NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) Short Interest Update

Key Points

• NRG Energy saw a 28.5% increase in short interest, with a total of 5,900,000 shares short sold as of July 31st, equating to 3.1% of the company's stock.
• Analysts have mixed ratings on NRG Energy, with one giving a Strong Buy rating, while others vary from buy to hold, and the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy with an average target price of $186.92.
• NRG Energy's latest quarterly earnings reported an EPS of $1.68, missing consensus estimates, although revenue exceeded expectations at $6.74 billion.

NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 5,900,000 shares, anincreaseof28.5% from the July 15th total of 4,590,000 shares. Currently,3.1% of the company's stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 3,490,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.7 days. Based on an average daily volume of 3,490,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.7 days. Currently,3.1% of the company's stock are short sold.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have issued reports on NRG. Melius began coverage on NRG Energy in a report on Wednesday. They set a "buy" rating and a $308.00 price objective on the stock. Wall Street Zen lowered NRG Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on NRG Energy from $167.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on NRG Energy from $113.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on NRG Energy from $197.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, NRG Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $186.92.

NRG Energy Price Performance

Shares of NRG opened at $148.1020 on Thursday. NRG Energy has a fifty-two week low of $76.13 and a fifty-two week high of $175.96. The company has a market capitalization of $28.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.14. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $155.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $128.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.99, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.93.

NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.68 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.72 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $6.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.63 billion. NRG Energy had a net margin of 1.78% and a return on equity of 88.22%. NRG Energy's revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.37 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that NRG Energy will post 6.36 earnings per share for the current year.

NRG Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, August 1st were given a $0.44 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 1st. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. NRG Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 79.64%.

Insider Activity

In other NRG Energy news, Director Kevin Howell sold 50,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $154.50, for a total transaction of $7,725,000.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 55,427 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,563,471.50. This trade represents a 47.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.86% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On NRG Energy

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Toth Financial Advisory Corp acquired a new stake in NRG Energy in the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new stake in NRG Energy in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in NRG Energy in the second quarter valued at about $32,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in NRG Energy in the second quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Kiker Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in NRG Energy in the second quarter valued at about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.72% of the company's stock.

About NRG Energy

NRG Energy, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy and home services company in the United States and Canada. It operates through Texas; East; West/Services/Other; Vivint Smart Home; and Corporate Activities segments. The company produces and sells electricity generated using coal, oil, solar, and battery storage; natural gas; and a cloud-based home platform, including hardware, software, sales, installation, customer service, technical support, and professional monitoring solutions.

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