Oct. 1, 2026
The shares of the biggest Lehigh Valley-based traded companies are mixed so far in 2026.
Two up, two down, but shopping at home hasn’t paid off for local investors.
Little OraSure is up a lot, while PPL has raised prices and prepared to serve data centers, yet the stock has fallen.
Consider that the S&P 500 is up about 12% year-to-date based on price, excluding dividends.
The biggest local company is Air Products, the Upper Macungie-based maker of industrial gasses.
Yes, the shares (NYSE:APD) are up about 13% in 2026 but they trade below where they were five years ago. The company has also paid $5.41 in dividends per common share this year. The closing price Wednesday was $278.23.
So, Air Products went through a 2025 boardroom battle for this?
PPL: The Allentown-based energy company has been a disappointment, dropping 6.3% to $32.89 year-to-date despite lots of hoopla about data centers and electricity demand. PPL has paid 85.5 cents in dividends per common share.
Shift4: The payment processor based in Upper Saucon Township has plummeted in 2026, down 42% to $36.17. It doesn’t pay a dividend.
Orasure: The unprofitable maker of medical test kits bumbles along. South Bethlehem-based OraSure is actually up 62% year-to-date to $3.92, but long-term holders are mostly on the losing side. No dividend.
Revenue has been declining since the flow of government money to OraSure dropped after the COVID-19 pandemic. Shares traded over $10 five years ago. Now they’re in the penny-stock category.
Next check up, New Year’s Eve. Let’s hope there’s some news that justifies popping a cork.
Disclosure: I own shares in PPL. I’ve owned all four local stocks at times.
