NRG vs TLN vs VST
161 measures in 16 categories, one definition each, computed from filings and market data.
NRG38.4
NRG Energy, Inc.
Utilities · Independent Power Producers
$103.75 +0.87%$21.8B mkt cap
Score DNA
TLN21.4
Talen Energy Corporation
Utilities · Independent Power Producers
$354.81 +0.34%$16.8B mkt cap
Score DNA
Price, rebased to 100 three years ago
NRG TLN VST · weekly adjusted closesSmart money 8Valuation 16Profitability (TTM) 12Returns on capital 11Growth 17Margin history & stability 7Liquidity (latest quarter) 7Leverage & solvency (latest quarter) 13Efficiency 11Cash flow & earnings quality 7Dividends & buybacks 9Scores & forensic checks 15Per share 7Size (TTM) 8Price performance 9Technicals 4
● marks the highest or lowest value where that direction is plainly stronger (margins, returns, coverage, leverage); multiples and yields are left unmarked. Bars show each stock's percentile within its own industry. n/a: the measure does not apply to lenders and insurers.
Smart money
8 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider open-market buys, 180d | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Insider $ bought, 180d | — | — | $1.17M |
| Congress purchases, 180d | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Last Congress purchase | 2026-09-25 | — | 2026-09-25 |
| 13F net change in holders | −40 | +70 | +97 |
| ETFs adding shares, 30d | 848 | 327 | 943 |
| ETFs trimming, 30d | 677 | 207 | 723 |
| Net ETF funds, 30d | +171 | +120 | +220 |
Valuation
16 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E (TTM) | 25.7x | — | 23.0x |
| PEG (P/E ÷ 3-yr EPS CAGR) | — | — | 1.48 |
| Price / sales | 0.7x
0th
|
4.8x
100th
|
3.2x
80th
|
| Price / book | 4.5x
67th
|
10.4x
100th
|
9.3x
83rd
|
| Price / tangible book | — | 10.9x
80th
|
139.4x
100th
|
| Price / free cash flow | 62.7x | 34.3x | 37.1x |
| Price / operating cash flow | 14.0x
40th
|
21.6x
80th
|
10.0x
0th
|
| Enterprise value | $45.1B
67th
|
$26.1B
50th
|
$70.5B
83rd
|
| EV / sales | 1.4x
20th
|
7.4x
100th
|
4.4x
80th
|
| EV / EBITDA | 12.2x
40th
|
35.2x
100th
|
10.5x
20th
|
| EV / EBIT | 30.4x
80th
|
69.7x
100th
|
18.2x
0th
|
| EV / free cash flow | 129.6x | 53.3x | 51.2x |
| Earnings yield | 3.9%
83rd
|
-1.1%
17th
|
4.3%
100th
|
| FCF yield | 1.6%
67th
|
2.9%
100th
|
2.7%
83rd
|
| Operating cash flow yield | 7.1%
67th
|
4.6%
33rd
|
10.0%
100th
|
| Graham number (per share) | $45.43 | — | $48.77 |
Profitability (TTM)
12 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 19.4%
33rd
|
44.6%
100th
|
38.0%
83rd
|
| EBITDA margin | 11.2%
0th
|
21.0%
40th
|
41.8%
100th
|
| Operating margin | 5.7%
40th
|
8.3%
60th
|
2.3%
0th
|
| EBIT margin | 4.5%
20th
|
10.6%
40th
|
24.2%
100th
|
| Net margin | 2.6%
40th
|
-5.2%
0th
|
13.9%
100th
|
| NOPAT margin | 4.9%
40th
|
6.6%
60th
|
1.9%
0th
|
| FCF margin | 1.0%
60th
|
13.9%
100th
|
8.6%
80th
|
| Operating cash flow margin | 4.7%
0th
|
22.0%
80th
|
32.0%
100th
|
| R&D / revenue | 0.0%
0th
|
0.0%
0th
|
0.0%
0th
|
| SG&A / revenue | 14.2%
75th
|
19.0%
100th
|
10.6%
50th
|
| Stock comp / revenue | 0.4%
25th
|
15.7%
100th
|
— |
| Effective tax rate | 14.4%
0th
|
21.0%
50th
|
20.8%
33rd
|
Returns on capital
11 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (on average equity) | 23.8%
83rd
|
-12.9%
0th
|
43.1%
100th
|
| ROA | 2.7%
67th
|
-1.8%
17th
|
5.5%
100th
|
| ROIC | 5.8%
100th
|
2.1%
33rd
|
1.2%
17th
|
| ROCE | 4.9%
50th
|
2.7%
17th
|
12.1%
100th
|
| Return on tangible assets | 4.6%
67th
|
3.6%
33rd
|
9.6%
100th
|
| Cash ROIC (OCF / invested capital) | 5.5%
17th
|
7.1%
33rd
|
20.5%
100th
|
| Gross profitability (GP / assets) | 16.1%
83rd
|
10.4%
67th
|
5.9%
50th
|
| ROIC, 3-yr average | 7.8%
80th
|
3.8%
20th
|
4.2%
40th
|
| ROIC, 5-yr average | 6.7%
75th
|
— | 3.9%
25th
|
| ROE, 5-yr average | 20.2%
75th
|
— | 22.9%
100th
|
| Incremental ROIC | 7.9%
83rd
|
1.2%
50th
|
-63.5%
0th
|
Growth
17 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (TTM YoY) | 12.9%
40th
|
65.8%
100th
|
-28.4%
0th
|
| Revenue growth (QoQ) | -27.4%
40th
|
-39.8%
0th
|
-13.7%
60th
|
| Revenue CAGR, 3 yr | 2.9%
40th
|
75.8%
100th
|
-2.2%
20th
|
| Revenue CAGR, 5 yr | 12.8% | — | 6.2% |
| Gross profit CAGR, 3 yr | 360.3% | — | -13.5% |
| Operating income CAGR, 3 yr | — | — | -48.2% |
| Net income growth (TTM YoY) | 62.6% | — | -7.1% |
| Net income CAGR, 3 yr | — | — | 11.6% |
| EPS growth (TTM YoY) | 50.4% | — | -7.0% |
| EPS CAGR, 3 yr | — | — | 15.6% |
| EPS CAGR, 5 yr | -1.8% | — | — |
| FCF growth (TTM YoY) | -75.0% | — | -16.8% |
| FCF CAGR, 3 yr | — | 26.9% | -19.2% |
| Operating cash flow CAGR, 3 yr | — | 19.0% | 6.7% |
| Book value CAGR, 3 yr | 16.8%
80th
|
-4.0%
20th
|
4.3%
40th
|
| Dividend CAGR, 3 yr | 5.6% | — | 3.5% |
| Sustainable growth rate | 11.5% | — | 33.4% |
Margin history & stability
7 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross margin, 3-yr average | 19.2%
20th
|
35.5%
80th
|
28.2%
60th
|
| Operating margin, 3-yr average | 7.7%
60th
|
4.4%
20th
|
18.3%
100th
|
| Net margin, 3-yr average | 3.8%
20th
|
15.5%
80th
|
9.6%
40th
|
| FCF margin, 3-yr average | 3.9%
60th
|
9.3%
80th
|
10.0%
100th
|
| Revenue stability (0-1) | 0.77
67th
|
0.93
100th
|
0.38
33rd
|
| Earnings stability (0-1) | 0.03
0th
|
0.64
50th
|
0.81
67th
|
| Margin stability (0-1) | 0.42
80th
|
0.00
0th
|
0.17
60th
|
Liquidity (latest quarter)
7 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash & short-term investments | $162.0M
17th
|
$231.0M
33rd
|
$435.0M
50th
|
| Net cash (− = net debt) | −$23.3B
17th
|
−$9.3B
50th
|
−$19.5B
33rd
|
| Working capital | −$322.0M
0th
|
−$288.0M
17th
|
−$281.0M
33rd
|
| Current ratio | 0.97
33rd
|
0.78
17th
|
0.97
50th
|
| Quick ratio | 0.89
33rd
|
0.55
17th
|
0.97
50th
|
| Cash ratio (cash + ST investments / current liabilities) | 0.02
0th
|
0.18
67th
|
0.04
17th
|
| Defensive interval (days) | 298 days
40th
|
150 days
20th
|
464 days
60th
|
Leverage & solvency (latest quarter)
13 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total debt | $23.5B
83rd
|
$9.6B
50th
|
$19.9B
67th
|
| Debt / equity | 4.83
83rd
|
5.92
100th
|
3.63
67th
|
| Net debt / equity | 4.80
83rd
|
5.78
100th
|
3.55
67th
|
| Debt / assets | 58.8%
83rd
|
63.5%
100th
|
46.7%
67th
|
| Debt / capital | 82.9%
83rd
|
85.6%
100th
|
78.4%
67th
|
| Debt / EBITDA | 6.34
60th
|
12.90
100th
|
2.98
20th
|
| Net debt / EBITDA | 6.30
80th
|
12.59
100th
|
2.91
40th
|
| Interest coverage (EBIT / interest) | 3.0x
60th
|
0.8x
0th
|
3.4x
80th
|
| Cash interest coverage | 3.2x
60th
|
1.6x
0th
|
4.5x
80th
|
| Debt payback (years of OCF) | 15.1 yrs
100th
|
12.3 yrs
60th
|
3.9 yrs
20th
|
| Liabilities / assets | 87.8%
83rd
|
89.1%
100th
|
87.1%
67th
|
| IS credit model rating | BB- | CCC | BB+ |
| Implied credit spread (bps) | 550
83rd
|
1,200
100th
|
400
50th
|
Efficiency
11 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset turnover | 1.04
100th
|
0.34
33rd
|
0.40
50th
|
| Fixed asset turnover | 2.33
100th
|
0.30
17th
|
0.80
67th
|
| Inventory turnover | 43.0
100th
|
7.5
50th
|
27.9
75th
|
| Receivables turnover | 9.5
67th
|
15.8
83rd
|
7.1
17th
|
| Days sales outstanding | 38 days
33rd
|
23 days
17th
|
52 days
83rd
|
| Days inventory outstanding | 8 days
0th
|
49 days
50th
|
13 days
25th
|
| Days payables outstanding | 35 days
17th
|
53 days
50th
|
38 days
33rd
|
| Cash conversion cycle (days) | 12 days
33rd
|
18 days
50th
|
27 days
67th
|
| Capex / revenue | 3.6%
0th
|
8.1%
20th
|
23.4%
80th
|
| Capex / depreciation | 0.54
0th
|
0.78
20th
|
1.33
40th
|
| Operating expense ratio | 13.8%
40th
|
58.9%
100th
|
20.8%
80th
|
Cash flow & earnings quality
7 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.83 | — | 2.31 |
| FCF / net income | 0.41 | — | 0.62 |
| FCF / operating cash flow | 22.4%
60th
|
63.1%
100th
|
26.9%
80th
|
| Capex / operating cash flow | 77.6%
40th
|
36.9%
0th
|
73.1%
20th
|
| Accruals ratio | -2.2%
50th
|
-9.2%
0th
|
-7.2%
17th
|
| Sloan accruals ratio | -6.1%
33rd
|
-9.9%
0th
|
-5.3%
50th
|
| Earnings quality score (0-1) | 1.00 | — | 0.75 |
Scores & forensic checks
15 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS score | 38
67th
|
21
0th
|
27
17th
|
| IS profitability | 43
83rd
|
15
33rd
|
50
100th
|
| IS growth | 68
60th
|
52
40th
|
18
0th
|
| IS value | 40
50th
|
19
0th
|
42
67th
|
| IS momentum | 93
80th
|
50
0th
|
51
20th
|
| IS risk (safety) | 30
17th
|
15
0th
|
30
17th
|
| IS quality | 51
50th
|
21
0th
|
56
67th
|
| IS balance sheet | 19
17th
|
18
0th
|
28
33rd
|
| IS earnings quality | 85
100th
|
56
17th
|
71
50th
|
| IS cash flow | 29
33rd
|
43
100th
|
41
83rd
|
| Piotroski F-score (0-9) | 6
83rd
|
4
17th
|
7
100th
|
| Altman Z-score | 1.6
50th
|
1.0
0th
|
1.6
67th
|
| Beneish M-score | −2.64
40th
|
−2.81
20th
|
−2.95
0th
|
| Ohlson O-score | −6.12
67th
|
−4.92
100th
|
−6.30
50th
|
| IS credit score | 36
17th
|
14
0th
|
47
50th
|
Size (TTM)
8 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $21.8B
67th
|
$16.8B
50th
|
$51.0B
83rd
|
| Revenue | $33.2B
100th
|
$3.5B
50th
|
$16.0B
67th
|
| EBITDA | $3.7B
67th
|
$742.0M
50th
|
$6.7B
83rd
|
| Net income | $849.0M
67th
|
−$185.0M
0th
|
$2.2B
83rd
|
| Free cash flow | $348.0M
67th
|
$490.0M
83rd
|
$1.4B
100th
|
| Total assets | $39.9B
67th
|
$15.1B
50th
|
$42.6B
83rd
|
| Shareholders' equity | $4.9B
67th
|
$1.6B
33rd
|
$5.5B
83rd
|
| Employees | 16,702
100th
|
1,880
50th
|
6,390
67th
|
Price performance
9 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | +0.9% | +0.3% | −1.4% |
| 1 week | −3.9% | −6.3% | −5.9% |
| 1 month | −2.3% | +21.0% | +6.1% |
| 3 months | −20.3% | −1.5% | −3.8% |
| 6 months | −37.7% | −2.9% | −7.0% |
| Year to date | −37.0% | −10.6% | −8.0% |
| 1 year | −38.7% | −14.7% | −27.9% |
| 3 years, cumulative | +165.7% | +575.8% | +373.1% |
| 5 years, cumulative | +185.8% | — | +820.2% |
Technicals
4 measures| Measure | NRG | TLN | VST |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI 14 | 48.0 | 56.7 | 52.4 |
| From 52-week high | −45.0% | −21.1% | −30.0% |
| From 52-week low | +11.1% | +26.8% | +14.6% |
| Beta | 1.16 | 1.62 | 1.39 |
InsiderStreet reports findings from filings and market data. A comparison is not a recommendation to buy or sell either stock.Every figure is computed in code · data as of 2026-10-17