AEE vs. CNP: Ameren vs. CenterPoint Energy Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) are both classified in the Multi-Utilities sub-industry within the broader Multi-Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Profile Item	AEE	CNP
Name	Ameren Corporation	CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Multi-Utilities	Multi-Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Multi-Utilities	Multi-Utilities
Market Capitalization	31.24 billion USD	26.95 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1998	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AEE

CNP

GSPC

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	AEE	CNP
Total Return (1Y)	11.92%	5.91%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	17.94%	18.08%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	9.71%	11.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AEE

CNP

GSPC

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	AEE	CNP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	17.76%	18.24%
Beta (5Y)	0.40	0.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-27.46%	-22.81%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.74M	6.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AEE and CNP are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	AEE	CNP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.43	0.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.62	0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Ameren (AEE) at 11.78% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

AEE

Utilities industry group

11.78%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
AEE: 11.78%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

CNP

Utilities industry group

10.14%

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

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Ameren (AEE) at 18.59% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 11.76%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AEE

Utilities industry group

18.59%

Max: 28.78%
AEE: 18.59%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

CNP

Utilities industry group

11.76%

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

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Ameren (AEE) at 31.23% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AEE

Utilities industry group

31.23%

Max: 53.83%
AEE: 31.23%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

CNP

Utilities industry group

30.26%

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

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	AEE	CNP
ROE (TTM)	11.78%	10.14%
ROA (TTM)	3.12%	3.15%
Net Margin (TTM)	18.59%	11.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)	31.23%	30.26%
Gross Margin (TTM)	52.47%	48.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Ameren (AEE) at 15.43% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for AEE.

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Ameren (AEE) at 21.04% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for AEE.

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	AEE	CNP
Revenue Growth (YoY)	15.43%	8.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.41%	0.13%
EPS Growth (YoY)	21.04%	1.27%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.92%	0.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ameren (AEE) at 0.74 and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AEE

Utilities industry group

0.74

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
AEE: 0.74
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

CNP

Utilities industry group

1.15

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

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ameren (AEE) at 1.57 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.12 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AEE

Utilities industry group

1.57

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
AEE: 1.57
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.12

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

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	AEE	CNP
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.74	1.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.57	2.12
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.55	5.98

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Ameren (AEE) at 0.63% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

AEE

Utilities industry group

0.63%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
AEE: 0.63%
Min: 0.00%

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.30%

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

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Ameren (AEE) at 51.48% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

AEE

Utilities industry group

51.48%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
AEE: 51.48%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

CNP

Utilities industry group

52.87%

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

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	AEE	CNP
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.63%	2.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	51.48%	52.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Ameren (AEE) at 19.63 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 23.37 sits in the richer quartile — CNP needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AEE

Utilities industry group

19.63

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
AEE: 19.63
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

CNP

Utilities industry group

23.37

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

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.74 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ameren (AEE) at 3.63 sits in the pricier quartile — AEE costs more per dollar of sales.

AEE

Utilities industry group

3.63

Max: 6.35
AEE: 3.63
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.74

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

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Ameren (AEE) at 2.20 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30 carries an above-peer premium to book — CNP is pricier on assets.

AEE

Utilities industry group

2.20

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
AEE: 2.20
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.30

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

Ameren (AEE) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	AEE	CNP
P/E Ratio (TTM)	19.63	23.37
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.63	2.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.20	2.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-8.06%	-18.50%