Alliant Energy Corporation vs NRG Energy Inc — how do they compare? Alliant Energy Corporation trades at $70.15 (market cap $17.78B), while NRG Energy Inc trades at $121.32 (market cap $24.83B). The key difference: NRG Energy Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Alliant Energy Corporation pays the higher dividend (3.12%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LNT | NRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.78B | $24.83B |
Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
52-Week High | $78.03 | $184.03 |
52-Week Low | $63.62 | $117.04 |
Enterprise Value | $29.88B | $48.79B |
Dividend Yield | 3.12% | 1.61% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
LNT trades at $70.25, up 2.98% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including a P/E of 21.7 and net income margin of 18.45%. Recent Q2 2026 earnings of $0.65 per share missed some estimates but beat others, with revenue growth supported by data center demand. The stock is near support at $68, with analyst consensus bullish and a $77.67 price target.
Outlook is positive due to consistent earnings beats, dividend yield, and institutional interest, but risks include high debt levels and competitive pressures. Investors may find value in its stable cash flow and growth in utility demand, though technical weakness suggests cautious entry near support levels.
NRG Energy trades at $120.37, down 1.23% with a bearish technical signal. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed estimates at $1.49 EPS versus $1.69 expected, though revenue grew 11% year-over-year. The company is advancing a 1.2 GW Texas data-center power project to capitalize on AI-driven electricity demand, supported by a 69% analyst buy rating and a $207.83 consensus price target. Cash flow from operations was $1.91B in 2025, but net income margin compressed to 2.56%.
Outlook is mixed: growth initiatives in data center power present upside, but execution risks and rising interest costs pressure margins. The stock offers a 1.6% dividend yield, yet high debt-to-asset ratio of 56.42% in 2025 warrants caution. Near-term support lies at $119, with resistance at $122.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Alliant Energy is the parent of two regulated utilities, Interstate Power and Light and Wisconsin Power and Light, serving nearly 1 million electricity and natural gas customers and approximately 420,000 natural gas-only customers. Both subsidiaries engage in the generation and distribution of electricity and the distribution and transportation of natural gas. Alliant also owns a 16% interest in American Transmission Co.
Read more on LNT →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 →