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ETR vs. NRG: Entergy vs. NRG Energy Stock Comparison

How do Entergy (ETR) 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

Entergy (ETR) 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.

Company profile comparison for Entergy (ETR) and NRG Energy (NRG)
Profile ItemETRNRG
NameEntergy Corporation Common StockNRG Energy, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization52.82 billion USD18.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972December 2, 2003
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Entergy (ETR) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricETRNRG
Total Return (1Y)18.08%-43.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)36.61%31.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)21.12%25.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Entergy (ETR) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricETRNRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.53%52.51%
Beta (5Y)0.441.20
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.12%-55.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.75M3.15M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ETR 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 Entergy (ETR) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricETRNRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.67-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.99-1.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.77% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Entergy (ETR) at 11.02%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

ETR

Utilities industry group

11.02%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
ETR
11.02%
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Entergy (ETR) at 14.56% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.56% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

ETR

Utilities industry group

14.56%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
ETR
14.56%
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%
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Entergy (ETR) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Entergy (ETR) at 34.20% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 12.77% operates in the bottom quartile.

ETR

Utilities industry group

34.20%

Max
53.83%
ETR
34.20%
Q3
31.12%
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Entergy (ETR) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricETRNRG
ROE (TTM)11.02%23.77%
ROA (TTM)2.89%4.06%
Net Margin (TTM)14.56%2.56%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.20%12.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.93%18.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Entergy (ETR) at 8.98% 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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Entergy (ETR) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Entergy (ETR) at 59.59% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while NRG Energy (NRG) at -19.64% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Entergy (ETR) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricETRNRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.98%9.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.02%-0.88%
EPS Growth (YoY)59.59%-19.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)13.35%-8.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.97 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Entergy (ETR) at 1.18 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

ETR

Utilities industry group

1.18

Max
1.90
ETR
1.18
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Entergy (ETR) at 1.73 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.

ETR

Utilities industry group

1.73

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
ETR
1.73
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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Entergy (ETR) 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 Entergy (ETR) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricETRNRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.180.97
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.734.83
Net Debt / EBITDA5.177.16

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

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

ETR

Utilities industry group

2.32%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
ETR
2.32%
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Entergy (ETR) at 58.58% 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.

ETR

Utilities industry group

58.58%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
ETR
58.58%
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Entergy (ETR) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricETRNRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.32%2.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.58%47.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.11 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Entergy (ETR) at 25.30 sits in the richer quartile — ETR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ETR

Utilities industry group

25.30

Max
31.22
ETR
25.30
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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Entergy (ETR) 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 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Entergy (ETR) at 3.76 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

ETR

Utilities industry group

3.76

Max
6.35
ETR
3.76
Q3
3.63
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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Entergy (ETR) 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: Entergy (ETR) at 2.67 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.42 prices even higher, above its industry range.

ETR

Utilities industry group

2.67

Max
3.12
ETR
2.67
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Entergy (ETR) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricETRNRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.3023.11
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.760.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.674.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.65%4.16%