NRG vs. BSV

Last updated Jul 15, 2026

NRG (NRG Energy, Inc.) is a stock, while BSV (Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares) is Short-Term Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. 1–5 Year Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index. Over the past 10 years, NRG returned 27.08%/yr vs 1.92%/yr for BSV. At a correlation of -0.05, they often move in opposite directions.

Performance

NRG vs. BSV - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) and Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, NRG achieves a -12.57% return, which is significantly lower than BSV's 0.46% return. Over the past 10 years, NRG has outperformed BSV with an annualized return of 27.08%, while BSV has yielded a comparatively lower 1.92% annualized return.

NRG

• 1D: -0.80%
• 1M: 10.27%
• 6M: -7.55%
• YTD: -12.57%
• 1Y: -7.36%
• 3Y*: 59.24%
• 5Y*: 31.54%
• 10Y*: 27.08%

BSV

• 1D: 0.18%
• 1M: 0.04%
• 6M: 0.42%
• YTD: 0.46%
• 1Y: 3.22%
• 3Y*: 4.49%
• 5Y*: 1.66%
• 10Y*: 1.92%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

NRG vs. BSV - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
NRG NRG Energy, Inc.	-12.57%	78.91%	78.58%	69.36%	-23.47%	18.54%	-2.14%	0.69%	39.59%	133.69%
BSV Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares	0.46%	6.00%	3.78%	4.90%	-5.49%	-1.09%	4.70%	4.98%	1.34%	1.20%

Correlation

The correlation between NRG and BSV is 0.15, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.15
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.05
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.05
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.03
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 10, 2007	-0.05

The correlation between NRG and BSV shifts across timeframes, from -0.05 (all time) to 0.15 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

NRG vs. BSV — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

NRG

NRG Risk / Return Rank: 37
NRG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 38
NRG Sortino Ratio Rank: 36
NRG Omega Ratio Rank: 36
NRG Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
NRG Martin Ratio Rank: 36

BSV

BSV Risk / Return Rank: 68
BSV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
BSV Sortino Ratio Rank: 77
BSV Omega Ratio Rank: 71
BSV Calmar Ratio Rank: 63
BSV Martin Ratio Rank: 58

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

NRG vs. BSV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) and Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV). 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.

	NRG	BSV	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.16	1.77	-1.93
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.08	2.75	-2.67
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.01	1.33	-0.32
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.22	2.51	-2.73
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.48	8.09	-8.58

NRG vs. BSV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current NRG Sharpe Ratio is -0.16, which is lower than the BSV Sharpe Ratio of 1.77. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of NRG and BSV, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

NRG vs. BSV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum NRG drawdown since its inception was -79.41%, which is greater than BSV's maximum drawdown of -8.54%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NRG and BSV.

Drawdown Indicators

	NRG	BSV	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-79.41%	-8.54%	-70.87%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-34.24%	-1.29%	-32.95%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-34.24%	-1.53%	-32.71%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-34.24%	-8.54%	-25.70%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-48.76%	-8.54%	-40.22%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-24.59%	-0.46%	-24.13%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-27.98%	-0.97%	-27.01%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	15.22%	0.40%	+14.82%

Volatility

NRG vs. BSV - Volatility Comparison

NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) has a higher volatility of 10.10% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV) at 0.62%. This indicates that NRG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BSV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	NRG	BSV	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	10.10%	0.62%	+9.48%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	33.70%	1.39%	+32.31%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	45.21%	1.83%	+43.38%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	40.00%	2.74%	+37.26%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	39.07%	2.38%	+36.69%

Dividends

NRG vs. BSV - Dividend Comparison

NRG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.32%, less than BSV's 4.02% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BSV Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares	4.02%	3.83%	3.38%	2.46%	1.50%	1.45%	1.79%	2.29%	1.99%	1.65%	1.48%	1.40%
NRG NRG Energy, Inc.	1.32%	1.11%	1.81%	2.92%	4.40%	3.02%	3.20%	0.30%	0.30%	0.42%	1.92%	4.93%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both NRG and BSV in my portfolio?

NRG and BSV have a correlation of 0.15, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, NRG or BSV?

NRG has higher volatility (10.10%) compared to BSV (0.62%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NRG dropped -79.41% vs BSV's -8.54%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BSV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.77 vs -0.16), 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.