NRG Energy Inc. logo

NRG Energy Inc.(NRG)

upturn advisory logo
ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$97
09/28/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for NRG

09/28/2026: NRG (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

NRG Energy is a prominent integrated power company that operates a large-scale retail electricity business alongside a diverse generation fleet in the United States. Its primary strength lies in its vertical integration, which provides a natural hedge between power generation costs and retail consumer pricing. The company's growth strategy centers on expanding its home services ecosystem to increase customer retention and recurring revenue. However, NRG faces risks from commodity price volatility, high debt levels, and regulatory exposure in key markets like Texas. It is generally suitable for value and dividend-focused investors, though market-specific developments and operational execution in the retail segment should be monitored.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitGrowth is largely driven by M&A and operational efficiency rather than explosive organic market expansion.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock can exhibit strong momentum during periods of energy market tightening or successful execution of capital return programs.
Value investorStrong fitNRG is often valued on its free cash flow yield, making it attractive when the market underprices its retail franchise stability.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company maintains a consistent dividend policy supported by predictable cash flows from its retail business.
Low-risk investorWeak fitExposure to commodity markets and weather-related operational risks introduces volatility unsuitable for very low-risk portfolios.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highEnergy commodity price swings impact generation costs and retail margins.
Valuation riskMediumThe stock's valuation is tied to its ability to generate stable free cash flow, which can fluctuate.
Competition risk (Retail Energy)MediumIntense competition from Vistra and regional providers limits pricing power.
Business qualityMediumThe integrated model is robust, though heavy reliance on specific regional regulations remains.
Dividend incomeMediumDividends are generally stable, though capital allocation priorities can change.
Execution riskMediumSuccessful integration of acquired assets and management of the diverse portfolio is key to performance.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 87.16%
Avg. Invested days 61
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 4.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/28/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
NRG receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid quantitative characteristics, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by soft unit economics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
NRG has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, soft growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, growth and ownership metrics are mixed: negative earnings growth (-23.2%), soft cash generation (FCF margin 2.5%), moderate revenue growth (+9.2%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
NRG's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (2.5% of revenue). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is NRG's strongest growth driver at +9.2% FY2025 versus FY2024 (moderate, 3 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (-23.2%, negative) and free-cash-flow growth (-58.2%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 95.7% and approximately 99.5% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 4.46% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 8.56%
FMR Inc 8.28%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.56%
State Street Corp 5.60%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 5.38%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
NRG generates approximately $218 of gross profit, $60 of operating income, and $25 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Soft margins explain the 2-star rating, with soft cash conversion and moderate capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 19.85%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
NRG has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 20.39B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 25.26
1Y Target Price 188.56
Price to earnings Ratio 25.26
1Y Target Price 188.56
Volume (30-day avg) 2.7M shares
Beta 1.17
52 Weeks Range 96.86 - 188.71
Updated Date 09/28/2026
52 Weeks Range 96.86 - 188.71
Updated Date 09/28/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.86%
Basic EPS (TTM) 3.84

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Retail EnergySale of electricity and gas, home services, and smart tech.The core of the business is the stable recurring income from retail energy customers.
GenerationOperation of natural gas, oil, and solar power plants.Generation assets serve as a cost hedge to support the retail business.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Advertisement

Valuation

Trailing PE 25.26
Forward PE 9.03
Enterprise Value 45.13B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.62
Enterprise Value 45.13B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.62
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.36
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 12.08
Shares Outstanding 210.21M
Shares Floating 209.26M
Shares Outstanding 210.21M
Shares Floating 209.26M
Percent Insiders 4.46
Percent Institutions 95.72

Icon representing Upturn AI-generated SWOT analysis summary Upturn AI Summary

Information icon for Upturn AI Summarization accuracy disclaimer AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.

Information icon for Upturn AI Summarization data freshness disclaimer Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.

Information icon warning about Upturn AI Fundamental Rating based on potentially old data Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.

Information icon warning about potential inaccuracies or hallucinations in Upturn AI-generated summaries AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About NRG Energy Inc.

Exchange NYSE
Headquarters Houston, TX, United States
IPO Launch date 2000-05-25
President, CEO & Director Mr. Robert J. Gaudette
Sector Utilities
Industry Utilities - Independent Power Producers
Full time employees 16702
Full time employees 16702

NRG Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy and home services company in the United States and Canada. It operates through the Texas, East, West/Other, Vivint Smart Home, and Corporate Activities segments. The company offers retail electricity, energy management, demand response and virtual power plant programs, carbon offsets, smart home security, and automation services. It also offers system power, distributed and backup generation, energy storage, energy management, renewable and low-carbon products, and carbon management solutions for large business and commercial customers; a cloud-based home platform, including hardware, software, sales, installation, customer service, technical support, and professional monitoring solutions; and generation portfolio includes fossil fuel and renewable generation assets diversified by fuel type and dispatch level, with ongoing development of new natural gas and renewable projects. In addition, the company trades in power, natural gas, and related products; environmental products; weather products; and financial products, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps. It offers its products and services under the NRG, Reliant, Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy, and Vivint. It serves residential, commercial, government, industrial, data center, and wholesale customers. NRG Energy, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.