NRG vs. TLN: NRG Energy vs. Talen Energy Stock Comparison
How do NRG Energy (NRG) and Talen Energy (TLN) 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 Talen Energy (TLN) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but NRG is classified in Electric Utilities while TLN is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.
NRG Energy (NRG) has more than two decades of public-market history since December 2, 2003, whereas Talen Energy (TLN) listed on June 2, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | NRG | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | NRG Energy, Inc. | Talen Energy Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electric Utilities | Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders |
| Market Capitalization | 18.56 billion USD | 14.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | December 2, 2003 | June 2, 2023 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | NRG | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -43.14% | -6.63% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 31.18% | 88.64% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 25.79% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | NRG | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 52.51% | 58.28% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.20 | 1.53 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.72% | -36.72% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.15M | 1.01M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | NRG | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.90 | -0.19 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -1.19 | -0.26 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Talen Energy (TLN) reports a negative ROE of -16.54%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile NRG Energy (NRG) reports 23.77%, ranking against industry peers normally.
NRG
Utilities industry group
23.77%
- NRG
- 23.77%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
TLN
Utilities industry group
-16.54%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
- TLN
- -16.54%
Net Margin (TTM)
Talen Energy (TLN) reports a negative net margin of -5.67%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile NRG Energy (NRG) reports 2.56%, ranking against industry peers normally.
NRG
Utilities industry group
2.56%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- NRG
- 2.56%
- Min
- -0.20%
TLN
Utilities industry group
-5.67%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
- TLN
- -5.67%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Talen Energy (TLN) at 17.35% 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%
TLN
Utilities industry group
17.35%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- TLN
- 17.35%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | NRG | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 23.77% | -16.54% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.06% | 0.88% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 2.56% | -5.67% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 12.77% | 17.35% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 18.80% | 42.67% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Talen Energy (TLN) at 26.68% 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 TLN.
EPS Growth
Neither side shows strong earnings momentum: NRG Energy (NRG) at -19.64% sits in the bottom EPS growth quartile, and Talen Energy (TLN) at -127.11% is weaker still, below its industry range.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | NRG | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.18% | 26.68% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.88% | 2.87% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -19.64% | -127.11% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -8.12% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.97 and Talen Energy (TLN) at 0.89 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
TLN
Utilities industry group
0.89
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- TLN
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Debt sits unusually high against shareholders’ equity for both NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.83 and Talen Energy (TLN) at 5.97 — each debt-to-equity ratio is above its industry benchmark range.
NRG
Utilities industry group
4.83
- NRG
- 4.83
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
TLN
Utilities industry group
5.97
- TLN
- 5.97
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | NRG | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.97 | 0.89 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 4.83 | 5.97 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 7.16 | 13.69 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Talen Energy (TLN) 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%
TLN
Utilities industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- TLN
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Talen Energy (TLN) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile NRG Energy (NRG) reports a payout of 47.91%, ranking against industry peers normally.
NRG
Utilities industry group
47.91%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- NRG
- 47.91%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
TLN
Utilities industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- TLN
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | NRG | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.32% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 47.91% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: NRG Energy (NRG) trades at 23.11 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Talen Energy (TLN) has no P/E ratio this period.
NRG
Utilities industry group
23.11
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- NRG
- 23.11
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
TLN
Utilities industry group
--
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
- TLN
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.56 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Talen Energy (TLN) at 3.29 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
TLN
Utilities industry group
3.29
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- TLN
- 3.29
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.42 and Talen Energy (TLN) at 10.14 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
NRG
Utilities industry group
4.42
- NRG
- 4.42
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
TLN
Utilities industry group
10.14
- TLN
- 10.14
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NRG | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.11 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.56 | 3.29 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.42 | 10.14 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.16% | 6.39% |