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NRG Energy (NRG) Posts Q4 Earnings, Reaffirms '17 Guidance

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NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG - Free Report) reported earnings of 90 cents in the fourth quarter of 2016, as against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 10 cents. Reported earnings were also up 60.7% from the year-ago quarter figure of 56 cents.

Revenues

NRG Energy's quarterly operating revenues of $2,819 million lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,096 million by 9% and were down 9.1% from $3,102 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Full-year 2016 revenues were $12,351 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13,440 million by 8.1% and down 15.8% year over year.

Highlights of the Release

Total operating costs and expenses in the quarter declined 6.4% to $895 million from $956 million a year ago.

The company’s adjusted EBITDA was $492 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, down 15.5% from $582 million a year ago.

The company incurred interest expenses of $1,061 million in 2016, down 5.9% from $1,128 million a year ago.

NRG Energy, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

NRG Energy, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | NRG Energy, Inc. Quote

Financial Condition

As of Dec 31, 2016, NRG Energy had cash and cash equivalents of $1,973 million, compared with $1,518 million as of Dec 31, 2015.

The company’s long-term debt and capital leases (excluding current portion) were $18,006 million as of Dec 31, 2016, compared with $18,983 million as of Dec 31, 2015.

In 2016, NRG Energy’s net cash from operating activities was $2,072 million, up 58.3% from $1,309 million in the prior-year period.

Capital expenditure in 2016 was $1,244 million, down 3% from $1,283 million in the year-ago period.

Guidance

For 2017, NRG Energy reiterated its adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow (before growth investments) guidance in a range of $2,700–$2,900 million and $800–$1,000 million, respectively.

Peer Releases

American Electric Power Co., Inc. (AEP - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 67 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents by 21.8%.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of $1.21 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.29 by 6.2%. Reported earnings were, however, up 3.4% year over year.

WEC Energy Group (WEC - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of 61 cents per share, a penny below both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-ago figure.

Zacks Rank

NRG Energy currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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