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CEG vs. NRG: Constellation Energy vs. NRG Energy Stock Comparison

How do Constellation Energy (CEG) 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

Constellation Energy (CEG) 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.

NRG Energy (NRG) has more than two decades of public-market history since December 2, 2003, whereas Constellation Energy (CEG) listed on January 19, 2022 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
Profile ItemCEGNRG
NameConstellation Energy CorporationNRG Energy, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization88.56 billion USD18.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJanuary 19, 2022December 2, 2003
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CEG
NRG
GSPC
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCEGNRG
Total Return (1Y)-23.27%-43.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)32.21%31.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--25.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CEG
NRG
GSPC
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCEGNRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)49.44%52.51%
Beta (5Y)1.111.20
Max Drawdown (5Y)-50.70%-55.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.37M3.15M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CEG and NRG are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCEGNRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.56-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.78-1.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.77% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Constellation Energy (CEG) at 15.06% also sits in the top quartile.

CEG

Utilities industry group

15.06%

Max
17.99%
CEG
15.06%
Q3
12.01%
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%
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Constellation Energy (CEG) at 11.08% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.56% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

CEG

Utilities industry group

11.08%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CEG
11.08%
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%
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 8.66% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 12.77% generate less operating profit per sales dollar than peers, sitting in the lower operating margin quartile of their industries.

CEG

Utilities industry group

8.66%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
CEG
8.66%
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%
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCEGNRG
ROE (TTM)15.06%23.77%
ROA (TTM)3.89%4.06%
Net Margin (TTM)11.08%2.56%
Operating Margin (TTM)8.66%12.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.11%18.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 8.34% 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.

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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Constellation Energy (CEG) at -37.76% and NRG Energy (NRG) at -19.64% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.

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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCEGNRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.34%9.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.47%-0.88%
EPS Growth (YoY)-37.76%-19.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---8.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.97 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 1.46 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

CEG

Utilities industry group

1.46

Max
1.90
CEG
1.46
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
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
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Constellation Energy (CEG) at 0.76 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.83 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.

CEG

Utilities industry group

0.76

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
CEG
0.76
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
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCEGNRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.460.97
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.764.83
Net Debt / EBITDA3.027.16

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 0.68% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.32% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CEG

Utilities industry group

0.68%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
CEG
0.68%
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%
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 47.91% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; Constellation Energy (CEG) at 15.92% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

CEG

Utilities industry group

15.92%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
CEG
15.92%
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%
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCEGNRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.68%2.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)15.92%47.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.11 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 24.43 sits in the richer quartile — CEG needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CEG

Utilities industry group

24.43

Max
31.22
CEG
24.43
Q3
23.30
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
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.56 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 2.83 prices around its industry’s middle — NRG costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

CEG

Utilities industry group

2.83

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
CEG
2.83
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
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Constellation Energy (CEG) at 2.78 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.42 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CEG

Utilities industry group

2.78

Max
3.12
CEG
2.78
Q3
2.21
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
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCEGNRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.4323.11
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.830.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.784.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.48%4.16%