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LNT vs. NRG: Alliant Energy vs. NRG Energy Stock Comparison

How do Alliant Energy (LNT) 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

Alliant Energy (LNT) 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) and NRG Energy (NRG)
Profile ItemLNTNRG
NameAlliant Energy CorporationNRG Energy, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization18.85 billion USD18.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973December 2, 2003
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricLNTNRG
Total Return (1Y)12.31%-43.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.55%31.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.28%25.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricLNTNRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.65%52.51%
Beta (5Y)0.501.20
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.59%-55.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.73M3.15M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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LNT 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricLNTNRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.46-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.66-1.19

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; Alliant Energy (LNT) at 12.36% also sits in the top quartile.

LNT

Utilities industry group

12.36%

Max
17.99%
LNT
12.36%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.74% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.56% keeps a bottom-quartile share.

LNT

Utilities industry group

20.74%

Max
28.78%
LNT
20.74%
Q3
17.30%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 30.27% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 12.77% operates in the bottom quartile.

LNT

Utilities industry group

30.27%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
LNT
30.27%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricLNTNRG
ROE (TTM)12.36%23.77%
ROA (TTM)2.47%4.06%
Net Margin (TTM)20.74%2.56%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.27%12.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)45.05%18.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 9.57% 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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 16.73% 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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricLNTNRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.57%9.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.23%-0.88%
EPS Growth (YoY)16.73%-19.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.77%-8.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.97 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 0.51 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LNT.

LNT

Utilities industry group

0.51

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
LNT
0.51
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 1.61 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.

LNT

Utilities industry group

1.61

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
LNT
1.61
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricLNTNRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.510.97
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.614.83
Net Debt / EBITDA6.677.16

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.88% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.32% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

LNT

Utilities industry group

2.88%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
LNT
2.88%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 58.84% 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.

LNT

Utilities industry group

58.84%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
LNT
58.84%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricLNTNRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.88%2.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.84%47.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.24 and NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.11 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

LNT

Utilities industry group

20.24

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
LNT
20.24
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) at 4.18 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

LNT

Utilities industry group

4.18

Max
6.35
LNT
4.18
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) 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: Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.41 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.42 prices even higher, above its industry range.

LNT

Utilities industry group

2.41

Max
3.12
LNT
2.41
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricLNTNRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.2423.11
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.180.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.414.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-8.11%4.16%