^GSPC vs. NRG
^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index, while NRG (NRG Energy, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, ^GSPC returned 13.09%/yr vs 26.92%/yr for NRG. At a 0.45 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
^GSPC vs. NRG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^GSPC achieves a 8.73% return, which is significantly higher than NRG's -17.49% return. Over the past 10 years, ^GSPC has underperformed NRG with an annualized return of 13.09%, while NRG has yielded a comparatively higher 26.92% annualized return.
^GSPC
- 1D
- -0.19%
- 1M
- -0.76%
- 6M
- 7.25%
- YTD
- 8.73%
- 1Y
- 18.21%
- 3Y*
- 17.95%
- 5Y*
- 11.30%
- 10Y*
- 13.09%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.08%
NRG
- 1D
- 1.14%
- 1M
- -3.32%
- 6M
- -13.59%
- YTD
- -17.49%
- 1Y
- -12.97%
- 3Y*
- 53.77%
- 5Y*
- 30.09%
- 10Y*
- 26.92%
- ALL TIME*
- 13.75%
^GSPC vs. NRG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^GSPC S&P 500 Index | 8.73% | 16.39% | 23.31% | 24.23% | -19.44% | 26.89% | 16.26% | 28.88% | -6.24% | 19.42% |
NRG NRG Energy, Inc. | -17.49% | 78.91% | 78.58% | 69.36% | -23.47% | 18.54% | -2.14% | 0.69% | 39.59% | 133.69% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^GSPC and NRG is 0.40, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.44 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.44 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 2, 2003 | 0.45 |
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Return for Risk
^GSPC vs. NRG — Risk / Return Rank
^GSPC
NRG
^GSPC vs. NRG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) and NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ^GSPC | NRG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.74 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.13 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 0.99 | +0.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.01 | -0.38 | +2.39 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.68 | -0.83 | +9.51 |
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Drawdowns
^GSPC vs. NRG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^GSPC drawdown since its inception was -56.78%, smaller than the maximum NRG drawdown of -79.41%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^GSPC and NRG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^GSPC | NRG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.78% | -79.41% | +22.63% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.10% | -34.24% | +25.14% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.90% | -34.24% | +15.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.43% | -34.24% | +8.81% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.92% | -48.76% | +14.84% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.19% | -28.83% | +26.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.70% | -27.98% | +17.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.10% | 15.61% | -13.51% |
Volatility
^GSPC vs. NRG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) is 3.13%, while NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) has a volatility of 10.65%. This indicates that ^GSPC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NRG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^GSPC | NRG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.13% | 10.65% | -7.52% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.04% | 33.52% | -23.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.62% | 45.32% | -32.70% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.98% | 40.02% | -23.04% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.06% | 39.06% | -21.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
^GSPC and NRG have a correlation of 0.40, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NRG has higher volatility (10.65%) compared to ^GSPC (3.13%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^GSPC dropped -56.78% vs NRG's -79.41%.
^GSPC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.45 vs -0.29), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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