NRG Energy Inc. logo

NRG Energy Inc.(NRG)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$93.61
10/26/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 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
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for NRG

10/26/2026: NRG (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

NRG Energy is a vertically integrated power company that operates a significant retail energy business alongside a diverse generation fleet. The company has successfully shifted toward a consumer-centric model, benefiting from recurring retail revenue and strong cash flow generation. Its primary growth opportunity lies in leveraging its large customer base to cross-sell smart home services and meeting the rising electricity demand from data centers. However, investors must consider risks related to its debt levels, the volatility of competitive retail markets, and regulatory uncertainty. The stock may suit value and dividend-focused investors looking for exposure to stable cash flows, while monitoring execution on service expansion remains key.

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 moderate and tied to service penetration rather than explosive technology adoption.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock often trends with energy market sentiment and institutional flows in utility sectors.
Value investorStrong fitNRG often trades at reasonable multiples relative to its free cash flow generation.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company offers a reliable dividend yield backed by stable cash flows from retail operations.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile retail provides stability, exposure to wholesale power price volatility and debt levels adds risk.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highWholesale power prices impact margins if not adequately hedged.
Valuation riskMediumMarket sentiment toward utility-adjacent stocks can cause multiple compression.
Competition risk (retail energy)HighLow barriers to entry in retail energy result in aggressive pricing competition.
Business qualityMedium / highThe transition to a customer-focused model has improved quality but remains an execution-heavy business.
Dividend incomeLowThe dividend is supported by consistent cash flow from a large retail base.
Execution riskMediumSuccessfully integrating and cross-selling services to millions of customers is operationally complex.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 97.37%
Avg. Invested days 64
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 10/26/2026

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 95.3% 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 8.40%
FMR Inc 8.03%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.56%
Franklin Templeton Inc 6.21%
State Street Corp 5.34%

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 19.68B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 24.51
1Y Target Price 176.72
Price to earnings Ratio 24.51
1Y Target Price 176.72
Volume (30-day avg) 3.1M shares
Beta 1.16
52 Weeks Range 90.80 - 188.71
Updated Date 10/26/2026
52 Weeks Range 90.80 - 188.71
Updated Date 10/26/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 2.02%
Basic EPS (TTM) 3.82

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Retail EnergyElectricity and natural gas sales to residential/commercial users.This is the core stable income driver through monthly energy bills.
GenerationOperation of power plants selling into wholesale markets.Provides the supply that backs the retail business and offers upside during market spikes.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 24.51
Forward PE 9.12
Enterprise Value 43.36B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.59
Enterprise Value 43.36B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.59
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.31
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 11.61
Shares Outstanding 210.21M
Shares Floating 209.26M
Shares Outstanding 210.21M
Shares Floating 209.26M
Percent Insiders 4.46
Percent Institutions 95.29

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.

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