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CMS vs. NRG: CMS Energy vs. NRG Energy Stock Comparison

How do CMS Energy (CMS) 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

CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CMS is classified in Multi-Utilities while NRG is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG)
Profile ItemCMSNRG
NameCMS Energy Corporation Common StockNRG Energy, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization21.70 billion USD18.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973December 2, 2003
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMS
NRG
GSPC
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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCMSNRG
Total Return (1Y)-1.93%-43.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.79%31.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.25%25.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMS
NRG
GSPC
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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCMSNRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.58%52.51%
Beta (5Y)0.311.20
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.04%-55.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.84M3.15M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CMS 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCMSNRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.35-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.49-1.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.77% delivers above-range ROE, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 5.31% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in profit generated from equity.

CMS

Utilities industry group

5.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
CMS
5.31%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

CMS Energy (CMS) at 9.72% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.56% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

CMS

Utilities industry group

9.72%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CMS
9.72%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

CMS Energy (CMS) at 28.45% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 12.77% operates in the bottom quartile.

CMS

Utilities industry group

28.45%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
CMS
28.45%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCMSNRG
ROE (TTM)5.31%23.77%
ROA (TTM)3.07%4.06%
Net Margin (TTM)9.72%2.56%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.45%12.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.76%18.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CMS Energy (CMS) at 13.63% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 9.18% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for CMS.

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

EPS Growth

CMS Energy (CMS) at 4.19% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while NRG Energy (NRG) at -19.64% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCMSNRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.63%9.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.22%-0.88%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.19%-19.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.84%-8.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 0.95 and NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.97 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

0.95

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
CMS
0.95
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but NRG is more stretched: CMS Energy (CMS) at 1.96 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.83 is above its industry benchmark range.

CMS

Utilities industry group

1.96

Max
2.63
CMS
1.96
Q3
1.77
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
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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCMSNRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.950.97
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.964.83
Net Debt / EBITDA6.337.16

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 3.21% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.32% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CMS

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
CMS
3.21%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) 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% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 80.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CMS

Utilities industry group

80.45%

Max
113.04%
CMS
80.45%
Q3
68.72%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCMSNRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.21%2.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)80.45%47.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.11 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 24.71 sits in the richer quartile — CMS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CMS

Utilities industry group

24.71

Max
31.22
CMS
24.71
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.42 prices around its industry’s middle — NRG costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.42

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
CMS
2.42
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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: CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.28 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.42 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.28

Max
3.12
CMS
2.28
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCMSNRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.7123.11
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.420.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.284.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.54%4.16%