ConocoPhillips vs NRG Energy Inc — how do they compare? ConocoPhillips trades at $125.74 (market cap $147.80B), while NRG Energy Inc trades at $120.38 (market cap $24.83B). The key difference: ConocoPhillips is far larger — about 6× NRG Energy Inc's market cap, and ConocoPhillips pays the higher dividend (2.73%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| COP | NRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $147.80B | $24.83B |
Sector | Energy | Utilities |
52-Week High | $133.80 | $184.03 |
52-Week Low | $85.66 | $117.04 |
Enterprise Value | $163.40B | $48.79B |
Dividend Yield | 2.73% | 1.61% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ConocoPhillips (COP) trades at $117.61, up 0.73% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $149.25. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $3.24 versus $2.90 estimated, driven by strong Permian Basin output and higher oil prices. The company reaffirmed its $7 billion free cash flow target by 2029 and completed a $1.7 billion asset sale ahead of schedule.
Outlook is positive due to robust operational performance and favorable oil market trends, but risks include commodity price volatility and CEO transition. The stock offers value with a P/E of 15.56 and a net income margin of 14.65%, supported by 74.51% analyst buy ratings.
NRG Energy trades at $118.13, down 0.77% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and recent earnings misses in Q1 and Q2 2026. The company reported Q2 2026 adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 billion, up 34% year-over-year, and is advancing a 1.2-GW Texas data-center power project to drive growth. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 30.76 and P/S of 0.72, with a net income margin of 2.56% for 2025.
The outlook is mixed: strong analyst consensus (69% buy ratings) and a $207.83 price target suggest upside, but technical weakness, rising debt, and execution risks on new projects pose challenges. Revenue growth to $33.1B in 2026 and strategic investments in data center demand support long-term potential, though interest costs and leverage require monitoring.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
ConocoPhillips is a U.S.-based independent exploration and production firm. In 2021, it produced 1.0 million barrels per day of oil and natural gas liquids and 3.2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas, primarily from Alaska and the Lower 48 in the United States and Norway in Europe and several countries in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Proven reserves at year-end 2021 were 6.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
Read more on COP →NRG Energy is one of the largest retail energy providers in the U.S., with 7 million customers, including its 2021 acquisition of Direct Energy. It also is one of the largest U.S. independent power producers, with 16 gigawatts of nuclear, coal, gas, and oil power generation capacity primarily in Texas. Since 2018, NRG has divested its 47% stake in NRG Yield, among other renewable energy and conventional generation investments. NRG exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a stand-alone entity in December 2003.
Read more on NRG →