NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: NRGAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

NRG AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) is an integrated power company serving approximately 6 million customers across the United States. While revenue reached $33.12B over the trailing twelve months, earnings face volatility with quarterly earnings growth down 85.6% year-over-year. The company carries $23.47B in total debt alongside an enterprise value of $45.13B.

Market cap
$21.81B
Revenue (TTM)
$33.12B
P/E
27.2x
fwd 9.0x
1Y return
-38.2%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$184.76
78.1% vs last close

Bull case

  • Forward P/E of 9.0x trades at a discount to the S&P 500 Utilities peer median of 16.0x.
  • Analyst mean price target of $184.76 implies 78.1% upside from the recent price of $103.75.
  • Share count decreased 13.5% over 5 years supported by $1.40B in FY2025 buybacks.

Bear case

  • Quarterly earnings fell 85.6% year-over-year in the latest quarter ending June 30, 2026.
  • Balance sheet leverage is elevated with total debt of $23.47B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.83.
  • Trailing operating margin of 12.8% lags behind the S&P 500 Utilities peer median of 23.4%.

What NRG Energy does

NRG Energy, Inc. operates as an integrated power company in the United States through three segments: Texas, East, and West. It produces, sells, and delivers electricity and related products and services to approximately 6 million residential, commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers. The company generates power using natural gas, coal, oil, solar, nuclear, and battery storage, holding approximately 18,000 megawatts of capacity across 25 plants as of December 31, 2021. It also provides energy efficiency, demand response, and advisory services, while trading electric power, natural gas, commodities, and financial products. Retail brands include NRG, Reliant, Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy, Stream, and XOOM Energy.

Growth and profitability

Revenue rose from $26.99B in FY2021 to $30.71B in FY2025, recording a 5-year revenue CAGR of 27.6% from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual profitability has fluctuated, shifting from net income of $2.19B in FY2021 down to -$202.0M in FY2023, before rebounding to $1.12B in FY2024 and $864.0M in FY2025. Operating margin was 6.0% in FY2025, lower than 12.4% achieved in FY2021. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $33.12B with a profit margin of 2.6%. In the latest quarter, revenue grew 11.0% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings declined 85.6%.

NRG income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, NRG Energy held $162.0M in cash and short-term investments against $23.47B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $23.30B. Shareholders' equity was $4.86B, bringing debt-to-equity to 4.83 and the current ratio to 0.97. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $1.91B and free cash flow stood at $766.0M. Capital allocation in FY2025 included $1.15B in capital expenditures, $1.40B spent on share buybacks, and $411.0M paid in dividends.

NRG balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

NRG trades at a trailing P/E of 27.2x, above the 20.9x median of its S&P 500 Utilities peers. However, its forward P/E of 9.0x sits below the peer median of 16.0x, and its PEG ratio is 0.39. Enterprise value is $45.13B, with an EV/EBITDA multiple of 12.1x compared to the peer median of 12.2x. Over the past year, NRG shares fell 38.2%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year period, NRG returned 187.0% compared to 83.0% for the index.

NRG key metrics →

NRG dividend

NRG pays a quarterly dividend with an annual forward payout of $1.90, representing a dividend yield of 1.83%. The payout ratio is 27.4%, and the company has paid dividends for 15 consecutive years. Over the past 5 years, the dividend grew at an annualized rate of 8.0%. The last ex-dividend date occurred on August 3, 2026.

NRG dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage consists of 10 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, and 3 Hold ratings. The mean price target is $184.76, representing 78.1% upside over the last close of $103.75. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $8.79 on revenue of $35.40B. For the following year, 12 analysts project EPS of $11.12 on revenue of $36.63B. NRG beat EPS estimates in 2 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 5, 2026.

NRG forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Liquidity is tight with a current ratio of 0.97 and cash of $162.0M against net debt of $23.30B.
  • Earnings history shows past volatility, including a net loss of -$202.0M and negative free cash flow of -$819.0M in FY2023.
  • The stock has lagged broader markets recently, posting a 1-year return of -38.2% and trading 24.6% below its 200-day average.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this NRG AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: NRG income statement, NRG balance sheet, NRG key metrics, NRG analyst forecast, NRG chart. See the NRG stock overview for the latest quote and news.

NRG AI stock analysis FAQ

What is NRG Energy's dividend yield and payout schedule?

NRG pays a quarterly dividend with an annual forward amount of $1.90, yielding 1.83%. It has paid dividends for 15 consecutive years with a payout ratio of 27.4%.

How much debt does NRG have?

As of June 30, 2026, NRG had $23.47B in total debt and $162.0M in cash and short-term investments, leading to net debt of $23.30B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.83.

What are analysts forecasting for NRG's earnings?

Analysts estimate EPS of $8.79 on revenue of $35.40B for FY2026. For FY2027, consensus estimates project EPS of $11.12, reflecting expected growth of 26.6%.

When is NRG Energy's next earnings report?

The next earnings date for NRG Energy is scheduled for November 5, 2026.

More Utilities AI stock analysis