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NGG vs. NRG: National Grid vs. NRG Energy Stock Comparison

How do National Grid (NGG) 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

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

NRG Energy (NRG) trades as ordinary local shares, while National Grid (NGG) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for National Grid (NGG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
Profile ItemNGGNRG
NameNational Grid plc Sponsored ADRNRG Energy, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization83.60 billion USD18.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateAugust 10, 2005December 2, 2003
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NGG
NRG
GSPC
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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) and NRG Energy (NRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for National Grid (NGG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricNGGNRG
Total Return (1Y)13.00%-43.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.82%31.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.34%25.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for National Grid (NGG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricNGGNRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.32%52.51%
Beta (5Y)0.731.20
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.20%-55.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)911.70K3.15M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NGG 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 National Grid (NGG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricNGGNRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.39-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.54-1.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.77% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than National Grid (NGG) at 10.31%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

NGG

Utilities industry group

10.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
NGG
10.31%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

National Grid (NGG) at 21.15% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.56% keeps a bottom-quartile share.

NGG

Utilities industry group

21.15%

Max
28.78%
NGG
21.15%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

National Grid (NGG) at 28.64% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 12.77% operates in the bottom quartile.

NGG

Utilities industry group

28.64%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
NGG
28.64%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for National Grid (NGG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricNGGNRG
ROE (TTM)10.31%23.77%
ROA (TTM)3.33%4.06%
Net Margin (TTM)21.15%2.56%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.64%12.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)100.00%18.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

NRG Energy (NRG) at 9.18% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while National Grid (NGG) at -3.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: NRG Energy (NRG) reports EPS growth of -19.64%, ranked against its industry; National Grid (NGG) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for National Grid (NGG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricNGGNRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)-3.76%9.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.53%-0.88%
EPS Growth (YoY)---19.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-30.59%-8.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.97 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while National Grid (NGG) at 0.62 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NGG.

NGG

Utilities industry group

0.62

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
NGG
0.62
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

National Grid (NGG) at 1.32 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.

NGG

Utilities industry group

1.32

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
NGG
1.32
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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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricNGGNRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.620.97
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.324.83
Net Debt / EBITDA6.327.16

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.32% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while National Grid (NGG) at 0.57% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

NGG

Utilities industry group

0.57%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
NGG
0.57%
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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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) at 71.97% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

NGG

Utilities industry group

71.97%

Max
113.04%
NGG
71.97%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for National Grid (NGG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricNGGNRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.57%2.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)71.97%47.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 15.54 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.

NGG

Utilities industry group

15.54

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
NGG
15.54
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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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) at 4.46 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

NGG

Utilities industry group

4.46

Max
6.35
NGG
4.46
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both National Grid (NGG) at 9.36 and NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.42 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

NGG

Utilities industry group

9.36

NGG
9.36
Max
3.12
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for National Grid (NGG) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricNGGNRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)15.5423.11
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.460.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.364.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-5.94%4.16%