NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) Stake Raised by NatWest Group plc

NatWest Group plc grew its stake in NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG - Free Report) by 49.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 118,657 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 39,455 shares during the period. NRG Energy accounts for 3.2% of NatWest Group plc's holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. NatWest Group plc owned about 0.06% of NRG Energy worth $10,705,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. M&T Bank Corp boosted its position in NRG Energy by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 38,213 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $3,481,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC lifted its stake in shares of NRG Energy by 4.5% during the third quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 2,630 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $240,000 after buying an additional 113 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. boosted its position in NRG Energy by 18.4% in the fourth quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 803 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of NRG Energy by 3.5% in the third quarter. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,746 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $356,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares during the period. Finally, Grove Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of NRG Energy by 29.7% in the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 564 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 129 shares during the last quarter. 97.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

NRG Energy Stock Down 0.4 %

NYSE:NRG traded down $0.39 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $104.79. The company had a trading volume of 2,597,357 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,065,554. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $98.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $90.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.33, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.15. NRG Energy, Inc. has a 12-month low of $51.26 and a 12-month high of $115.38.

NRG Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Investors of record on Monday, February 3rd will be issued a $0.44 dividend. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 3rd. This is a positive change from NRG Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. NRG Energy's dividend payout ratio is 44.22%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently commented on NRG shares. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of NRG Energy from $84.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of NRG Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $93.00 to $113.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Evercore ISI upgraded NRG Energy from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $74.00 to $126.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of NRG Energy from $94.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of NRG Energy from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $111.43.

Insider Activity at NRG Energy

In other news, CFO Bruce Chung sold 20,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.63, for a total value of $1,952,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 69,454 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,780,794.02. This trade represents a 22.36 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Robert J. Gaudette sold 60,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.41, for a total transaction of $5,484,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 64,448 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,891,191.68. The trade was a 48.21 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.86% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.