PPL vs SWX Stock Comparison
Compare PPL and SWX across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.
What is the main difference between PPL and SWX?
SWX leads the current stock comparison as Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc., with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
PPL Corporation vs Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.
SWX leads
SWX leads by 4 AIQ points, primarily on Quality, but the lead has narrowed from 12 points over 30 sessions. Wall Street currently favors PPL on target upside.
Fragile: 3 of 6 evidence groups support SWX, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.
PPL Corporation
Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors SWX over PPL, 45 versus 41 as of Sep 11, 2026. SWX's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality, while PPL holds the stronger value profile. SWX also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors PPL. 3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor SWX today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. SWX lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 12 to 4 points over 30 sessions.
Compare PPL Corporation and Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Price-return comparison using available daily close history.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000
Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.
Compare PPL and SWX against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality34 vs 56SWX +22
- Value48 vs 42PPL +6
- Momentum32 vs 27PPL +5
- Risk Resilience57 vs 59Even
3 of 6 evidence groups favor SWX. SWX’s edge is concentrated in quality; PPL keeps a meaningful value edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-10, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-09.
Largest factor move: Momentum -1
New signals
- 52-Week Low Proximity — bearish, risk, long horizon (3.0%)
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
Largest factor move: Momentum -7
No new signals fired.
SWX's lead narrowed by 2 AIQ points in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — PPL and SWX both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
SWX (Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality.
PPL (PPL Corporation): the counter-case, on value, momentum, valuation.
The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
SWXSWX on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
PPLPPL on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
PPLPPL on the peer-relative Value factor, by 6 points.
Momentum
PPLPPL on the Momentum factor, by 5 points.
Lower downside
SWXSWX carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility.
Analyst upside
PPLPPL on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors SWX, analyst targets favor PPL. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.
| Measure | PPL | SWX | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +20.3% | +17.9% | PPL has more room |
| Target dispersion | +26.8% | +6.9% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 8 | 3 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 6 covered evidence groups favor SWX. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | SWX | 41 vs 45 |
| Fundamentals | SWXon balance | revenue growth -23.9% vs -38.8%; EPS growth -48.3% vs -69.6%; TTM ROE 8.5% vs 12.9%; gross margin 34.6% vs 56.6%; operating margin 24% vs 28.7% — SWX takes 3 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | PPL | Value 48 vs 42 |
| Technicals | SWX | Price vs 50-day -3.8% vs -5%; vs 200-day -5.7% vs 0.7% |
| Risk Resilience | Even | Risk Resilience 57 vs 59 |
| Analyst expectations | PPL | Target upside 20.3% vs 17.9% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of PPL and SWX and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Only 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on SWX.
How the comparison changed
119 daily snapshots · May 4 – Sep 10SWX lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 12 to 4 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- SWX +4
- 41 vs 45
- 7 sessions ago
- SWX +6
- 41 vs 47
- 30 sessions ago
- SWX +12
- 43 vs 55
- 90 sessions ago
- SWX +9
- 47 vs 56
The lead has not changed hands in this window.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
0 bullish / 4 bearish / 1 neutral
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (2.39%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- 52-Week Low Proximity — bearish, risk, long horizon (3.0%)
1 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (3.84%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
SWX leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price -0.38%, AIQ 0 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved down over the latest session (price -0.91%, AIQ -2 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1PPL closes the Quality gap — currently 22 points behind, the largest single contributor to SWX's edge.
- 2PPL's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it.
- 3SWX's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 8 points over 30 sessions, and a further 4-point move would eliminate SWX's advantage entirely.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
SWX leads on balance| Metric | PPL | SWX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -23.9% | -38.8% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -48.3% | -69.6% |
| Gross margin | 34.6% | 56.6% |
| Operating margin | 24% | 28.7% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 8.5% | 12.9% |
| Debt to equity | 1.32 | 0.85 |
Performance
SWX leads 4 of 6 windows| Metric | PPL | SWX |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -1% | -2.5% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -3.5% | -5.7% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -3.9% | -2.1% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | -9.1% | 0% |
| Year to date | -1.8% | 8.6% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | -4% | 12.2% |
Technicals
SWX has the stronger structure| Metric | PPL | SWX |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 38.6 | 32.8 |
| ADX (14) | 11.8 | 12.6 |
| Price vs 50-day | -3.8% | -5% |
| Price vs 200-day | -5.7% | 0.7% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 17% | 16.4% |
Risk
Split| Metric | PPL | SWX |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | -0.03 | -0.08 |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.37 | 0.54 |
| Sortino ratio | -0.59 | 0.84 |
| Max drawdown | -14.3% | -10.2% |
| Current drawdown | -14.1% | -7.6% |
| Annualized volatility | 17.9% | 18.1% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -1.8% | -1.8% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, PPL or SWX?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, SWX is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 45 against PPL's 41. The edge comes from quality. PPL is not without a case — it holds the better value profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is PPL or SWX the better buy right now?
SWX carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor SWX over PPL?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. SWX leads Quality by 22 points; PPL leads Value by 6 points; PPL leads Momentum by 5 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, PPL or SWX?
Analyst price targets imply +20.3% upside for PPL and +17.9% for SWX, so the Street currently favors PPL. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors SWX. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, PPL or SWX?
PPL is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. PPL on the peer-relative Value factor, by 6 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, PPL or SWX?
PPL on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, PPL or SWX?
PPL on the Momentum factor, by 5 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, PPL or SWX?
SWX is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. SWX carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is PPL more profitable than SWX?
SWX leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 34.6% vs 56.6%; operating margin 24% vs 28.7%; ttm roe 8.5% vs 12.9%.
Is SWX's lead over PPL getting stronger or weaker?
SWX lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 12 to 4 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has not changed hands in that window.
What would change the PPL vs SWX verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: PPL closes the Quality gap — currently 22 points behind, the largest single contributor to SWX's edge; PPL's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it; SWX's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 8 points over 30 sessions, and a further 4-point move would eliminate SWX's advantage entirely.
What do the current signals say about PPL and SWX?
PPL: 0 bullish / 4 bearish / 1 neutral. SWX: 1 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on PPL is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon). On SWX it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare PPL and SWX with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.