Seek Returns

PPL vs. TLN: PPL vs. Talen Energy Stock Comparison

How do PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN) 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 Talen Energy (TLN) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but PPL is classified in Electric Utilities while TLN is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.

PPL (PPL) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 17, 1980, whereas Talen Energy (TLN) listed on June 2, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN)
Profile ItemPPLTLN
NamePPL CorporationTalen Energy Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesIndependent Power Producers & Energy Traders
Market Capitalization26.94 billion USD14.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980June 2, 2023
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PPL
TLN
GSPC
Loading price history…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricPPLTLN
Total Return (1Y)1.73%-6.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)16.47%88.64%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.32%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PPL
TLN
GSPC
Loading price history…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Talen Energy (TLN) has an aggressive beta of 1.53, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while PPL (PPL) is defensive at 0.54 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricPPLTLN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.30%58.28%
Beta (5Y)0.541.53
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.73%-36.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.63M1.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
PPL and TLN 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 Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricPPLTLN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.14-0.19
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.19-0.26

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Talen Energy (TLN) reports a negative ROE of -16.54%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile PPL (PPL) reports 8.63%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PPL

Utilities industry group

8.63%

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

TLN

Utilities industry group

-16.54%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
TLN
-16.54%
Loading chart…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Talen Energy (TLN) reports a negative net margin of -5.67%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile PPL (PPL) reports 13.47%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PPL

Utilities industry group

13.47%

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

TLN

Utilities industry group

-5.67%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
TLN
-5.67%
Loading chart…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both PPL (PPL) at 23.59% and Talen Energy (TLN) at 17.35% 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%

TLN

Utilities industry group

17.35%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
TLN
17.35%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
Loading chart…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricPPLTLN
ROE (TTM)8.63%-16.54%
ROA (TTM)3.20%0.88%
Net Margin (TTM)13.47%-5.67%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.59%17.35%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.09%42.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Talen Energy (TLN) at 26.68% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while PPL (PPL) at 6.85% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for TLN.

Loading chart…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): 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 Talen Energy (TLN) at -127.11% falls below its industry range — a large difference in per-share earnings trajectories.

Loading chart…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricPPLTLN
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.85%26.68%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.59%2.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)32.50%-127.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.95%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both PPL (PPL) at 0.91 and Talen Energy (TLN) at 0.89 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity 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

TLN

Utilities industry group

0.89

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
TLN
0.89
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
Loading chart…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

PPL (PPL) at 1.35 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Talen Energy (TLN) at 5.97 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

PPL

Utilities industry group

1.35

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

TLN

Utilities industry group

5.97

TLN
5.97
Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricPPLTLN
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.910.89
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.355.97
Net Debt / EBITDA5.3313.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither PPL (PPL) nor Talen Energy (TLN) 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%

TLN

Utilities industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Talen Energy (TLN) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile PPL (PPL) reports a payout of 65.98%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PPL

Utilities industry group

65.98%

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

TLN

Utilities industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricPPLTLN
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)65.98%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: PPL (PPL) trades at 20.57 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Talen Energy (TLN) has no P/E ratio this period.

PPL

Utilities industry group

20.57

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

TLN

Utilities industry group

--

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
TLN
--
Loading chart…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): TLN does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; PPL is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both PPL (PPL) at 2.87 and Talen Energy (TLN) at 3.29 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

PPL

Utilities industry group

2.87

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

TLN

Utilities industry group

3.29

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
TLN
3.29
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

PPL (PPL) at 1.81 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Talen Energy (TLN) at 10.14 prices above its benchmark range — TLN looks rich relative to book.

PPL

Utilities industry group

1.81

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

TLN

Utilities industry group

10.14

TLN
10.14
Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
Loading chart…
PPL (PPL) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for PPL (PPL) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricPPLTLN
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.57--
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.873.29
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.8110.14
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.19%6.39%