COMPARE · Data as of August 21, 2026
FE vs PPL
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. FE scored 62.1, PPL scored 60.7 — FE leads.
Compare another set
FE
FirstEnergy Corp.
62.1
$45.96 · $26.6B
fundamentals as of
Score gap
1.4
FE leads
PPL
PPL Corporation
60.7
$34.38 · $25.9B
fundamentals as of
At a glance · who leads each dimension, on the model's own rules
- CheapestFE1.7x
- Fastest growthFE+11.3%
- Strongest balance sheetPPL1.35
- Highest qualityFE55 / 100
Side by side · every name on one set of axes
Growth against the P/S multiple. Up and to the right is cheaper and faster — the quality-growth idea in one picture. Points beyond the axis are pinned to the edge and marked off-scale rather than allowed to compress everything else.
The model, pillar by pillar (0–100 each)
FE
stronger →← stronger
PPL
55
Qualityreturns · margins · balance sheet
49
82
Growthrevenue & earnings expansion
78
53
Valuevaluation vs sector peers
59
FE is stronger on 2 of 3 pillars.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
FE
PPL
-$1.7bF
FCF
-$1.6bF
+11.3%B
Rev
+8.3%B
2.01C
D/E
1.35B
1.7xA-
P/S
2.7xB
1.68C+
PEG
1.40B
Winner per row is the stronger grade; where grades tie, the better figure breaks it. A true tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
Model signals
FE
Why this score
- Durable high returns
PPL
Why this score
- Raising its dividend
The companies
FEFirstEnergy Corp.
Why now
Utilities - Regulated Electric · market cap $26.6b. 12% off the 52-week high of $52.34. Revenue growing +11%, comfortably above the S&P median. 12 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $53.25 (implying +16% upside).
Moat
Higher-variance name — the moat signals on the quantitative card are modest, so the durability case rests on execution (turning current growth into durable earnings power) or an un-monetized asset (IP / network effects / first-mover position) rather than an entrenched competitive position.
Risk
D/E 2.01 is elevated — limits strategic flexibility and raises refinancing exposure if rates stay higher for longer. Free cash flow is negative (-$1.7b) — capital raises or debt issuance likely required; dilution / leverage risk. Trailing P/E 97.8x prices in sustained high growth — any quarter that disappoints triggers sharp re-rating.
PPLPPL Corporation
Why now
Utilities - Regulated Electric · market cap $25.9b. 14% off the 52-week high of $40.11. 14 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $41.29 (implying +20% upside).
Moat
Net margin 13% beats the market median by a meaningful margin — the company is keeping more of every revenue dollar than the average S&P constituent.
Risk
Free cash flow is negative (-$1.6b) — capital raises or debt issuance likely required; dilution / leverage risk.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.
Where FE and PPL diverge
On the headline score the gap is 1.4 points in favor of FE. They get there differently, though — each leads on a different pillar, so the better pick depends on which you weight.
- QualityFE 55.3 · PPL 49.2FE +6.1
- ValueFE 53.1 · PPL 58.6PPL +5.5
- GrowthFE 81.6 · PPL 77.7FE +3.9
Pillars run 0–100 against sector peers, so a score is a statement about a company relative to its own industry rather than to the other name here. A wide Value gap usually means the market already prices the difference in quality or growth — which is the trade-off this comparison comes down to.