NRG Energy Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results and Reaffirms 2026 Financial Guidance

• Reaffirming 2026 guidance ranges
• Advancing Bring Your Own Power strategy with hyperscaler for 1.2 GW CCGT in Texas
• Achieved commercial operations at 415 MW T.H. Wharton facility, NRG's first new build generation asset in nearly a decade; remaining two Texas Energy Fund projects on time and on budget

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, and reports GAAP Net Income of $506 million, GAAP Earnings per Share (EPS) — basic of $2.32, and GAAP Cash Provided by Operating Activities of $1,117 million. The Company's non-GAAP metrics are Adjusted Net Income of $315 million, Adjusted EPS of $1.49, Adjusted EBITDA of $1,217 million, and Free Cash Flow before Growth Investments (FCFbG) of $1,025 million for the second quarter of 2026.

“Today we provided a progress update on our Bring Your Own Power data center strategy,” said Robert Gaudette, President & CEO. “This is the model for how large load growth should work. The customer supports the investment, with reliability and affordability protected for all. We also delivered a solid second quarter and are reaffirming our 2026 guidance. I am confident in the discipline and execution that continue to drive NRG forward.”

Consolidated Financial Results

Table 1:

NRG reported GAAP Net Income of $506 million for the second quarter of 2026, an increase of $610 million from the prior year. The improvement was due to the addition of the portfolio of assets acquired from LS Power and higher realized capacity prices in the East, partially offset by milder weather and higher supply costs. Results also benefited from unrealized, non-cash gains on economic hedges, primarily in the East, compared to losses in the prior year. These hedge positions are adjusted to market value each period, while the related customer contracts are not. As a result, the accounting treatment can result in temporary unrealized gains or losses that may differ from expected results when the contracts settle.

Adjusted Net Income for the second quarter 2026 is $315 million, $24 million lower than prior year, primarily driven by higher interest expense and depreciation and amortization related to the acquisition of the portfolio of assets acquired from LS Power, partially offset by a $308 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA, the impacts of which are described in the segment results below. Adjusted EPS is $1.49 for the second quarter 2026, $0.24 lower than prior year. The second quarter 2026 Adjusted EPS results include the financial impacts from Adjusted Net Income and impacts of shares issued as part of the completed acquisition of generation assets and CPower from LS Power.

Reaffirming 2026 Guidance

NRG is reaffirming its guidance for 2026 as set forth below.

Table 2: Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, and FCFbG Guidance for 2026^a

2026 Capital Allocation

The Company plans to return $1.0 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and approximately $407 million through common stock dividends in 2026, as part of its previously announced 2026 capital allocation plan. Through July 31, 2026, the Company completed $932 million in share repurchases and distributed $202 million in common stock dividends.

On July 22, 2026, NRG declared a quarterly dividend of $0.475 per common share, or $1.90 per share on an annualized basis. The dividend is payable on August 17, 2026 to common stockholders of record as of August 3, 2026.

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

Advanced BYOP Data Center Strategy

NRG advanced its Bring Your Own Power (BYOP) strategy with a leading global cloud and AI hyperscaler. The parties are aligned on principal commercial terms for the development of a 1.2 GW combined cycle natural gas generation facility in Texas and remains subject to final documentation and approvals. This update highlights NRG's BYOP strategy of meeting large load growth through customer-backed generation investment to support grid reliability, energy affordability, and local communities.

Texas Energy Fund (TEF)

On May 26, 2026, NRG achieved commercial operations at its first project, the 415 MW T.H. Wharton facility. The project satisfied the eligibility requirements for the completion bonus grant program, and on June 17, 2026, the Company entered into a completion bonus grant agreement with the PUCT for T.H. Wharton for up to $54.72 million, to be paid in ten annual installments, subject to performance of the facility, beginning after the initial test period ends on May 31, 2027. NRG's two additional TEF projects remain on time and on budget. Through the program, NRG plans to bring online a total of 1.5 GW of new, reliable, affordable power generation by mid-2028 to support the increasing energy demands of Texas consumers.

Segment Results

Table 3: Adjusted EBITDA^a

Texas: Second quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA was $381 million, $131 million lower than the prior year. For the first six months of 2026, Adjusted EBITDA was $597 million, $214 million lower than prior year. Results were primarily driven by higher supply costs, mild winter weather, including a ~30% decrease in heating degree days as compared to prior year leading to lower retail load, and additional operating expenses for the new generation assets.

East: Second quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA was $469 million, $370 million higher than the prior year. For the first six months of 2026, Adjusted EBITDA was $933 million, $360 million higher than prior year. Results were primarily driven by contribution of the new generation assets and CPower and higher capacity prices for owned generation, partially offset by higher power supply costs during Winter Storm Fern and lower natural gas margins.

West/Other: Second quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA was $66 million, $27 million higher than the prior year. For the first six months of 2026, Adjusted EBITDA was $172 million, $60 million higher than prior year. The increase was primarily driven by lower operating expenses associated with a lease expiration in May 2025.

Vivint Smart Home: Second quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA was $301 million, $42 million higher than the prior year. For the first six months of 2026, Adjusted EBITDA was $595 million, $56 million higher than prior year. The increase for both the quarter and the first six months of 2026 is attributable to higher new customer adds and an increase in monthly recurring service margin per customer.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Table 4: Corporate Liquidity

As of June 30, 2026, NRG's unrestricted cash was approximately $0.2 billion, and $5.1 billion was available under the Company’s credit facilities. Total liquidity was $5.3 billion, which was $4.3 billion lower than December 31, 2025, primarily driven by funding of the acquisition of generation assets and CPower from LS Power.

Earnings Conference Call

On August 4, 2026, 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 is a leading provider of electricity, natural gas, and smart home solutions to eight million customers across North America. The company operates a customer-first platform supported by a diversified supply strategy and the safe, reliable operation of approximately 25 GW of power generation. NRG plays a meaningful role in competitive energy markets and our innovative team is creating the flexible and affordable solutions that households and large businesses need today and in the future.

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 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, the escalation of international trade disputes, and the occurrence or re-escalation of geopolitical conflicts (including the hostilities with Iran and the conflicts in the Middle East) and inflationary impacts resulting therefrom, risks associated with the integration of the portfolio of assets acquired from LS Power, including potential disruption to ongoing operations and other transition difficulties, 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, the emergence of 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, customer affordability concerns that may constrain the pricing of NRG's products and services and limit its ability to recover costs, the 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 execute definitive agreements for, and proceed with or complete, proposed projects (including the data center project) on the contemplated terms, timeline and 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 acquisition from LS Power), 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 Commission (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, adjusted cash provided by operating activities, Free Cash Flow before Growth Investments, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted EPS guidance are estimates as of August 4, 2026. 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.

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