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.
| Profile Item | KEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Korea Electric Power Corporation Sponsored ADR | NRG Energy, Inc. |
| Country/Region | South Korea | 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 | 14.38 billion USD | 18.56 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 27, 1994 | December 2, 2003 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | KEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| 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
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | KEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 46.68% | 52.51% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.97 | 1.20 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.55% | -55.72% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 949.70K | 3.15M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | KEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| 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%
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%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | KEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | KEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | KEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.44 | 0.97 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.63 | 4.83 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.13 | 7.16 |
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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | KEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | KEP | NRG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 2.66 | 23.11 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.00 | 0.56 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.38 | 4.42 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4,799.31% | 4.16% |