NRG Energy (NRG) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at NRG Energy (NRG): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Utilities peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for NRG Energy (NRG)
Profile Item	NRG
Name	NRG Energy, Inc.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities
GICS Industry	Electric Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Electric Utilities
Market Capitalization	18.56 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	December 2, 2003
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NRG

GSPC

NRG Energy (NRG) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for NRG Energy (NRG) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for NRG Energy (NRG) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

NRG Energy (NRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: NRG	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	-43.14%	5.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	31.18%	15.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	25.79%	8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NRG

GSPC

NRG Energy (NRG) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for NRG Energy (NRG) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

NRG Energy (NRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: NRG	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	52.51%	22.23%
Beta (5Y)	1.20	0.53
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-55.72%	-36.85%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. NRG is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

NRG Energy (NRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: NRG	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.90	0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.19	0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) posts ROE of 23.77%, above the industry benchmark range. Equity is being turned into profit at an exceptional rate, but very high ROE should still be checked against leverage, buybacks, and the size of the equity base.

NRG

Utilities industry group

23.77%

Group distribution

NRG: 23.77%
Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

Largest peers

NRG: 23.77%
CEG: 15.06%
NEE: 14.06%
SO: 11.90%
AEP: 10.60%
NGG: 10.31%
DUK: 10.10%

Where NRG Energy (NRG) stands on ROE within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) keeps 2.56% of revenue as net profit, in the lower peer quartile for net margin. More of each sales dollar is being absorbed by costs, financing, taxes, or other charges than at most peers.

NRG

Utilities industry group

2.56%

Group distribution

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
NRG: 2.56%
Min: -0.20%

Largest peers

NEE: 40.37%
NGG: 21.15%
DUK: 16.16%
SO: 16.00%
AEP: 14.21%
CEG: 11.08%
NRG: 2.56%

Where NRG Energy (NRG) stands on net margin within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) turns 12.77% of revenue into operating profit, in the lower peer quartile for operating margin. Operating costs are taking a larger share of sales than they do at most peers.

NRG

Utilities industry group

12.77%

Group distribution

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
NRG: 12.77%
Min: -4.90%

Largest peers

SO: 36.92%
NEE: 33.00%
DUK: 30.03%
NGG: 28.64%
AEP: 26.89%
NRG: 12.77%
CEG: 8.66%

Where NRG Energy (NRG) stands on operating margin within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

NRG Energy (NRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: NRG	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	23.77%	9.44%
ROA (TTM)	4.06%	3.08%
Net Margin (TTM)	2.56%	12.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)	12.77%	23.62%
Gross Margin (TTM)	18.80%	44.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

NRG Energy (NRG) grew revenue 9.18%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

NRG Energy (NRG): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Utilities industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

NRG Energy (NRG) grew earnings per share -19.64%, in the lower peer quartile. Per-share profits are advancing more slowly than at most peers, so margins, costs, or share count deserve a closer look.

NRG Energy (NRG): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Utilities industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

NRG Energy (NRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: NRG	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	9.18%	8.45%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-0.88%	3.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-19.64%	3.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-8.12%	5.25%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

NRG Energy (NRG) has current ratio of 0.97, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

NRG

Utilities industry group

0.97

Group distribution

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
NRG: 0.97
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

Largest peers

CEG: 1.46
NRG: 0.97
SO: 0.84
DUK: 0.68
NGG: 0.62
NEE: 0.53
AEP: 0.51

Where NRG Energy (NRG) stands on current ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

NRG Energy (NRG) has debt-to-equity ratio of 4.83, above the industry benchmark range. Debt sits unusually high against shareholders’ equity, leaving the balance sheet more exposed to rate, refinancing, or earnings shocks.

NRG

Utilities industry group

4.83

Group distribution

NRG: 4.83
Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

NRG: 4.83
SO: 1.68
DUK: 1.63
AEP: 1.62
NEE: 1.53
NGG: 1.32
CEG: 0.76

Where NRG Energy (NRG) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

NRG Energy (NRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: NRG	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.97	0.88
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	4.83	1.35
Net Debt / EBITDA	7.16	5.31

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) has dividend yield of 2.32%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

NRG

Utilities industry group

2.32%

Group distribution

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
NRG: 2.32%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

DUK: 3.29%
SO: 3.21%
AEP: 3.00%
NEE: 2.76%
NRG: 2.32%
CEG: 0.68%
NGG: 0.57%

Where NRG Energy (NRG) stands on dividend yield within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) has payout ratio of 47.91%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

NRG

Utilities industry group

47.91%

Group distribution

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
NRG: 47.91%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

NGG: 71.97%
SO: 68.49%
DUK: 62.76%
AEP: 62.09%
NRG: 47.91%
NEE: 43.89%
CEG: 15.92%

Where NRG Energy (NRG) stands on payout ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

NRG Energy (NRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: NRG	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.32%	2.85%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	47.91%	56.38%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) trades at P/E ratio of 23.11, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

NRG

Utilities industry group

23.11

Group distribution

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
NRG: 23.11
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

Largest peers

CEG: 24.43
NRG: 23.11
SO: 21.08
AEP: 20.67
DUK: 18.74
NEE: 15.67
NGG: 15.54

Where NRG Energy (NRG) stands on P/E ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) trades at 0.56 on P/S ratio, in the lower sales-valuation quartile for its industry. That points to a cheaper revenue stream than most peers, with margin quality still doing the heavy lifting.

NRG

Utilities industry group

0.56

Group distribution

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
NRG: 0.56
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

NEE: 6.33
NGG: 4.46
SO: 3.45
DUK: 2.99
AEP: 2.92
CEG: 2.83
NRG: 0.56

Where NRG Energy (NRG) stands on P/S ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

NRG Energy (NRG) trades at 4.42 on P/B ratio, above the industry benchmark range. Investors are putting an unusually rich price on each dollar of book equity relative to peers.

NRG

Utilities industry group

4.42

Group distribution

NRG: 4.42
Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

Largest peers

NGG: 9.36
NRG: 4.42
NEE: 2.97
CEG: 2.78
SO: 2.56
AEP: 2.10
DUK: 1.83

Where NRG Energy (NRG) stands on P/B ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

NRG Energy (NRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: NRG	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.11	19.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.56	2.63
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.42	1.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.16%	-7.11%