Monday, July 30, 2007

NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG): Goldman Sachs defends

- Goldman Sachs notes that with NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) down approximately 15% last week, this presents an attractive buying opportunity for longer-term investors, even with continued volatility in the shares expected. Concern regarding a new holding company structure, bond market turmoil and expected dividend payout remains. However, NRG's long-term hedges enable it to create significant free cash flow. Firm expects free cash flow of approximately $1.0bn annually for the next 3-4 years, giving NRG flexibility to either 1) buyback roughly 30%-40% of its existing market capitalization or 2) reduce outstanding debt by almost 50%.

Firm's 12-month $49 Sum-of-the-Parts valuation assumes $/kW values for NRG's specific nuclear, coal and gas plants and long-term upside to their target price exists.

Notablecalls: NRG upped guidance in May and told investors they intended to restructure their senior credit agreement to relieve restrictive covenants from the restricted payments basket and increase flexibility for return of capital to shareholders. The stock is now down 10% from these levels.

I think the 50 day MA may come to play today (around $36) and represents a solid buying oppy. GSCO's isn't the only firm out there with a $50 tgt, representing hefy upside from current levels.

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