PG&E (PCG)
PG&E is a massive California utility company that keeps the lights on and the gas flowing for millions of homes and businesses.
Is PG&E a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: PG&E is a massive California utility company that keeps the lights on and the gas flowing for millions of homes and businesses.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Full recovery of financial health and credit rating
Major climate-related disasters causing financial strain
What does PG&E do?
PG&E operates the essential infrastructure that delivers electricity and natural gas across Northern and Central California. Customers pay for those services at rates largely overseen by state regulators, and that is where the money comes from. The big thing to watch here is how they manage the massive costs of maintaining their grid and preventing wildfires, which has been a major challenge for the company in recent years.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on value and income, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.1% a year
- !Carries a lot of debt - roughly 1.9x its equity
- Value screens high (81/100)
- Income screens high (71/100)
- Provides an essential service with a captive customer base
- Strong recent growth in both revenue and earnings
- Lower volatility compared to the broader market
- Potential for massive costs from climate-related events
- Strict government oversight can limit profit margins
- High debt levels often associated with utility infrastructure
What do PG&E's numbers mean?
How much money does PG&E make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does PG&E pay a dividend?
Yes - PG&E currently pays a dividend of about 1.1% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does PG&E report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
PG&E is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-22 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-23 | $0.36 | $0.40 | Beat +12% |
| 2026-04-23 | $0.40 | $0.43 | Beat +9% |
| 2026-02-12 | $0.36 | $0.36 | Missed -1% |
| 2025-10-23 | $0.43 | $0.50 | Beat +17% |
| 2025-07-31 | $0.32 | $0.31 | Missed -2% |
| 2025-04-24 | $0.34 | $0.33 | Missed -3% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, PG&E came in ahead of what analysts expected 3 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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American Electric Power Company, Inc.What are the scenarios for PG&E?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of PG&E?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Provides an essential service with a captive customer base
- Strong recent growth in both revenue and earnings
- Lower volatility compared to the broader market
- High exposure to wildfire-related legal and financial risks
- Heavily dependent on state regulatory approval for pricing
- Modest dividend yield compared to some other utility peers
- Potential for massive costs from climate-related events
- Strict government oversight can limit profit margins
- High debt levels often associated with utility infrastructure
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A major change in California's utility regulatory framework
- A significant shift in the company's ability to manage wildfire risks
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.