second quarter 2026
Filed Aug 5, 2026Talen Energy Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results, Raises 2026 Guidance
Adjusted EBITDA increased by $284 million to $374 million and Adjusted Free Cash Flow increased by $290 million to $212 million, while GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders decreased by $(164) million to $(92) million. The Company raised 2026 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance ranges.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(92) million | – | decreased by $(164) million |
| Adjusted EBITDA, three months ended June 30non-GAAP | $374 million | – | increased by $284 million |
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow, three months ended June 30non-GAAP | $212 million | – | increased by $290 million |
| Total Generation, three months ended June 30other | 14.1 TWh | – | – |
| Capacity Factor, three months ended June 30other | 47.6% | – | – |
| Energy and other revenues, three months ended June 30GAAP | $722 million | – | – |
| Capacity revenues, three months ended June 30GAAP | $237 million | – | – |
| Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments, operating revenues, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(212) million | – | – |
| Operating Revenues, three months ended June 30GAAP | $747 million | – | – |
| Fuel and energy purchases, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(357) million | – | – |
| Nuclear fuel amortization, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(22) million | – | – |
| Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments, energy expenses, three months ended June 30GAAP | $1 million | – | – |
| Energy Expenses, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(378) million | – | – |
| Operation, maintenance and development, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(210) million | – | – |
| General and administrative, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(98) million | – | – |
| Stock-based compensation included in general and administrative, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(70) million | – | – |
| Depreciation, amortization and accretion, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(103) million | – | – |
| Other operating income (expense), net, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(30) million | – | – |
| Operating Income (Loss), three months ended June 30GAAP | $(72) million | – | – |
| Nuclear decommissioning trust funds gain (loss), net, three months ended June 30GAAP | $134 million | – | – |
| Interest expense and other finance charges, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(214) million | – | – |
| Other non-operating income (expense), net, three months ended June 30GAAP | $23 million | – | – |
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(129) million | – | – |
| Income tax benefit (expense), three months ended June 30GAAP | $37 million | – | – |
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders per common share, basic, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(2.00) | – | – |
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders per common share, diluted, three months ended June 30GAAP | $(2.00) | – | – |
| Weighted-Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding, basic, three months ended June 30GAAP | 45,904 thousand | – | – |
| Weighted-Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding, diluted, three months ended June 30GAAP | 45,904 thousand | – | – |
| GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders, six months ended June 30GAAP | $(29) million | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDA, six months ended June 30non-GAAP | $847 million | – | – |
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow, six months ended June 30non-GAAP | $562 million | – | – |
| Total Generation, six months ended June 30other | 29.7 TWh | – | – |
| Capacity Factor, six months ended June 30other | 51.3% | – | – |
| Operating Revenues, six months ended June 30GAAP | $1,876 million | – | – |
| Energy Expenses, six months ended June 30GAAP | $(1,007) million | – | – |
| Operating Income (Loss), six months ended June 30GAAP | $138 million | – | – |
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders per common share, basic, six months ended June 30GAAP | $(0.63) | – | – |
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders per common share, diluted, six months ended June 30GAAP | $(0.63) | – | – |
2026E outlook
- NoteAdjusted EBITDA: $2,025 - $2,225 million
- NoteAdjusted Free Cash Flow: $1,200 - $1,350 million
- NoteExcludes Keystone as of July 1, 2026.
Capital returns
- During the second quarter 2026, repurchased 550,000 shares of TEC common stock for approximately $200 million.
- Since the start of 2024, repurchased approximately 15 million shares of TEC common stock for a total of approximately $2.3 billion.
- $1.7 billion remaining under the Share Repurchase Program through year end 2028.
- All share repurchase amounts exclude transaction costs.
What drove it
- Adjusted EBITDA increased primarily due to increases in energy and other revenues and capacity revenues, net of fuel and energy purchases.
- Adjusted Free Cash Flow increased primarily due to increases in capacity revenues and energy and other revenues, net of fuel and energy purchases, and lower income tax payments.
- The Company completed the Cornerstone Acquisition on June 15, 2026, increasing generation by approximately 2.6 GW and providing efficient baseload and peaker generation and cash flow diversification.
- The Company cleared over 10 GW in the 2028/2029 PJM Base Residual Auction at $325.00 per MWd for the MAAC, PPL, and RTO locational deliverability areas.
- As of June 30, 2026, including the impact of the Nuclear Production Tax Credit, expected generation volumes were hedged approximately 85% for 2026, approximately 70% for 2027 and approximately 30% for 2028.
Concerns
- GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders decreased by $(164) million, primarily due to unrealized losses on derivative instruments and increases in interest expense.
- Higher capital expenditures and cash interest payments partially offset the increase in Adjusted Free Cash Flow.
- Interest expense and other finance charges were $(214) million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, compared with $(62) million for the prior-year period.
- The 2026 guidance ranges exclude Keystone as of July 1, 2026.
What to watch
- Execution and integration of the Cornerstone Acquisition, completed on June 15, 2026.
- Delivery against 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $2,025 - $2,225 million and Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance of $1,200 - $1,350 million.
- Development of approximately 4 GW of land development and data center contracting options.
- The Company’s progress toward maintaining net leverage below its target of 3.5x net debt-to-Adjusted EBITDA.
- Changes in hedged expected generation volumes for 2027 and 2028.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- As of June 30, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $231 million, compared with $689 million as of December 31, 2025.
- As of June 30, 2026, restricted cash and cash equivalents were $7 million, compared with $63 million as of December 31, 2025.
- As of July 31, 2026, total available liquidity was approximately $1.9 billion, comprised of $525 million of unrestricted cash and $1.4 billion of available capacity under the RCF.
- In April 2026, TES issued $1.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior unsecured notes due 2031 and $2.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of 6.375% senior unsecured notes due 2033.
- Net proceeds were used to fund the Cornerstone Acquisition and redeem in full $1.2 billion of outstanding 8.625% senior secured notes due 2030.
- During the second quarter 2026, TES upsized the RCF from $900 million to $1.35 billion and the LCF from $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion. The LCF maturity was extended from December 2027 to December 2029.
Analysis
Talen reported a sharp improvement in non-GAAP operating and cash flow measures during the second quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $374 million versus $90 million in the prior-year period, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $212 million versus $(78) million. Management attributed both improvements primarily to higher energy and other revenues and capacity revenues, net of fuel and energy purchases. Total Generation was 14.1 TWh and Capacity Factor was 47.6%, compared with 7.3 TWh and 31.8%, respectively, in the prior-year quarter.
GAAP results moved in the opposite direction. GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders was $(92) million, compared with $72 million, and diluted loss per share was $(2.00), compared with diluted earnings per share of $1.50. The Company cited unrealized losses on derivative instruments and increased interest expense as the primary reasons for the $(164) million year-over-year decrease in GAAP net income. Interest expense and other finance charges were $(214) million, compared with $(62) million in the prior-year quarter.
The Company completed the Cornerstone Acquisition on June 15, 2026. Management said the transaction adds approximately 2.6 GW of generation and provides baseload and peaker generation plus cash flow diversification. The financing package included $1.5 billion of 6.125% senior unsecured notes due 2031 and $2.5 billion of 6.375% senior unsecured notes due 2033. Proceeds funded the acquisition and the redemption of $1.2 billion of 8.625% senior secured notes due 2030. Talen also reported approximately $1.9 billion of total available liquidity as of July 31, 2026.
Capital allocation remained centered on repurchases, with 550,000 shares repurchased for approximately $200 million during the second quarter and $1.7 billion of remaining program capacity through year end 2028. The Company raised its 2026 guidance to $2,025 - $2,225 million of Adjusted EBITDA and $1,200 - $1,350 million of Adjusted Free Cash Flow, excluding Keystone as of July 1, 2026. Forward attention centers on contribution from Cornerstone, the Company’s stated leverage target, the development pipeline of approximately 4 GW, and hedging levels that fall from approximately 85% of expected generation volumes in 2026 to approximately 30% in 2028.
Management, verbatim
Today we are reporting Talen’s second quarter results, earning $374 million of Adjusted EBITDA and $212 million of Adjusted Free Cash Flow. With strong year-to-date results and closing of the Cornerstone Acquisition, we are raising our 2026 guidance as well as increasing the 2027 and 2028 outlooks.
Mac McFarland, Chief Executive Officer
We remain committed to our flywheel strategy, leveraging our advantaged portfolio of assets, building our development pipeline of powered land and new capacity all of which allows us to enter into long-term contracts with large loads with a variety of structures.
Mac McFarland, Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported metrics.
- Gross profit and gross margin.
- Segment revenue and segment profitability disclosures.
- Operating cash flow.
- Capital expenditures amount.
- A full cash flow statement.
- Total debt and net debt balance as of June 30, 2026.
- Dividend declaration or payment information.
- Revenue, gross margin, operating expense, and tax-rate guidance.
- Prior outlook or prior guidance, so no reported-result comparison to prior guidance is available.
- The balance-sheet filing text is truncated after the beginning of the assets section; complete balance-sheet line items are unavailable.
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.