NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) Hits New 1-Year High - What's Next?

Shares of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $103.14 and last traded at $102.21, with a volume of 1127150 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $98.89.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on NRG. Guggenheim boosted their target price on shares of NRG Energy from $77.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of NRG Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the company from $93.00 to $113.00 in a research note on Tuesday. StockNews.com downgraded shares of NRG Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, September 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of NRG Energy from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped 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. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $102.71.

NRG Energy Trading Up 2.8 %

The firm has a market cap of $20.58 billion, a PE ratio of 25.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.57. The company's 50 day moving average price is $91.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $83.72.

NRG Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 1st were paid a $0.4075 dividend. This represents a $1.63 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 1st. NRG Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 40.95%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Rasesh M. Patel sold 102,603 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.35, for a total value of $8,244,151.05. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 163,680 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,151,688. This represents a 38.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.86% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in NRG Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in NRG Energy by 74.7% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 325 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC bought a new position in NRG Energy during the 2nd quarter worth about $32,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in NRG Energy by 76.1% during the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 442 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in NRG Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. 97.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

NRG Energy Company Profile

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.