Talen Energy Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results
Rhea-AI Summary
Talen Energy (NASDAQ: TLN) reported full year 2025 GAAP net loss attributable to stockholders of $(219) million, Adjusted EBITDA $1,035 million, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow $524 million. The company closed the Freedom and Guernsey acquisitions (+2.8 GW) in Nov 2025 and signed the Cornerstone Acquisition (expected early H2 2026) adding ~2.45 GW for $3.45 billion ($2.55B cash + 2.4M shares).
Talen reaffirmed 2026 guidance: Adjusted EBITDA $1,750–$2,050M and Adj. Free Cash Flow $980–$1,180M, and targets net leverage below 3.5x by year-end 2026.
Positive
- Adjusted EBITDA of $1,035M in 2025
- Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $524M in 2025
- Freedom and Guernsey added ~2.8 GW capacity
- Reaffirmed 2026 guidance: $1,750–$2,050M Adjusted EBITDA
- Share repurchase program increased to $2B through 2028
Negative
- GAAP net loss of $(219M) for 2025
- $3.8B cash paid for Freedom and Guernsey funded by new debt
- Cornerstone purchase price $3.45B (≈$2.55B cash), adding ~$2.6B debt exposure
- Carbon-free generation declined to 42% in 2025 from 50% in 2024
News Market Reaction – TLN
On the day this news was published, TLN declined 4.89%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -2.0% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 7 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $916M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $17.82B at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
TLN was up 4.31% pre-release while peers showed mixed moves (e.g., VST +1.73%, NRG -1.59%, TAC -1.76%), suggesting stock-specific drivers rather than a broad sector move.
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 05 | Q3 2025 earnings | Positive | -4.3% | Strong Q3 results, narrowed 2025 guidance, large financing for acquisitions. |
| Aug 07 | Q2 2025 earnings | Positive | -0.8% | Q2 profit, AWS expansion, announced Freedom and Guernsey acquisitions. |
| May 08 | Q1 2025 earnings | Neutral | -1.2% | Q1 loss but reaffirmed 2025 guidance and key regulatory approvals. |
| Feb 27 | FY 2024 earnings | Positive | +3.0% | FY 2024 beat guidance with strong Free Cash Flow and liquidity. |
| Nov 14 | Q3 2024 earnings | Positive | -1.6% | Strong Q3, raised 2024 guidance, reaffirmed 2025 outlook and buybacks. |
Earnings releases have generally been fundamentally positive but met with modest average moves of -0.98%, often showing weakness despite solid guidance and results.
Over the past year, Talen’s earnings updates have highlighted growing Adjusted EBITDA, expanding baseload capacity, and repeated reaffirmations of multi-year guidance. Prior reports in 2024–2025 emphasized strong 2024 results, narrowed 2025 guidance ranges, and consistent 2026 targets alongside major financing and acquisitions. Price reactions have been mixed, with several positive-sounding earnings prints producing negative next-day moves. Today’s full-year 2025 results, higher Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow, plus reaffirmed 2026 guidance, fit this pattern of operational strength and continued portfolio build-out.
Historical Comparison
In the past year, TLN’s 5 earnings releases saw an average move of -0.98%. Today’s fundamentally positive FY 2025 results and guidance reaffirmation came against a pre-news gain of 4.31%, making this reaction more upbeat than typical.
Earnings updates since late 2024 show Talen moving from strong 2024 results into 2025 with rising Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow, repeated reaffirmations of 2025–2026 guidance, and layering on large PJM gas acquisitions to expand baseload capacity.
Regulatory & Risk Context
Talen has an effective S-3ASR shelf registration dated 2025-08-07 that remains active through 2028-08-07, with no recorded usage to date. This structure provides the company with flexibility to raise capital in the future, though no specific amounts or takedowns are indicated in the provided data.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details full-year 2025 performance, with $1,035 million of Adjusted EBITDA, $524 million of Adjusted Free Cash Flow, and a GAAP net loss of $(219) million. It highlights completion of the $3.8 billion Freedom and Guernsey acquisitions and the planned $3.45 billion Cornerstone deal to expand PJM baseload capacity. Reaffirmed 2026 guidance up to $2,050 million Adjusted EBITDA and liquidity of $2.1 billion underscore growth plans, while investors should watch integration progress, leverage targets below 3.5x, and hedging levels of about 90% for 2026.
Key Terms
gaap financial
adjusted ebitda financial
adjusted free cash flow financial
baseload generation technical
pjm technical
hart-scott-rodino act of 1976 regulatory
federal energy regulatory commission regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Earnings Release Highlights
- Full year GAAP Net Loss Attributable to Stockholders of
$(219) million . - Full year Adjusted EBITDA of
$1,035 million and Adjusted Free Cash Flow of$524 million . - Completed the Freedom and Guernsey acquisitions in November 2025 which have increased the Company’s generating capacity by approximately 2.8 gigawatts (“GW”) and provides efficient baseload generation and cash flow diversification.
- Reaffirming 2026 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance ranges of
$1,750 million -$2,050 million and$980 million -$1,180 million , respectively. - Signed definitive agreement to acquire the Waterford Energy Center (“Waterford”) and Darby Generating Station (“Darby”) each in Ohio and the Lawrenceburg Power Plant (“Lawrenceburg”) in Indiana (collectively, the “Cornerstone Acquisition”) from Energy Capital Partners (“ECP”). The Cornerstone Acquisition will add baseload generation and enhance Talen’s presence in the western PJM market.
HOUSTON, Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Talen Energy Corporation (“Talen,” the “Company,” “we,” or “our”) (NASDAQ: TLN), a leading independent power producer, today reported its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial and operating results.
“In the last year, we expanded the Amazon PPA to 1,920 megawatts (“MW”), announced, financed, and closed on the accretive Freedom and Guernsey acquisitions, and announced the Cornerstone Acquisition which is expected to further diversify our baseload generation cash flows. Talen joined the Russell 1000, Russell 3000, and S&P 400 indices, as well as increased and extended our Share Repurchase Program to
McFarland added, “We are well positioned to continue executing our Talen Flywheel strategy in 2026 and remain focused on creating additional value through free cash flow per share growth.”
Operating Results (Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||
| (Millions of Dollars Unless Otherwise Stated) | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders | $ | (363 | ) | $ | 82 | $ | (219 | ) | $ | 998 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 382 | 164 | 1,035 | 770 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow | 292 | 21 | 524 | 283 | ||||||||||||
| Total Generation (TWh) (a) | 11.7 | 9.2 | 39.9 | 36.3 | ||||||||||||
| Carbon-Free Generation | ||||||||||||||||
| ____________________ | |
| (a) | Total generation is net of station use consumption, where applicable. Volumes associated with acquired and sold generation facilities are presented for the periods in which Talen owns the facilities. |
For the year ended December 31, 2025, Talen reported GAAP Net Loss Attributable to Stockholders of
- GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders decreased by
$(1,217) million primarily due to: (i) the absence of an approximately$890 million aggregate gain on the Cumulus Data and the ERCOT portfolio sales in 2024, (ii) the recognition of a$501 million charge in the fourth quarter 2025 associated with the change in accounting for certain existing stock-based awards previously granted in 2023 (See Note 13 in the 2025 annual financial statements on Form 10-K for additional information on an equity to liability accounting modification associated with cash settled awards and our previous Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC on December 15, 2025 for additional information on the strategic realignment of executive management), which were partially offset by increases in capacity revenues and in energy and other revenues, net of fuel and energy purchases. - Adjusted EBITDA increased by
$265 million primarily due to an increase in capacity revenues, and energy and other revenues, net of fuel and energy purchases. - Adjusted Free Cash Flow increased by
$241 million primarily due to an increase in capacity revenues and energy and other revenues, net of fuel and energy purchases which were partially offset by higher capital expenditures associated with the extended Susquehanna refueling outage.
See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for details and reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.
Reaffirming 2026 Guidance
| (Millions of Dollars) | 2026E (a) | |
| Adjusted EBITDA | ||
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow |
| ____________________ | |
| (a) | Excludes impact of the Cornerstone Acquisition. |
Freedom and Guernsey Acquisitions
On November 25, 2025, Talen consummated the Freedom and Guernsey acquisitions, which increases the Company’s generating capacity by approximately 2.8 GW and provides efficient baseload generation and cash flow diversification. The Company paid an aggregate
Cornerstone Acquisition
On January 15, 2026, Talen entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “Cornerstone Merger Agreement”) with affiliates of ECP to purchase (i) the 875 MW Waterford and 456 MW Darby assets, both located in Ohio, and the 1,120 MW Lawrenceburg asset located in Indiana, for an aggregate purchase price of
The transaction is expected to close early in the second half of 2026 and is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act of 1976, and regulatory approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and other regulatory agencies.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
Talen is committed to net leverage targets below 3.5x net debt-to-Adjusted EBITDA and has the ability to achieve less than 3.5x net leverage by year-end 2026 inclusive of the Cornerstone Acquisition (approximately
Update on Hedging Activities
As of December 31, 2025, including the impact of the Nuclear PTC, we had hedged approximately
Earnings Call
Talen will hold an earnings call on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. CT). To listen to the earnings call, please register in advance for the webcast here. For participants joining the call via phone, please register here prior to the start time to receive dial-in information. For those unable to participate in the live event, a digital replay will be archived for approximately one year and available on the Events page of Talen’s Investor Relations website linked here.
About Talen
Talen Energy (NASDAQ: TLN) is a leading independent power producer and energy infrastructure company dedicated to powering the future. We own and operate approximately 13.1 GW of power infrastructure in the United States, including 2.2 GW of nuclear power and a significant dispatchable fossil fleet. We produce and sell electricity, capacity, and ancillary services into wholesale U.S. power markets, with our generation fleet principally located in the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio and Montana. Our team is committed to generating power safely and reliably delivering the most value per megawatt produced. Talen is also powering the digital infrastructure revolution. We are well-positioned to serve this growing industry, as artificial intelligence data centers increasingly demand more reliable power. Talen is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, visit https://www.talenenergy.com/.
Investor Relations:
Sergio Castro
Vice President & Treasurer
InvestorRelations@talenenergy.com
Media:
Taryne Williams
Director, Corporate Communications
Taryne.Williams@talenenergy.com
Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this communication, or incorporated by reference into this communication, are forward-looking statements. Throughout this communication, we have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecasts," "goal," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "will," or other forms of these words or similar words or expressions or the negative thereof, although not all forward-looking statements contain these terms. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions concerning, among other things, the proposed Lawrenceburg, Waterford, and Darby acquisition, including the financing, expected timing and completion (including required regulatory approvals), and anticipated impacts thereof, the integration of and anticipated benefits from the recent Freedom and Guernsey acquisitions, earnings, litigation, regulatory matters, hedging, liquidity and capital resources, accounting matters, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, shareholder returns and underlying assumptions.
Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our future business, financial condition, results of operations or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this communication. All of our forward-looking statements include assumptions underlying or relating to such statements that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and are subject to numerous factors that present considerable risks and uncertainties.
| TALEN ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||
| (Millions of Dollars, except share data) | Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
| Energy and other revenues | $ | 2,141 | $ | 1,881 | ||||
| Capacity revenues | 485 | 192 | ||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments | (45 | ) | 42 | |||||
| Operating Revenues | 2,581 | 2,115 | ||||||
| Fuel and energy purchases | (908 | ) | (694 | ) | ||||
| Nuclear fuel amortization | (97 | ) | (123 | ) | ||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments | (61 | ) | 20 | |||||
| Energy Expenses | (1,066 | ) | (797 | ) | ||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||
| Operation, maintenance and development | (620 | ) | (592 | ) | ||||
| General and administrative (Includes stock-based compensation of | (624 | ) | (163 | ) | ||||
| Depreciation, amortization and accretion | (279 | ) | (298 | ) | ||||
| Impairments | — | (1 | ) | |||||
| Other operating income (expense), net | (82 | ) | (38 | ) | ||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | (90 | ) | 226 | |||||
| Nuclear decommissioning trust funds gain (loss), net | 182 | 178 | ||||||
| Interest expense and other finance charges | (302 | ) | (238 | ) | ||||
| Gain (loss) on sale of assets, net | 34 | 884 | ||||||
| Other non-operating income (expense), net | 10 | 61 | ||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | (166 | ) | 1,111 | |||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | (53 | ) | (98 | ) | ||||
| Net Income (Loss) | (219 | ) | 1,013 | |||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | — | 15 | ||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders | $ | (219 | ) | $ | 998 | |||
| Per Common Share | ||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders – Basic | $ | (4.79 | ) | $ | 18.40 | |||
| Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders – Diluted | $ | (4.79 | ) | $ | 17.67 | |||
| Weighted-Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding - Basic (in thousands) | 45,692 | 54,254 | ||||||
| Weighted-Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted (in thousands) | 45,692 | 56,486 | ||||||
| TALEN ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| (Millions of Dollars, except share data) | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 689 | $ | 328 | ||||
| Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 63 | 37 | ||||||
| Accounts receivable | 196 | 123 | ||||||
| Inventory, net | 278 | 302 | ||||||
| Derivative instruments | 56 | 66 | ||||||
| Other current assets | 67 | 184 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 1,349 | 1,040 | ||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 7,546 | 3,154 | ||||||
| Nuclear decommissioning trust funds | 1,900 | 1,724 | ||||||
| Derivative instruments | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Other noncurrent assets | 106 | 183 | ||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 10,905 | $ | 6,106 | ||||
| Liabilities and Equity | ||||||||
| Long-term debt, due within one year | $ | 29 | $ | 17 | ||||
| Accrued interest | 60 | 18 | ||||||
| Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities | 281 | 266 | ||||||
| Derivative instruments | 101 | — | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation liabilities | 501 | — | ||||||
| Other current liabilities | 78 | 154 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 1,050 | 455 | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 6,782 | 2,987 | ||||||
| Derivative instruments | 67 | 7 | ||||||
| Postretirement benefit obligations | 229 | 305 | ||||||
| Asset retirement obligations and accrued environmental costs | 494 | 468 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 486 | 362 | ||||||
| Acquired fuel supply contract liabilities | 662 | — | ||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | 42 | 135 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 9,812 | $ | 4,719 | ||||
| Commitments and Contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||
| Common stock ( | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 1,709 | 1,725 | ||||||
| Accumulated retained earnings (deficit) | (612 | ) | (326 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (4 | ) | (12 | ) | ||||
| Total Stockholders' Equity | $ | 1,093 | $ | 1,387 | ||||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ | 10,905 | $ | 6,106 | ||||
| ____________________ | |
| (a) | 45,687,828 and 45,961,910 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively. |
| TALEN ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||||||
| (Millions of Dollars) | Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
| Operating Activities | ||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | (219 | ) | $ | 1,013 | |||
| Non-cash reconciliation adjustments: | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 526 | 33 | ||||||
| Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 279 | 285 | ||||||
| Nuclear decommissioning trust funds (gain) loss, net (excluding interest and fees) | (132 | ) | (130 | ) | ||||
| Unrealized (gains) losses on derivative instruments | 121 | (69 | ) | |||||
| Deferred income taxes | 120 | (46 | ) | |||||
| Nuclear fuel amortization | 97 | 123 | ||||||
| (Gain) loss on sales of assets, net | (36 | ) | — | |||||
| (Gain) loss on AWS Data Campus Sale and ERCOT Sale | — | (886 | ) | |||||
| Impairments | — | 1 | ||||||
| Other | 51 | (59 | ) | |||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | (44 | ) | 14 | |||||
| Inventory, net | 29 | 67 | ||||||
| Other assets | 182 | (61 | ) | |||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (48 | ) | (69 | ) | ||||
| Accrued interest | 42 | (15 | ) | |||||
| Collateral received (posted), net | (33 | ) | 46 | |||||
| Other liabilities | (231 | ) | 9 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 704 | 256 | ||||||
| Investing Activities | ||||||||
| Freedom and Guernsey Acquisitions, net | (3,793 | ) | — | |||||
| Nuclear decommissioning trust funds investment purchases | (1,962 | ) | (2,295 | ) | ||||
| Nuclear decommissioning trust funds investment sale proceeds | 1,927 | 2,263 | ||||||
| Nuclear fuel expenditures | (108 | ) | (104 | ) | ||||
| Property, plant and equipment expenditures | (98 | ) | (85 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from the sale of assets | 40 | 2 | ||||||
| Proceeds from AWS Data Campus Sale and ERCOT Sale | — | 1,398 | ||||||
| Other | (9 | ) | (8 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (4,003 | ) | 1,171 | |||||
| TALEN ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||||||
| (Millions of Dollars) | Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
| Financing Activities | ||||||||
| Debt issuances | 3,890 | 849 | ||||||
| Share repurchases | (103 | ) | (1,958 | ) | ||||
| Deferred financing costs | (89 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||
| Revolving credit facility borrowings | 75 | — | ||||||
| Revolving credit facility repayments | (75 | ) | — | |||||
| Debt repayments | (17 | ) | (479 | ) | ||||
| Cumulus Digital TLF repayment | — | (182 | ) | |||||
| Repurchase of noncontrolling interest | — | (125 | ) | |||||
| Cash settlement of restricted stock units | — | (32 | ) | |||||
| Exercise or repurchase of warrants | — | (16 | ) | |||||
| Other | 5 | (7 | ) | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 3,686 | (1,963 | ) | |||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | 387 | (536 | ) | |||||
| Beginning of period cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | 365 | 901 | ||||||
| End of period cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents | $ | 752 | $ | 365 | ||||
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, which we use as measures of our performance and liquidity, are not financial measures prepared under GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures do not have definitions under GAAP and may be defined and calculated differently by, and not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies. Non-GAAP measures are not intended to replace the most comparable GAAP measures as indicators of performance. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of financial performance, financial position, or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Management cautions readers not to place undue reliance on the following non-GAAP financial measures, but to also consider them along with their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analyzing our results as reported under GAAP.
Adjusted EBITDA
We use Adjusted EBITDA to: (i) assist in comparing operating performance and readily view operating trends on a consistent basis from period to period without certain items that may distort financial results; (ii) plan and forecast overall expectations and evaluate actual results against such expectations; (iii) communicate with our Board of Directors, shareholders, creditors, analysts, and the broader financial community concerning our financial performance; (iv) set performance metrics for our annual short-term incentive compensation; and (v) assess compliance with our indebtedness.
Adjusted EBITDA is computed as net income (loss) adjusted, among other things, for certain: (i) nonrecurring charges; (ii) non-recurring gains; (iii) non-cash and other items; (iv) unusual market events; (v) any depreciation, amortization, or accretion; (vi) mark-to-market gains or losses; (vii) gains and losses on the nuclear facility decommissioning trust (“NDT”); (viii) gains and losses on asset sales, dispositions, and asset retirement; (ix) impairments, obsolescence, and net realizable value charges; (x) interest expense; (xi) income taxes; (xii) legal settlements, liquidated damages, and contractual terminations; (xiii) development expenses; (xiv) noncontrolling interests, except where otherwise noted; and (xv) other adjustments. Such adjustments are computed consistently with the provisions of our indebtedness to the extent that they can be derived from the financial records of the business. Pursuant to TES’s debt agreements, Cumulus Digital contributes to Adjusted EBITDA beginning in the first quarter 2024, following termination of the Cumulus Digital credit facility and associated cash flow sweep.
Additionally, we believe investors commonly adjust net income (loss) information to eliminate the effect of nonrecurring restructuring expenses and other non-cash charges, which can vary widely from company to company and from period to period and impair comparability. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors and other users of our financial statements to evaluate our operating performance because it provides an additional tool to compare business performance across companies and between periods. Adjusted EBITDA is widely used by investors to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to such items described above. These adjustments can vary substantially from company to company and period to period depending upon accounting policies, book value of assets, capital structure, and the method by which assets were acquired.
Adjusted Free Cash Flow
Adjusted Free Cash Flow is utilized by our chief operating decision makers to evaluate cash flow activities. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is computed as Adjusted EBITDA reduced by capital expenditures (including nuclear fuel but excluding development, growth, and (or) conversion capital expenditures), cash payments for interest and finance charges, cash payments for income taxes (excluding income taxes paid from the NDT, taxes paid or deductions taken as a result of strategic asset sales, and benefits of the Nuclear PTC utilized to reduce income taxes paid), and pension contributions.
We believe Adjusted Free Cash Flow is useful to investors and other users of our financial statements in evaluating our operating performance because it provides them with an additional tool to determine a company’s ability to meet future obligations and to compare business performance across companies and across periods. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is widely used by investors to measure a company’s levered cash flow without regard to items such as ARO settlements; nonrecurring development, growth and conversion expenditures; and cash proceeds or payments for the sale or purchase of assets, which can vary substantially from company to company and from period to period depending upon accounting methods, book value of assets, capital structure, and the method by which assets were acquired.
Adjusted EBITDA / Adjusted Free Cash Flow Reconciliation
The following table presents a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of “Net Income (Loss)” presented on the Consolidated Statements of Operations to the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow:
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||
| (Millions of Dollars) | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | (363 | ) | $ | 68 | $ | (219 | ) | $ | 1,013 | ||||||
| Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense and other finance charges | 99 | 51 | 302 | 238 | ||||||||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | (17 | ) | (94 | ) | 53 | 98 | ||||||||||
| Depreciation, amortization and accretion (a) | 68 | 68 | 266 | 281 | ||||||||||||
| Nuclear fuel amortization (a) | 26 | 30 | 97 | 123 | ||||||||||||
| Unrealized (gain) loss on commodity derivative contracts | 52 | (4 | ) | 106 | (62 | ) | ||||||||||
| Nuclear decommissioning trust funds (gain) loss, net | (33 | ) | (9 | ) | (182 | ) | (178 | ) | ||||||||
| Stock-based and other long-term incentive compensation expense (Note 13) (b) | 486 | 11 | 535 | 54 | ||||||||||||
| (Gain) loss on asset sales, net (Note 17) (b) | 2 | 1 | (34 | ) | (884 | ) | ||||||||||
| Non-cash impairments and other charges | — | 16 | 11 | 24 | ||||||||||||
| Legal settlements and litigation costs | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Acquisition and divestiture activities (c) | 53 | 9 | 65 | 62 | ||||||||||||
| Operational and other restructuring activities (d) | 15 | 4 | 21 | 9 | ||||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest | — | — | — | (21 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other | (7 | ) | 11 | 8 | 9 | |||||||||||
| Total Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 382 | $ | 164 | $ | 1,035 | $ | 770 | ||||||||
| Capital expenditures, net | (35 | ) | (42 | ) | (199 | ) | (177 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest and finance charge payments | (90 | ) | (91 | ) | (233 | ) | (252 | ) | ||||||||
| Income taxes | 41 | (1 | ) | (10 | ) | (4 | ) | |||||||||
| Pension contributions | (6 | ) | (9 | ) | (69 | ) | (54 | ) | ||||||||
| Total Adjusted Free Cash Flow | $ | 292 | $ | 21 | $ | 524 | $ | 283 | ||||||||
| ____________________ | |
| (a) | Includes the periodic amortization of fair value adjustments associated with acquired executory contracts and intangible assets. |
| (b) | See the corresponding Note to the 2025 annual financial statements on Form 10-K for additional information. |
| (c) | Includes the non-recurring: (i) advisory fees associated with completed acquisitions and divestitures, (ii) remaining settlements on contracts of divested assets, and (iii) non-recurring finance fees charged to the Consolidated Statement of Operations associated with acquisition financing fee arrangements. |
| (d) | Non-recurring severance and retention costs and strategic initiative costs. |
| Adjusted EBITDA / Adjusted Free Cash Flow Reconciliation: 2026 Guidance | ||||||||
| 2026E (a) | ||||||||
| (Millions of Dollars) | Low | High | ||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | 875 | $ | 1,125 | ||||
| Adjustments | ||||||||
| Interest expense and other finance charges | 460 | 480 | ||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | 15 | 45 | ||||||
| Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 300 | 300 | ||||||
| Nuclear fuel amortization | 100 | 100 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 1,750 | $ | 2,050 | ||||
| Capital expenditures, net | $ | (280 | ) | $ | (300 | ) | ||
| Interest and finance charge payments | (460 | ) | (480 | ) | ||||
| Income taxes | (15 | ) | (45 | ) | ||||
| Pension contributions | (15 | ) | (45 | ) | ||||
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow | $ | 980 | $ | 1,180 | ||||
| ____________________ | |
| Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest | |
| (a) | Excludes impact of the Cornerstone Acquisition. |
FAQ
What were Talen Energy's (TLN) full year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow?
How did the Freedom and Guernsey acquisitions affect Talen's capacity in 2025?
What is the Cornerstone Acquisition for TLN and when is it expected to close?
What 2026 financial guidance did Talen (TLN) reaffirm on Feb 26, 2026?
How will the Cornerstone Acquisition be financed and what is the expected shareholder impact?
