AEP vs. NRG: American Electric Power vs. NRG Energy Stock Comparison
How do American Electric Power (AEP) and NRG Energy (NRG) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
American Electric Power (AEP) and NRG Energy (NRG) are both classified in the Electric Utilities sub-industry within the broader Electric Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | AEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Electric Power Company, Inc. | NRG Energy, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electric Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 68.90 billion USD | 18.56 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | December 2, 2003 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 8.60% | -43.14% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 22.18% | 31.18% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.81% | 25.79% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.45% | 52.51% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.46 | 1.20 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.56% | -55.72% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.64M | 3.15M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.23 | -0.90 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.33 | -1.19 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.77% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.60%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
AEP
Utilities industry group
10.60%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- AEP
- 10.60%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
NRG
Utilities industry group
23.77%
- NRG
- 23.77%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
American Electric Power (AEP) at 14.21% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.56% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
AEP
Utilities industry group
14.21%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- AEP
- 14.21%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
NRG
Utilities industry group
2.56%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- NRG
- 2.56%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
American Electric Power (AEP) at 26.89% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 12.77% operates in the bottom quartile.
AEP
Utilities industry group
26.89%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- AEP
- 26.89%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
NRG
Utilities industry group
12.77%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- NRG
- 12.77%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.60% | 23.77% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.04% | 4.06% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.21% | 2.56% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 26.89% | 12.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 46.62% | 18.80% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.93% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 9.18% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
American Electric Power (AEP) at 19.35% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while NRG Energy (NRG) at -19.64% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.93% | 9.18% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.66% | -0.88% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 19.35% | -19.64% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.04% | -8.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.97 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while American Electric Power (AEP) at 0.51 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AEP.
AEP
Utilities industry group
0.51
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- AEP
- 0.51
- Min
- 0.29
NRG
Utilities industry group
0.97
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- NRG
- 0.97
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
American Electric Power (AEP) at 1.62 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.83 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
AEP
Utilities industry group
1.62
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- AEP
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
NRG
Utilities industry group
4.83
- NRG
- 4.83
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.51 | 0.97 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.62 | 4.83 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.76 | 7.16 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 3.00% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.32% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
AEP
Utilities industry group
3.00%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- AEP
- 3.00%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
NRG
Utilities industry group
2.32%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- NRG
- 2.32%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 62.09% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 47.91% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
AEP
Utilities industry group
62.09%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- AEP
- 62.09%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
NRG
Utilities industry group
47.91%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- NRG
- 47.91%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.00% | 2.32% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 62.09% | 47.91% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 20.67 and NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.11 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
AEP
Utilities industry group
20.67
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- AEP
- 20.67
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
NRG
Utilities industry group
23.11
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- NRG
- 23.11
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.56 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.92 prices around its industry’s middle — NRG costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
AEP
Utilities industry group
2.92
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- AEP
- 2.92
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
NRG
Utilities industry group
0.56
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- NRG
- 0.56
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.10 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.42 prices above its benchmark range — NRG looks rich relative to book.
AEP
Utilities industry group
2.10
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- AEP
- 2.10
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
NRG
Utilities industry group
4.42
- NRG
- 4.42
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.67 | 23.11 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.92 | 0.56 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.10 | 4.42 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -11.28% | 4.16% |