98%
EPS Growth (YoY)	32.50%	-11.79%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	15.95%	40.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

PPL (PPL) at 0.91 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Sabesp (SBS) at 1.22 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

PPL

Utilities industry group

0.91

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
PPL: 0.91
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.22

Max: 1.90
SBS: 1.22
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both PPL (PPL) at 1.35 and Sabesp (SBS) at 0.99 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

PPL

Utilities industry group

1.35

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
PPL: 1.35
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.99

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
SBS: 0.99
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	PPL	SBS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.91	1.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.35	0.99
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.33	2.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither PPL (PPL) nor Sabesp (SBS) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

PPL

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
PPL: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
SBS: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both PPL (PPL) at 65.98% and Sabesp (SBS) at 35.95% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

PPL

Utilities industry group

65.98%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
PPL: 65.98%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

SBS

Utilities industry group

35.95%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
SBS: 35.95%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	PPL	SBS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	65.98%	35.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 11.73 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 SBS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

PPL

Utilities industry group

20.57

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
PPL: 20.57
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

SBS

Utilities industry group

11.73

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
SBS: 11.73
Min: 3.34

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 0.41 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while PPL (PPL) at 2.87 prices around its industry’s middle — SBS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

PPL

Utilities industry group

2.87

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
PPL: 2.87
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.41

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
SBS: 0.41
Min: 0.00

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both PPL (PPL) at 1.81 and Sabesp (SBS) at 1.84 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

PPL

Utilities industry group

1.81

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
PPL: 1.81
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.84

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
SBS: 1.84
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

PPL (PPL) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for PPL (PPL) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	PPL	SBS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.57	11.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.87	0.41
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.81	1.84
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-7.19%	-62.11%