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Nrg Energy (NRG)
NYSE:NRG
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NRG Energy (NRG) AI Stock Analysis

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NRG Energy

(NYSE:NRG)

Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$171.00
â–²(12.69%Upside)
NRG Energy scores well due to strong financial performance and a positive earnings call, indicating robust growth prospects. However, high leverage and technical indicators suggesting overbought conditions moderate the overall score. The valuation is fair, providing some support but also limiting upside potential.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
Recent acquisitions and power portfolio expansions have led the analyst to increase future EBITDA estimates.
Strategic Acquisitions
NRG Energy is positioned to benefit from the recent LS Power acquisition, which will allow the company to double its asset footprint and increase geographic diversity.
Valuation
NRG Energy's valuation is attractive, trading at approximately 7.5x EV/EBITDA with a 12% free cash flow yield, which is considered reasonable compared to peers.
Negative Factors
Earnings Potential
There are opportunities for revenue and cost improvements not included in the current guidance, suggesting potential upside.
Guidance and Forecasting
Management's outlook reflects conservatism, suggesting potential for exceeding guidance as opportunities are realized.
Market Pricing
Analyst believes there is room for further growth as the market is not fully pricing in the value creation from potential hyperscaler deals.

NRG Energy (NRG) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

NRG Energy Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNRG Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated power company in the United States. It operates through Texas, East, and West. The company is involved in the producing, selling, and delivering electricity and related products and services to approximately 6 million residential, commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers. It generates electricity using natural gas, coal, oil, solar, nuclear, and battery storage. The company also provides system power, distributed generation, renewable products, backup generation, storage and distributed solar, demand response, and energy efficiency, and advisory services, as well as carbon management and specialty services; and on-site energy solutions. In addition, it trades in electric power, natural gas, and related commodities; environmental products; weather products; and financial products, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps. Further, the company procures fuels; provides transportation services; and directly sells energy, services, and products and services to retail customers under the NRG, Reliant, Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy, Stream, and XOOM Energy. As of December 31, 2021, it owns and leases power generation portfolio with approximately 18,000 megawatts of capacity at 25 plants. NRG Energy, Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
How the Company Makes MoneyNRG Energy generates revenue primarily through the sale of electricity and energy-related services. The company's key revenue streams include the generation and retail distribution of power, where it sells electricity directly to consumers and businesses. NRG operates a mix of natural gas, coal, oil, nuclear, and renewable energy facilities, allowing it to maintain a balanced approach to power generation. Additionally, NRG offers energy solutions and services, such as demand response and energy efficiency programs, further contributing to its revenue. The company also benefits from strategic partnerships and acquisitions that enhance its market position and operational capabilities.

NRG Energy Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 12, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 27.17%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 07, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call was generally positive, with record-breaking financial performance, a significant acquisition to enhance future growth potential, and substantial shareholder returns. However, the increase in debt and focus on deleveraging indicate some financial challenges ahead.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record-Breaking Adjusted EBITDA
NRG Energy delivered the strongest first quarter adjusted EBITDA in company history, surpassing last year's record by 30%.
Significant Acquisition Announcement
NRG announced the acquisition of a portfolio of assets from LS Power, including 13 gigawatts of natural gas generation and a 6 gigawatt commercial and industrial Virtual Power Plant platform.
Increased Financial Growth Outlook
NRG raised its five-year adjusted EPS compound annual growth rate to 14%, a 40% increase to the base plan.
Strong First Quarter Financial Performance
Adjusted EPS for the first quarter was $2.68, an 84% increase compared to the first quarter of last year.
Capital Return to Shareholders
NRG completed $445 million in share repurchases through April, with $855 million remaining to be completed through the end of 2025.
Expansion of Generation Capacity
The acquisition more than doubles the size of NRG's generation fleet, creating a pro forma portfolio of 25 gigawatts of owned capacity.
Negative Updates
Significant Debt Increase
The acquisition includes $3.2 billion of existing debt and will be funded with $6.4 billion of new secured and unsecured debt financings.
Deleveraging Period
NRG plans to aggressively repay $3.7 billion of debt over 24 months to 36 months post-closing, indicating a period of financial focus on debt reduction.
Company Guidance
In the first quarter of 2025, NRG Energy delivered record-breaking financial results, achieving a 30% increase in adjusted EBITDA compared to the previous year. The company's adjusted EPS for the quarter was $2.68, marking an 84% improvement from the first quarter of 2024. These exceptional results were supported by strong asset performance, expanded consumer margins, favorable weather, and natural gas optimization. NRG reaffirmed its 2025 financial guidance, highlighting that it is already tracking at the upper end of its full-year guidance ranges. The company also announced the acquisition of a significant portfolio from LS Power, comprising 13 gigawatts of natural gas generation and a 6 gigawatt C&I Virtual Power Plant platform, which is expected to enhance NRG's generation base and earnings potential. This acquisition is projected to increase NRG's five-year adjusted EPS CAGR to 14%, representing a 40% increase over their previous base plan and does not factor in potential upsides such as rising power prices or large load contracts.

NRG Energy Financial Statement Overview

Summary
NRG Energy demonstrates strong revenue growth and profitability with robust margins in the TTM period. The high leverage poses a potential risk, but the company effectively converts income to cash, as seen in its strong cash flow metrics. Overall, the financial health appears solid, albeit with some leverage-induced risk.
Income Statement
78
Positive
The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) gross profit margin is robust at 21.37%, supported by a strong net profit margin of 4.66%. Revenue growth is evident with a 4.10% increase over the previous annual period. EBIT and EBITDA margins are solid, at 9.17% and 12.70%, respectively, indicating efficient operational performance. However, fluctuations in net income in previous years suggest some volatility.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a high debt-to-equity ratio of 3.96, signaling significant leverage, which raises risk concerns. Return on equity is strong at 49.10%, indicating effective use of equity. The equity ratio is relatively low at 11.11%, suggesting limited funding from equity.
Cash Flow
72
Positive
Free cash flow has grown by 24.61% in the TTM, indicating strong cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is favorable at 2.12, showing efficient cash conversion. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 1.66 further underscores the company’s ability to convert income into cash flow.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue28.13B28.82B31.54B26.99B9.09B
Gross Profit6.03B2.30B4.02B6.51B2.55B
EBITDA3.54B1.80B2.98B4.32B1.77B
Net Income1.13B-202.00M1.22B2.19B510.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets24.02B26.04B29.15B23.18B14.90B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments974.00M541.00M430.00M250.00M3.90B
Total Debt10.99B10.97B8.30B8.29B9.04B
Total Liabilities21.54B23.13B25.32B19.58B13.22B
Stockholders Equity2.48B2.91B3.83B3.60B1.68B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.82B-843.00M-13.00M224.00M1.61B
Operating Cash Flow2.31B-221.00M360.00M493.00M1.84B
Investing Cash Flow-24.00M-910.00M-332.00M-3.04B-494.00M
Financing Cash Flow-1.75B-400.00M1.04B-272.00M2.20B

NRG Energy Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price151.75
Price Trends
50DMA
152.39
Negative
100DMA
125.81
Positive
200DMA
110.94
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.51
Positive
RSI
50.79
Neutral
STOCH
29.15
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NRG, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 151.75 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 153.50, below the 50-day MA of 152.39, and above the 200-day MA of 110.94, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.51 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 50.79 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 29.15 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for NRG.

NRG Energy Risk Analysis

NRG Energy disclosed 42 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. NRG Energy reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

NRG Energy Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (67)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
VSVST
78
Outperform
$62.48B28.5546.29%0.49%49.22%313.49%
PPPPL
77
Outperform
$25.99B26.597.00%3.06%5.62%30.02%
NRNRG
71
Outperform
$28.34B23.2144.91%1.19%2.57%-10.19%
70
Outperform
$5.97B25.218.37%2.88%10.10%149.78%
POPOR
70
Outperform
$4.46B14.078.33%5.22%11.83%9.53%
69
Neutral
$15.58B17.848.95%3.94%5.53%23.00%
67
Neutral
$16.78B17.074.47%3.73%4.76%6.06%
* Utilities Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NRG
NRG Energy
151.75
77.90
105.48%
TXNM
TXNM Energy
56.85
18.43
47.97%
POR
Portland GE
40.02
-4.24
-9.58%
PPL
PPL
35.98
8.26
29.80%
VST
Vistra Energy
193.01
117.07
154.16%
EVRG
Evergy
68.90
15.80
29.76%

NRG Energy Corporate Events

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
NRG Energy Announces Major Acquisition Agreement
Positive
May 16, 2025

On May 12, 2025, NRG Energy, Inc. announced a Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire all equity interests in several companies from affiliates of LS Power Equity Advisors, LLC. The transaction, valued at approximately $12 billion, includes a mix of stock, cash, and debt assumption. The closing is targeted for the first quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions. This acquisition is expected to enhance NRG’s market position and operational capacity, although it is not anticipated to trigger any change of control provisions under the assumed debt.

The most recent analyst rating on (NRG) stock is a Buy with a $110.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on NRG Energy stock, see the NRG Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
NRG Energy Acquires LS Power Assets for $12 Billion
Positive
May 12, 2025

On May 12, 2025, NRG Energy announced a definitive agreement to acquire a portfolio of natural gas generation facilities and a commercial and industrial virtual power plant platform from LS Power for approximately $12 billion. This acquisition will double NRG’s generation capacity, enhance its ability to serve growing energy demand, and is expected to be immediately accretive to its adjusted earnings per share. The transaction strengthens NRG’s market position in the Northeast and Texas, enhances its credit profile, and supports significant capital returns to shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (NRG) stock is a Buy with a $110.0000 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on NRG Energy stock, see the NRG Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: May 16, 2025