NRG Energy, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2025 Results and Reaffirms 2025 Financial Guidance

Associated Press

12-05-2025

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2025--
NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) today reports GAAP Net Income of $750 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. GAAP EPS — basic is $3.70, Cash Provided by Operating Activities is $855 million, Adjusted Net Income is $531 million, Adjusted EPS is $2.68, Adjusted EBITDA is $1,126 million, and Free Cash Flow before Growth Investments (FCFbG) is $293 million for the first quarter of 2025.
'NRG achieved exceptional financial and operational performance in the first quarter. Every part of our organization operated at a high level to meet customer and market needs amidst the backdrop of increasing power demand,' said Larry Coben, Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer. 'We are also increasing our gearing to tightening power markets and to better take advantage of the demand supercycle through the acquisition of assets from LS Power. This highly accretive transaction transforms our generation fleet, enhances our ability to serve customers, and drives long-term value for our shareholders.'
NRG is reaffirming its 2025 guidance ranges for Adjusted EPS and FCFbG of $6.75 - $7.75 and $1,975 - $2,225 million, respectively, in addition to the other metrics found in Table 2.
NRG's GAAP Net Income for the first quarter 2025 is $239 million higher than prior year. This increase is primarily driven by strong performance from each of the Company's segments, as detailed in the Adjusted EBITDA results below. In addition, GAAP Net Income for the first quarter 2025 includes lower gains on unrealized non-cash mark-to-market economic hedges in 2025, compared to in 2024. Certain economic hedge positions are required to be marked-to-market every period, while the customer contracts related to these items are not, resulting in temporary unrealized non-cash losses or gains on the economic hedges that are not reflective of the expected economics at future settlement.
Adjusted Net Income for the first quarter 2025 is $531 million, $226 million higher than prior year, primarily driven by a $256 million improvement in Adjusted EBITDA described in the segment results below. Adjusted EPS is $2.68 for the first quarter 2025, $1.22 higher than prior year as a result of continued operational execution, in addition to 11 million fewer weighted average common shares outstanding – basic.
NRG's first quarter 2025 results for Adjusted EPS, FCFbG, and other metrics grew significantly, due to excellent consolidated financial and operational performance. The Company's retail energy business continued to deliver strong margins and the generation fleet had excellent 91% In-the-Money-Availability. NRG's Smart Home segment continued to deliver above expectations with over 6% net customer growth and 4% margin expansion from the first quarter of 2024, in addition to continuing a record-high retention rate of 90%.
Reaffirming 2025 Guidance
NRG is reaffirming its guidance for 2025 as set forth below.
2025 Capital Allocation
NRG is reaffirming its 2025 capital allocation.
In 2025, the Company plans to return $1.3 billion in share repurchases and common stock dividends of approximately $345 million. Through April 30, 2025, the Company returned $532 million to shareholders through $445 million in share repurchases and $87 million in common stock dividends.
On April 8, 2025, NRG declared a quarterly dividend of $0.44 per common share, or $1.76 per share on an annualized basis. This dividend was increased in January 2025 representing an 8% annualized increase, in line with the Company's annual dividend target growth rate of 7-9% per share. The dividend is payable on May 15, 2025, to common stockholders of record as of May 1, 2025.
NRG's share repurchase program and common stock dividend are subject to maintaining satisfactory credit metrics, available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws and regulations. The timing and amount of any shares of common stock repurchased under the share repurchase authorization will be determined by NRG's management based on market conditions and other factors. NRG will only repurchase shares when management believes it would not jeopardize the Company's ability to maintain satisfactory credit ratings.
NRG Strategic Developments
NRG to Acquire a Premier Power Portfolio from LS Power
NRG has entered into a definitive agreement with LS Power to acquire a power portfolio (the 'Portfolio') including 13 GW of premier natural gas-fired generation and the leading C&I VPP business with 6 GW of capacity. The transaction has a purchase price consisting of 24.25 million shares of NRG common stock, $6.4 billion in cash, and the assumption of $3.2 billion in debt, in addition to working capital. The Company expects to realize net present value tax benefits of approximately $0.4 billion, generated directly as a result of the transaction.
The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals including Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC).
Addition of 738 MW of Flexible Natural Gas Texas Generation
NRG successfully closed on April 10, 2025, the strategic acquisition of a 738 MW natural gas combined cycle peaking generation portfolio in Texas from Rockland Capital for $560 million subject to standard working capital adjustment, or an attractive $760 per kW, far below the cost of a new build. The transaction enhances NRG's integrated supply strategy with critical peaking and baseload capacity in key load zones across Texas.
1.5 GW Texas Brownfield Natural Gas New Build Updates
NRG continued the advancement of its three brownfield natural gas plants, now totaling 1.5 GW in Texas Energy Fund (TEF) due diligence. In March 2025, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) selected the 443 MW Greens Bayou peaking facility project to advance to the next phase of diligence, marking the third NRG project chosen under the TEF process. The continued progress and expanded considerations for these projects underscore NRG's commitment to delivering high-quality dispatchable generation to meet the growing energy needs of Texas consumers. Commercial operation at T.H. Wharton is expected by summer 2026.
Texas: First quarter 2025 Adjusted EBITDA is $299 million, $80 million higher than prior year. The increase is primarily driven by higher economic gross margin, including impact of weather, strong plant performance, and supply optimization.
East: First quarter 2025 Adjusted EBITDA is $474 million, $123 million higher than prior year. This increase is primarily driven by higher natural gas wholesale and retail gross margins and increased volumes from weather, and higher generation volumes and capacity prices in New York, partially offset by an increase in planned outage expenditures as compared to prior year.
West/Services/Other: First quarter 2025 Adjusted EBITDA is $77 million, $21 million higher than prior year. This increase is primarily driven by higher retail natural gas and power margins from lower supply costs, partially offset by the sale of Airtron in September 2024.
Vivint Smart Home: First quarter 2025 Adjusted EBITDA is $276 million, $32 million higher than prior year. The increase is attributable to growth in customer count and an increase in monthly recurring revenue per customer.
As of March 31, 2025, NRG's unrestricted cash was $0.7 billion, and $4.5 billion was available under the Company's credit facilities. Total liquidity was $5.2 billion.
Earnings Conference Call
On May 12, 2025, NRG will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern (8:00 a.m. Central) to discuss these results. Investors, the news media and others may access the live webcast of the conference call and accompanying presentation materials through the investor relations website under 'presentations and webcasts' on investors.nrg.com. The webcast will be archived on the site for those unable to listen in real-time.
About NRG
NRG Energy is a leading energy and home services company powered by people and our passion for a smarter, cleaner, and more connected future. A Fortune 500 company operating in the United States and Canada, NRG delivers innovative solutions that help people, organizations, and businesses achieve their goals while also advocating for competitive energy markets and customer choice. More information is available at www.nrg.com. Connect with NRG on Facebook and LinkedIn and follow us on X @nrgenergy.
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, the information presented in this press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can typically be identified by terminology such as 'may,' 'should,' 'could,' 'objective,' 'projection,' 'forecast,' 'goal,' 'guidance,' 'outlook,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'seek,' 'plan,' 'think,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,' 'predict,' 'target,' 'potential' or 'continue' or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the proposed transaction between NRG and LS Power, the expected closing of the transaction and the timing thereof, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, the financing of the proposed transaction, enhancements to NRG's credit profile, synergies, opportunities, anticipated future financial and operational performance, and NRG's future revenues, income, indebtedness, capital structure, plans, expectations, objectives, projected financial performance and/or business results and other future events, and views of economic and market conditions.
Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated herein include, among others, general economic conditions, the imposition of tariffs and escalation of international trade disputes, the inability to close (or any delay in closing) the proposed acquisition of the Portfolio, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the purchase agreement relating to the Portfolio (including the inability to obtain required governmental and regulatory approvals in a timely manner or at all), the inability to obtain financing for the proposed acquisition of the Portfolio, the inability of the combined company to realize expected synergies and benefits of integration (or that it takes longer than expected) which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively as expected, hazards customary in the power industry, weather conditions and extreme weather events, competition in wholesale power, gas and smart home markets, the volatility of energy and fuel prices, the volatility in demand for power and gas, failure of customers or counterparties to perform under contracts, changes in the wholesale power and gas markets, the failure of NRG's expectations regarding load growth to materialize, changes in government or market regulations, the condition of capital markets generally and NRG's ability to access capital markets, NRG's ability to execute its supply strategy, risks related to data privacy, cyberterrorism and inadequate cybersecurity, the loss of data, unanticipated outages at NRG's generation facilities, operational and reputational risks related to the use of artificial intelligence and the adherence to developing laws and regulations related to the use thereof, NRG's ability to achieve its net debt targets, adverse results in current and future litigation, complaints, product liability claims and/or adverse publicity, failure to identify, execute or successfully implement acquisitions or asset sales, risks of the smart home and security industry, including risks of and publicity surrounding the sales, customer origination and retention process, the impact of changes in consumer spending patterns, consumer preferences, geopolitical tensions, demographic trends, supply chain disruptions, NRG's ability to implement value enhancing improvements to plant operations and company wide processes, NRG's ability to achieve or maintain investment grade credit metrics, NRG's ability to proceed with projects under development or the inability to complete the construction of such projects on schedule or within budget, the inability to maintain or create successful partnering relationships, NRG's ability to operate its business efficiently, NRG's ability to retain customers, the ability to successfully integrate businesses of acquired assets or companies (including the Portfolio), NRG's ability to realize anticipated benefits of transactions (including expected cost savings and other synergies) or the risk that anticipated benefits may take longer to realize than expected, NRG's ability to execute its capital allocation plan, and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in this release and in our Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commissions (the 'SEC'). Achieving investment grade credit metrics is not an indication of or guarantee that NRG will receive investment grade credit ratings. Debt and share repurchases may be made from time to time subject to market conditions and other factors, including as permitted by United States securities laws. Furthermore, any common stock dividend is subject to available capital and market conditions.
NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The Adjusted EBITDA, cash provided by operating activities, Free Cash Flow before Growth, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted EPS guidance are estimates as of May 12, 2025. These estimates are based on assumptions NRG believed to be reasonable as of that date. NRG disclaims any current intention to update such guidance, except as required by law. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRG's actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this press release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRG's future results included in NRG's filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov. For a more detailed discussion of these factors, see the information under the captions 'Risk Factors' and 'Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations' in NRG's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in subsequent SEC filings. NRG's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication or as of the date they are made.
Appendix Table A-1: First Quarter 2025 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income Reconciliation by Operating Segment and Consolidated Adjusted EPS Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS and provides a reconciliation from Net Income/(Loss) Available for Common Stockholders:
First Quarter 2025 condensed financial information by Operating Segment:
The following table reconciles the Condensed Consolidated Results of Operations to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income:
Appendix Table A-2: First Quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income Reconciliation by Operating Segment and Consolidated Adjusted EPS Reconciliation
The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS and provides a reconciliation from Net Income/(Loss) Available for Common Stockholders:
First Quarter 2024 condensed financial information by Operating Segment:
The following table reconciles the Condensed Consolidated Results of Operations to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income:
Appendix Table A-3: Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 Free Cash Flow before Growth Investments (FCFbG)
The following table summarizes the calculation of FCFbG providing a reconciliation from Adjusted EBITDA and Cash provided by operating activities:
Appendix Table A-4: Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 Sources and Uses of Liquidity
The following table summarizes the sources and uses of liquidity for the three months ended March 31, 2025:
Appendix Table A-5: Guidance Reconciliations
The following table summarizes the 2025 Guidance calculations of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS and provides a reconciliation from Net Income:
Appendix Table A-6: 2025 Guidance Reconciliations
The following table summarizes the calculation of FCFbG providing a reconciliation from Adjusted EBITDA and Cash provided by operating activities:
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
NRG reports its financial results in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) and supplements with certain non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are not recognized in accordance with GAAP and should not be viewed in isolation or as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance. In addition, other companies may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than NRG does, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure.
NRG uses the following non-GAAP measures to provide additional insight into financial performance:
Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors and other users of NRG's financial statements in evaluating the Company's operating performance and growth, as well as the impact of the Company's capital allocation program. They provide an additional tool to compare business performance across periods and adjust for items that management does not consider indicative of NRG's future operating performance. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to assist in comparing financial performance from period to period on a consistent basis and to readily view operating trends, as a measure for planning and forecasting overall expectations, and for evaluating actual results against such expectations, and in communications with NRG's Board of Directors, shareholders, creditors, analysts and investors concerning its financial performance.
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KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA TEXAS
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: IOT (INTERNET OF THINGS) UTILITIES TECHNOLOGY OIL/GAS ENERGY CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY BUILDING SYSTEMS
SOURCE: NRG Energy, Inc.
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