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AES vs. CNP: AES vs. CenterPoint Energy Stock Comparison

How do AES (AES) 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

AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AES is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers while CNP is classified in Multi-Utilities.

Company profile comparison for AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Profile ItemAESCNP
NameThe AES CorporationCenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity ProducersMulti-Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryIndependent Power Producers & Energy TradersMulti-Utilities
Market Capitalization10.61 billion USD26.95 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 26, 1991January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AES
CNP
GSPC
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AES (AES) 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 AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricAESCNP
Total Return (1Y)10.79%5.91%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)3.44%18.08%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.12%11.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AES
CNP
GSPC
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AES (AES) 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 AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricAESCNP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.19%18.24%
Beta (5Y)0.930.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.43%-22.81%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.50M6.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AES 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 AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricAESCNP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.260.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.330.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 8.68% 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.

AES

Utilities industry group

8.68%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
AES
8.68%
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%
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AES (AES) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 13.16% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 11.76% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

13.16%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
AES
13.16%
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%
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AES (AES) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 23.89% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AES

Utilities industry group

23.89%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
AES
23.89%
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%
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AES (AES) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricAESCNP
ROE (TTM)8.68%10.14%
ROA (TTM)3.13%3.15%
Net Margin (TTM)13.16%11.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.89%30.26%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.34%48.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while AES (AES) at -0.37% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while AES (AES) at -46.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricAESCNP
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.37%8.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.03%0.13%
EPS Growth (YoY)-46.61%1.27%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--0.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AES (AES) at 0.86 and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.86

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
AES
0.86
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
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AES (AES) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both AES (AES) at 2.43 and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.12 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

AES

Utilities industry group

2.43

Max
2.63
AES
2.43
Q3
1.77
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
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AES (AES) 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 AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricAESCNP
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.861.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.432.12
Net Debt / EBITDA7.285.98

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AES (AES) at 4.73% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AES the richer one.

AES

Utilities industry group

4.73%

Max
6.66%
AES
4.73%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
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%
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AES (AES) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; AES (AES) at 28.27% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

AES

Utilities industry group

28.27%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
AES
28.27%
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%
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AES (AES) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricAESCNP
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.73%2.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)28.27%52.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 5.97 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 23.37 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

AES

Utilities industry group

5.97

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
AES
5.97
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
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AES (AES) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 0.78 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.74 prices around its industry’s middle — AES costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.78

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
AES
0.78
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
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AES (AES) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AES (AES) at 1.86 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.

AES

Utilities industry group

1.86

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
AES
1.86
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
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AES (AES) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AES (AES) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricAESCNP
P/E Ratio (TTM)5.9723.37
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.782.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.862.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-30.54%-18.50%