CenterPoint Energy (CNP) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at CenterPoint Energy (CNP): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Utilities peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Profile Item	CNP
Name	CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities
GICS Industry	Multi-Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Multi-Utilities
Market Capitalization	26.95 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNP

GSPC

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CNP	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	5.91%	5.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.08%	15.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.79%	8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNP

GSPC

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CNP	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	18.24%	22.23%
Beta (5Y)	0.44	0.53
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-22.81%	-36.85%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. CNP is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CNP	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.09	0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.12	0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) posts ROE of 10.14%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

CNP

Utilities industry group

10.14%

Group distribution

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
CNP: 10.14%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

Largest peers

CEG: 15.06%
NEE: 14.06%
SO: 11.90%
AEP: 10.60%
NGG: 10.31%
CNP: 10.14%
DUK: 10.10%

Where CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stands on ROE within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) keeps 11.76% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

CNP

Utilities industry group

11.76%

Group distribution

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
CNP: 11.76%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

Largest peers

NEE: 40.37%
NGG: 21.15%
DUK: 16.16%
SO: 16.00%
AEP: 14.21%
CNP: 11.76%
CEG: 11.08%

Where CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stands on net margin within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) turns 30.26% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

CNP

Utilities industry group

30.26%

Group distribution

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
CNP: 30.26%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

Largest peers

SO: 36.92%
NEE: 33.00%
CNP: 30.26%
DUK: 30.03%
NGG: 28.64%
AEP: 26.89%
CEG: 8.66%

Where CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stands on operating margin within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CNP	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	10.14%	9.44%
ROA (TTM)	3.15%	3.08%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.76%	12.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)	30.26%	23.62%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.39%	44.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) grew revenue 8.26%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

CenterPoint Energy (CNP): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Utilities industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) grew earnings per share 1.27%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

CenterPoint Energy (CNP): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Utilities industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CNP	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.26%	8.45%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.13%	3.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1.27%	3.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.21%	5.25%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) has current ratio of 1.15, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

CNP

Utilities industry group

1.15

Group distribution

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
CNP: 1.15
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

Largest peers

CEG: 1.46
CNP: 1.15
SO: 0.84
DUK: 0.68
NGG: 0.62
NEE: 0.53
AEP: 0.51

Where CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stands on current ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) has debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, in the higher-leverage quartile for its industry. The heavier reliance on borrowing can make earnings, rates, or refinancing conditions matter more.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.12

Group distribution

Max: 2.63
CNP: 2.12
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

CNP: 2.12
SO: 1.68
DUK: 1.63
AEP: 1.62
NEE: 1.53
NGG: 1.32
CEG: 0.76

Where CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CNP	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.15	0.88
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.12	1.35
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.98	5.31

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) has dividend yield of 2.30%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.30%

Group distribution

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
CNP: 2.30%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

DUK: 3.29%
SO: 3.21%
AEP: 3.00%
NEE: 2.76%
CNP: 2.30%
CEG: 0.68%
NGG: 0.57%

Where CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stands on dividend yield within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) has payout ratio of 52.87%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

CNP

Utilities industry group

52.87%

Group distribution

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
CNP: 52.87%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

NGG: 71.97%
SO: 68.49%
DUK: 62.76%
AEP: 62.09%
CNP: 52.87%
NEE: 43.89%
CEG: 15.92%

Where CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stands on payout ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CNP	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.30%	2.85%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	52.87%	56.38%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) trades at P/E ratio of 23.37, in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. That premium needs support from growth, durable earnings, or stronger business quality.

CNP

Utilities industry group

23.37

Group distribution

Max: 31.22
CNP: 23.37
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

Largest peers

CEG: 24.43
CNP: 23.37
SO: 21.08
AEP: 20.67
DUK: 18.74
NEE: 15.67
NGG: 15.54

Where CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stands on P/E ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) trades at 2.74 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.74

Group distribution

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
CNP: 2.74
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

NEE: 6.33
NGG: 4.46
SO: 3.45
DUK: 2.99
AEP: 2.92
CEG: 2.83
CNP: 2.74

Where CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stands on P/S ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) trades at 2.30 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.30

Group distribution

Max: 3.12
CNP: 2.30
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

Largest peers

NGG: 9.36
NEE: 2.97
CEG: 2.78
SO: 2.56
CNP: 2.30
AEP: 2.10
DUK: 1.83

Where CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stands on P/B ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: CNP	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.37	19.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.74	2.63
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.30	1.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-18.50%	-7.11%