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NRG Energy, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 11 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • GAAP net income rose $610 million: GAAP net income was $506 million against a $104 million loss a year earlier. Management cited the LS Power assets and higher East realized capacity prices. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $1.49: Adjusted EPS was $1.49 against $1.73 a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $315 million, $24 million lower, mainly from higher interest and depreciation tied to the LS Power acquisition. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up $308 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $1,217 million, up from $909 million a year earlier. The company reported the drivers by segment. Source
  • Texas EBITDA down $131 million: Texas Adjusted EBITDA was $381 million against $512 million. Management attributed the decline to higher supply costs, lower heating degree days and new-asset operating expenses. Source
  • East EBITDA up $370 million: East Adjusted EBITDA was $469 million against $99 million, driven by new generation assets, CPower and higher capacity prices for owned generation. Source
  • BYOP hyperscaler terms aligned: NRG advanced its Bring Your Own Power strategy with a hyperscaler for a 1.2 GW combined cycle gas plant in Texas, with principal terms aligned. Source
  • Liquidity down $4.3 billion: Total liquidity was $5.3 billion at June 30, 2026, with unrestricted cash of about $0.2 billion. Management tied the decline primarily to funding the LS Power acquisition. Source

“The customer supports the investment, with reliability and affordability protected for all.”

Robert Gaudette, President & CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted Net Income Source2026$1,685 - $2,115Kept
Adjusted EPS Source2026$7.90 - $9.90Kept
Adjusted EBITDA Source2026$5,325 - $5,825Kept
Free Cash Flow before Growth Investments (FCFbG) Source2026$2,800 - $3,300Kept
Share repurchases Source2026$1.0 billionKept
Common stock dividends Source2026approximately $407 millionKept
Maintenance capital expenditures, net Source2026(450) - (480)Kept
Environmental capital expenditures Source2026(10) - (20)Kept
Interest expense, net Source20261,195Kept
Depreciation and amortization Source20261,955Kept
Weighted average basic common shares Source2026214 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Management reaffirmed all 2026 guidance ranges for Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA and FCFbG. Source
  • New: NRG advanced its BYOP strategy with a hyperscaler; principal commercial terms are agreed for a 1.2 GW Texas gas plant. Source
  • New: The 415 MW T.H. Wharton facility reached commercial operations on May 26, 2026, after the first quarter release expected them by end of May. Source
  • New: NRG entered a PUCT completion bonus grant agreement for T.H. Wharton of up to $54.72 million. Source

Earnings and adjusted results

  • GAAP net income rose $610 million: GAAP net income was $506 million against a $104 million loss a year earlier. Management cited the LS Power assets and higher East realized capacity prices. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $1.49: Adjusted EPS was $1.49 against $1.73 a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $315 million, $24 million lower, mainly from higher interest and depreciation tied to the LS Power acquisition. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up $308 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $1,217 million, up from $909 million a year earlier. The company reported the drivers by segment. Source

Segment results

  • Texas EBITDA down $131 million: Texas Adjusted EBITDA was $381 million against $512 million. Management attributed the decline to higher supply costs, lower heating degree days and new-asset operating expenses. Source
  • East EBITDA up $370 million: East Adjusted EBITDA was $469 million against $99 million, driven by new generation assets, CPower and higher capacity prices for owned generation. Source
  • West/Other EBITDA up $27 million: West/Other Adjusted EBITDA was $66 million against $39 million, driven by lower operating expenses from a lease expiration in May 2025. Source
  • Vivint EBITDA up on customer adds: Vivint Smart Home Adjusted EBITDA was $301 million against $259 million, on higher new customer adds and higher monthly recurring service margin per customer. Source

“We also delivered a solid second quarter and are reaffirming our 2026 guidance.”

Robert Gaudette, President & CEO

Strategy and data center build-out

  • BYOP hyperscaler terms aligned: NRG advanced its Bring Your Own Power strategy with a hyperscaler for a 1.2 GW combined cycle gas plant in Texas, with principal terms aligned. Source
  • BYOP model framed as customer-backed: Management describes the strategy as meeting large load growth through customer-backed generation that supports grid reliability, affordability and local communities. Source
  • T.H. Wharton entered commercial operation: The 415 MW T.H. Wharton facility began commercial operations on May 26, 2026, NRG's first new build generation asset in nearly a decade. Source
  • PUCT completion bonus grant agreed: NRG signed a PUCT completion bonus grant agreement for T.H. Wharton of up to $54.72 million, paid in ten annual installments. Source

Costs, interest and acquisition expenses

  • Interest and D&A rose on LS Power: Interest expense was $310 million against $148 million, and depreciation and amortization was $494 million against $344 million, both tied to the LS Power acquisition. Source
  • Cost of operations declined on higher revenue: Cost of operations was $5,470 million against $5,629 million, while revenue was $7,481 million against $6,740 million. Source
  • Acquisition costs of $16 million: Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs were $16 million, against $43 million a year earlier, and $61 million for the six months. Source

“I am confident in the discipline and execution that continue to drive NRG forward.”

Robert Gaudette, President & CEO

Cash flow and FCFbG

  • FCFbG of $1,025 million in quarter: Free Cash Flow before Growth Investments was $1,025 million, against $914 million a year earlier. Six-month FCFbG was $959 million against $1,207 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $1,117 million: GAAP cash provided by operating activities was $1,117 million for the quarter, against $451 million a year earlier. Six-month operating cash flow was $948 million. Source

Liquidity and shareholder returns

  • Liquidity down $4.3 billion: Total liquidity was $5.3 billion at June 30, 2026, with unrestricted cash of about $0.2 billion. Management tied the decline primarily to funding the LS Power acquisition. Source
  • Debt balances at June 30: Current debt and finance leases were $1,512 million and long-term debt and finance leases were $21,744 million, against $31 million and $16,412 million at year-end 2025. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends to date: Through July 31, 2026, NRG completed $932 million of share repurchases and distributed $202 million of common stock dividends. Source
  • Quarterly dividend at $0.475: NRG declared a quarterly dividend of $0.475 per share on July 22, 2026, or $1.90 annualized, unchanged from the prior declaration. Source
  • Buybacks tied to credit ratings: Management said share repurchases occur only when they would not jeopardize satisfactory credit ratings. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Dividend payable August 17: The $0.475 quarterly dividend is payable August 17, 2026, to holders of record as of August 3, 2026. Source
  • Texas Energy Fund 1.5 GW by mid-2028: NRG plans to bring the Texas Energy Fund program online with a total of 1.5 GW by mid-2028. Source
  • Hyperscaler documentation pending: Principal terms for the 1.2 GW Texas plant remain subject to final documentation and approvals. Source
  • Completion bonus payments from 2027: Completion bonus installments are paid annually over ten years, starting after the test period ends May 31, 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan Source$1.0 billion share repurchases and approximately $407 million common dividends in 2026

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Unrealized hedge gains and losses are recorded at market value while related customer contracts are not, so results can differ from settled economics. Source
  • Demand: Milder winter weather reduced Texas retail load, with heating degree days about 30% below the prior year. Source
  • Operational: Power supply costs rose during Winter Storm Fern, and natural gas margins were lower in the East. Source
  • Financial: Liquidity is lower after acquisition funding, with unrestricted cash of about $0.2 billion at June 30, 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the two remaining TEF projects remain on schedule and within budget. Source
  • Met: The company had expected commercial operations by end of May 2026 and reported achieving them on May 26. Source
  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the 2026 guidance ranges without describing their status against prior commitments. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.