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NRG vs. SBS: NRG Energy vs. Sabesp Stock Comparison

How do NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but NRG is classified in Electric Utilities while SBS is classified in Water Utilities.

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

Company profile comparison for NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS)
Profile ItemNRGSBS
NameNRG Energy, Inc.Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesBrazil
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesWater Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesWater Utilities
Market Capitalization18.56 billion USD16.96 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 2, 2003May 10, 2002
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NRG
SBS
GSPC
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS), 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 NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS)
MetricNRGSBS
Total Return (1Y)-43.14%-3.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)31.18%28.33%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)25.79%32.85%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NRG
SBS
GSPC
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS), 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 NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS)
MetricNRGSBS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)52.51%46.80%
Beta (5Y)1.200.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)-55.72%-37.59%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.15M11.85M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NRG and SBS 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 NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS)
MetricNRGSBS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.90-0.17
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.19-0.22

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; Sabesp (SBS) at 16.27% also sits in the top quartile.

NRG

Utilities industry group

23.77%

NRG
23.77%
Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%

SBS

Utilities industry group

16.27%

Max
17.99%
SBS
16.27%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 17.52% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.56% keeps 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%

SBS

Utilities industry group

17.52%

Max
28.78%
SBS
17.52%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 29.28% 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%

SBS

Utilities industry group

29.28%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
SBS
29.28%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS)
MetricNRGSBS
ROE (TTM)23.77%16.27%
ROA (TTM)4.06%8.08%
Net Margin (TTM)2.56%17.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)12.77%29.28%
Gross Margin (TTM)18.80%36.96%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both NRG Energy (NRG) at 9.18% and Sabesp (SBS) at 5.39% 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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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both NRG Energy (NRG) at -19.64% and Sabesp (SBS) at -11.79% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.

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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS)
MetricNRGSBS
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.18%5.39%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.88%19.98%
EPS Growth (YoY)-19.64%-11.79%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-8.12%40.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.97 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Sabesp (SBS) at 1.22 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.22

Max
1.90
SBS
1.22
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Sabesp (SBS) at 0.99 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

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.99

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
SBS
0.99
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS)
MetricNRGSBS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.971.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)4.830.99
Net Debt / EBITDA7.162.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile NRG Energy (NRG) reports a yield of 2.32%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NRG

Utilities industry group

2.32%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
NRG
2.32%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
SBS
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both NRG Energy (NRG) at 47.91% and Sabesp (SBS) at 35.95% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

NRG

Utilities industry group

47.91%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
NRG
47.91%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%

SBS

Utilities industry group

35.95%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
SBS
35.95%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS)
MetricNRGSBS
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.32%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)47.91%35.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 11.73 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.11 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SBS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

NRG

Utilities industry group

23.11

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
NRG
23.11
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34

SBS

Utilities industry group

11.73

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
SBS
11.73
Min
3.34
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.56 and Sabesp (SBS) at 0.41 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

NRG

Utilities industry group

0.56

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
NRG
0.56
Min
0.00

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.41

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
SBS
0.41
Min
0.00
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Sabesp (SBS) at 1.84 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

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.84

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
SBS
1.84
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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NRG Energy (NRG) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for NRG Energy (NRG) and Sabesp (SBS)
MetricNRGSBS
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.1111.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.560.41
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.421.84
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.16%-62.11%