(Loss) Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Loss Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Abstract]

Reconciliation of NRG's basic earnings per share to diluted earnings per share

The reconciliation of NRG's basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share is shown in the following table:

	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
(In millions, except per share data)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Basic (loss)/earnings per share attributable to NRG common stockholders
Numerator:
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	(1	)	$	(55	)	$	43		$	306
Preferred stock dividends	(2		)	(2		)	(7		)	(7		)
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc. available to common stockholders	$	(3	)	$	(57	)	$	36		$	299
Denominator:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	228			240			228			243
Basic (loss)/earnings per share:
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.24	)	$	0.16		$	1.23
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share attributable to NRG common stockholders
Numerator:
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc. available to common shareholders	$	(3	)	$	(57	)	$	36		$	299
Denominator:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	228			240			228			243
Incremental shares attributable to the issuance of equity compensation (treasury stock method)	—			—			2			2
Total dilutive shares	228			240			230			245
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share:
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.24	)	$	0.16		$	1.22

Summary of NRG's outstanding equity instruments that are anti-dilutive and were not included in the computation of the Company's diluted earnings per share

The following table summarizes NRG’s outstanding equity instruments that are anti-dilutive and were not included in the computation of the Company’s diluted (loss)/earnings per share:

	Three months ended September 30,		Nine months ended September 30,
(In millions of shares)	2012	2011	2012	2011
Equity compensation plans	11	7	6	7
Embedded derivative of 3.625% redeemable perpetual preferred stock	16	16	16	16
Total	27	23	22	23