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KEP vs. NRG: Korea Electric Power vs. NRG Energy Stock Comparison

How do Korea Electric Power (KEP) 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

Korea Electric Power (KEP) 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) trades as ordinary local shares, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
Profile ItemKEPNRG
NameKorea Electric Power Corporation Sponsored ADRNRG Energy, Inc.
Country/RegionSouth KoreaUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization14.38 billion USD18.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 27, 1994December 2, 2003
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KEP
NRG
GSPC
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Korea Electric Power (KEP) 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) and NRG Energy (NRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricKEPNRG
Total Return (1Y)-25.98%-43.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)20.85%31.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)2.90%25.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricKEPNRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)46.68%52.51%
Beta (5Y)0.971.20
Max Drawdown (5Y)-55.55%-55.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)949.70K3.15M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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KEP 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricKEPNRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.65-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.93-1.19

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; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 16.60% also sits in the top quartile.

KEP

Utilities industry group

16.60%

Max
17.99%
KEP
16.60%
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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 8.04% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.56% let more of each sales dollar slip away before the bottom line than peers do, sitting in the lower net margin quartile of their industries.

KEP

Utilities industry group

8.04%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
KEP
8.04%
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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.73% 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.

KEP

Utilities industry group

4.73%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
KEP
4.73%
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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricKEPNRG
ROE (TTM)16.60%23.77%
ROA (TTM)3.04%4.06%
Net Margin (TTM)8.04%2.56%
Operating Margin (TTM)4.73%12.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)15.97%18.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.31% 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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 144.73% delivers above-range EPS growth, while NRG Energy (NRG) at -19.64% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in earnings momentum.

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Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricKEPNRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.31%9.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.03%-0.88%
EPS Growth (YoY)144.73%-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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.44 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KEP.

KEP

Utilities industry group

0.44

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
KEP
0.44
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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) 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: Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.63 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.83 is above its industry benchmark range.

KEP

Utilities industry group

2.63

KEP
2.63
Max
2.63
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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricKEPNRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.440.97
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.634.83
Net Debt / EBITDA5.137.16

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.32% pays an industry-typical yield; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 13,891.89% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

KEP

Utilities industry group

13,891.89%

KEP
13,891.89%
Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) 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; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 12.22% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

KEP

Utilities industry group

12.22%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
KEP
12.22%
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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricKEPNRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)13,891.89%2.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)12.22%47.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.66 trades below its industry P/E ratio range, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.11 is closer to a normal peer multiple — a clearer earnings-valuation discount for KEP, subject to growth and earnings quality.

KEP

Utilities industry group

2.66

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
KEP
2.66

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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.00 and NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.56 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

KEP

Utilities industry group

0.00

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
KEP
0.00
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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.38 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.42 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

KEP

Utilities industry group

0.38

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
KEP
0.38
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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Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricKEPNRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)2.6623.11
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.000.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)0.384.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4,799.31%4.16%