NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) Shares Up 7.7% - Should You Buy?

NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG - Get Free Report) rose 7.7% on Friday . The company traded as high as $99.91 and last traded at $99.87. Approximately 832,627 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 43% from the average daily volume of 1,451,175 shares. The stock had previously closed at $92.75.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Guggenheim increased their target price on NRG Energy from $77.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of NRG Energy from $94.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted 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. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of NRG Energy from $84.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised NRG Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $93.00 to $113.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, NRG Energy has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $102.71.

NRG Energy Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $19.95 billion, a PE ratio of 24.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.12. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $93.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $85.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.57, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.17.

NRG Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 1st were paid a $0.4075 dividend. This represents a $1.63 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.65%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 1st. NRG Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 40.95%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On NRG Energy

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NRG. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co raised its holdings in NRG Energy by 25.1% during the third quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co now owns 50,027 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $4,557,000 after purchasing an additional 10,031 shares in the last quarter. Luxor Capital Group LP raised its stake in NRG Energy by 47.8% during the 3rd quarter. Luxor Capital Group LP now owns 520,591 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $47,426,000 after acquiring an additional 168,267 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Hawaii lifted its position in NRG Energy by 95.5% in the third quarter. Bank of Hawaii now owns 15,685 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,429,000 after acquiring an additional 7,662 shares during the last quarter. DRW Securities LLC boosted its stake in NRG Energy by 181.5% in the third quarter. DRW Securities LLC now owns 11,913 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,085,000 after acquiring an additional 7,681 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in shares of NRG Energy by 29.7% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 236,734 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $21,566,000 after purchasing an additional 54,165 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.72% of the company's stock.

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.