PPL Corporation PPL reported first-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings per share of 70 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 73 cents by 4.1%. The figure declined 5.4% year over year, primarily due to lower earnings in the U.S. segments.On a GAAP basis, the company generated EPS of 64 cents compared with 65 cents in the year-ago quarter. The difference between GAAP and operating earnings stemmed from expenses in the U.K. Regulated segment.Total RevenuesThe company generated revenues worth $2,079 million in the first quarter, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,196 million by 5.3%. The figure declined 2.2% year over year.PPL Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise PPL Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | PPL Corporation QuoteSegment ResultsU.K. Regulated: Adjusted earnings increased 13.5% from the prior-year quarter’s figure to 42 cents per share. The upside was primarily supported by higher prices, pension income and foreign currency exchange rates as well as dilution.Kentucky Regulated: Adjusted earnings were 16 cents, down from 19 cents in the year-ago quarter. The decline was primarily caused by higher operation and maintenance expenses, lower sales volumes due to weather and increased depreciation expenses. Pennsylvania Regulated: Adjusted earnings fell 19% from the prior-year quarter’s figure to 17 cents. The results were affected by higher operation and maintenance expenses and increased depreciation expenses as well as the effect of share dilution.Corporate and Other: The segment incurred a loss of 5 cents in the quarter compared with a loss of 3 cents in the prior-year quarter.Operational HighlightsPPL Corp’s total operating expenses increased 1.8% year over year to $ 1,298 million in the quarter.The company generated operating income of $781 million, lower than $851 million in the prior-year quarter.Interest expenses inched up 0.8% to $241 million from the year-ago quarter’s tally of $239 million.Financial PositionAs of Mar 31, 2019, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $518 million compared with $621 million as of Dec 31, 2018.Long-term debt (excluding debts due within a year) was $21,114 million as of Mar 31, 2019 compared with $20,069 million as of Dec 31, 2018.Net cash flow from operating activities in first quarter was $474 million compared with $566 million in year-ago quarter.GuidancePPL Corp reaffirmed guidance for 2019 EPS from ongoing operations in the range of $2.30-$2.50 with a midpoint of $2.40, which is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.43.Zacks RankCurrently, PPL Corp carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Utility ReleasesDTE Energy Company DTE delivered first-quarter 2019 operating earnings per share of $2.05, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.95 by 5.1%.NextEra Energy, Inc NEE generated first-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of $2.20 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.01 by 9.4%.FirstEnergy Corporation FE delivered first-quarter 2019 operating earnings of 67 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 66 cents by 1.52%.Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.See Latest Stocks Today >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report DTE Energy Company (DTE): Free Stock Analysis Report NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE): Free Stock Analysis Report PPL Corporation (PPL): Free Stock Analysis Report FirstEnergy Corporation (FE): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research