(Loss)/Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

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)	2011			2010			2011			2010
Basic (loss)/earnings per share attributable to NRG common stockholders
Numerator:
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	(55	)	$	223		$	306		$	492
Preferred stock dividends	(2		)	(2		)	(7		)	(7		)
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc. available to common stockholders	$	(57	)	$	221		$	299		$	485
Denominator:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	240			252			243			254
Basic (loss)/earnings per share:
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	(0.24	)	$	0.88		$	1.23		$	1.91
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share attributable to NRG common stockholders
Numerator:
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc. available to common stockholders	$	(57	)	$	221		$	299		$	485
Denominator:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	240			252			243			254
Incremental shares attributable to the issuance of equity compensation (treasury stock method)	—			1			2			1
Total dilutive shares	240			253			245			255
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share:
Net (loss)/income attributable to NRG Energy, Inc.	$	(0.24	)	$	0.87		$	1.22		$	1.90

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)	2011	2010	2011	2010
Equity compensation — NQSOs and PUs	7	6	7	6
Embedded derivative of 3.625% redeemable perpetual preferred stock	16	16	16	16
Total	23	22	23	22