NRG vs. PEG: NRG Energy vs. Public Service Enterprise Stock Comparison
How do NRG Energy (NRG) and Public Service Enterprise (PEG) 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
NRG Energy (NRG) and Public Service Enterprise (PEG) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but NRG is classified in Electric Utilities while PEG is classified in Multi-Utilities.
| Profile Item | NRG | PEG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | NRG Energy, Inc. | Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Multi-Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electric Utilities | Multi-Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 18.56 billion USD | 36.20 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 2, 2003 | January 2, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | NRG | PEG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -43.14% | -6.86% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 31.18% | 10.69% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 25.79% | 7.38% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | NRG | PEG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 52.51% | 18.73% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.20 | 0.47 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.72% | -27.29% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.15M | 3.44M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | NRG | PEG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.90 | -0.60 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.19 | -0.82 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.77% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 10.28%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
NRG
Utilities industry group
23.77%
- NRG
- 23.77%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
PEG
Utilities industry group
10.28%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- PEG
- 10.28%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 14.32% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.56% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
NRG
Utilities industry group
2.56%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- NRG
- 2.56%
- Min
- -0.20%
PEG
Utilities industry group
14.32%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- PEG
- 14.32%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 21.29% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 12.77% operates in the bottom quartile.
NRG
Utilities industry group
12.77%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- NRG
- 12.77%
- Min
- -4.90%
PEG
Utilities industry group
21.29%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- PEG
- 21.29%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | NRG | PEG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 23.77% | 10.28% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.06% | 2.93% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 2.56% | 14.32% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 12.77% | 21.29% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 18.80% | 32.12% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 18.25% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 9.18% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PEG.
EPS Growth
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 19.21% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while NRG Energy (NRG) at -19.64% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | NRG | PEG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.18% | 18.25% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.88% | 7.48% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -19.64% | 19.21% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -8.12% | 27.05% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.97 and Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 1.01 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
NRG
Utilities industry group
0.97
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- NRG
- 0.97
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
PEG
Utilities industry group
1.01
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- PEG
- 1.01
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 1.48 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.
NRG
Utilities industry group
4.83
- NRG
- 4.83
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
PEG
Utilities industry group
1.48
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- PEG
- 1.48
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | NRG | PEG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.97 | 1.01 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 4.83 | 1.48 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 7.16 | 5.86 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 3.61% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.32% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PEG the richer one.
NRG
Utilities industry group
2.32%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- NRG
- 2.32%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
PEG
Utilities industry group
3.61%
- Max
- 6.66%
- PEG
- 3.61%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
NRG Energy (NRG) at 47.91% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 74.58% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
NRG
Utilities industry group
47.91%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- NRG
- 47.91%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
PEG
Utilities industry group
74.58%
- Max
- 113.04%
- PEG
- 74.58%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | NRG | PEG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.32% | 3.61% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 47.91% | 74.58% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.11 and Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 20.51 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
NRG
Utilities industry group
23.11
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- NRG
- 23.11
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
PEG
Utilities industry group
20.51
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- PEG
- 20.51
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.56 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 2.93 prices around its industry’s middle — NRG costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
NRG
Utilities industry group
0.56
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- NRG
- 0.56
- Min
- 0.00
PEG
Utilities industry group
2.93
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- PEG
- 2.93
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 2.08 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.42 prices above its benchmark range — NRG looks rich relative to book.
NRG
Utilities industry group
4.42
- NRG
- 4.42
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
PEG
Utilities industry group
2.08
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- PEG
- 2.08
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NRG | PEG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.11 | 20.51 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.56 | 2.93 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.42 | 2.08 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.16% | -0.90% |