NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) Stock Has Average Price Target of $194.64

Key Points

• Analyst sentiment is moderately bullish: Sixteen brokerages give NRG Energy an average “Moderate Buy” rating, with an average 12-month price target of $194.64.
• Recent performance and earnings were mixed: Shares opened at $97.84, well below the 52-week high of $189.96, while quarterly EPS of $1.49 missed the $1.69 consensus estimate despite revenue of $7.48 billion exceeding expectations.
• NRG maintained its dividend: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.475 per share, or $1.90 annualized, representing a yield of approximately 1.9%; institutional investors own 97.72% of the stock.

Shares of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG - Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the sixteen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation, eleven have issued a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $194.64.

A number of brokerages recently commented on NRG. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce started coverage on shares of NRG Energy in a report on Friday. They issued an "outperform" rating for the company. Siebert Williams Shank initiated coverage on NRG Energy in a research note on Monday, July 6th. They set a "buy" rating and a $184.00 price objective on the stock. BNP Paribas Exane set a $221.00 price objective on NRG Energy in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. BMO Capital Markets restated a "market perform" rating and set a $214.00 price objective on shares of NRG Energy in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on NRG Energy from $203.00 to $209.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th.

NRG Energy Price Performance

NRG stock opened at $97.84 on Wednesday. NRG Energy has a 52 week low of $93.36 and a 52 week high of $189.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.17. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $108.41 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $128.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.88 and a beta of 1.17.

NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.49 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.69 by ($0.20). NRG Energy had a return on equity of 52.95% and a net margin of 2.56%. The business had revenue of $7.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.31 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.73 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. NRG Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.900-9.900 EPS. Analysts anticipate that NRG Energy will post 8.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

NRG Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.4750 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 2nd. This represents a $1.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. NRG Energy's payout ratio is currently 50.26%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CAO Gerald Alfred Spencer sold 1,580 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.93, for a total value of $191,069.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,213 shares in the company, valued at $751,338.09. This trade represents a 20.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 0.43% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of NRG. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in NRG Energy by 146.2% in the 3rd quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 14,072 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,346,000 after acquiring an additional 8,356 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its position in shares of NRG Energy by 2.8% during the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 30,169 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $2,886,000 after acquiring an additional 829 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of NRG Energy by 10.2% in the third quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 2,502 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $239,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its holdings in shares of NRG Energy by 51.1% in the third quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,655 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $158,000 after purchasing an additional 560 shares during the period. Finally, Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC grew its stake in NRG Energy by 0.6% in the third quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 38,718 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $3,703,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.72% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting NRG Energy

Here are the key news stories impacting NRG Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: NRG Energy maintained its quarterly dividend at $0.475 per share, equivalent to $1.90 annually and a yield of approximately 1.9%. The dividend is payable November 16 to shareholders of record as of November 2, supporting the stock’s income appeal. NRG Energy, Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend
• Neutral Sentiment: A Zacks report said NRG’s shares finished at $97.84 while the broader market advanced, indicating company-specific selling pressure. The report highlights key trading and fundamental considerations but does not identify a new operational catalyst. NRG Energy Stock Slides as Market Rises
• Negative Sentiment: Jefferies cut its NRG Energy price target to $131 from $160, while Seaport Research also reduced its target. The revisions signal lower near-term expectations and likely contributed to continued selling. Jefferies Adjusts NRG Energy Price Target NRG Stock Slides Following Price Target Cuts
• Negative Sentiment: NRG’s latest reported quarterly EPS of $1.49 missed the $1.69 consensus estimate, despite revenue exceeding expectations. That earnings shortfall, combined with the stock trading well below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, remains an important overhang for investors.

NRG Energy Company Profile

NRG Energy, Inc is an integrated power and home services company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company produces and sells electricity through a diverse generation portfolio that includes natural gas, coal, nuclear power, renewable energy and battery storage. NRG serves wholesale and retail energy markets, with operations and customers primarily in the United States and Canada.

Through retail brands including Reliant and Direct Energy, NRG provides electricity, natural gas and related energy products to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

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