ATO vs. CNP: Atmos Energy vs. CenterPoint Energy Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Atmos Energy (ATO) 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

Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but ATO is classified in Gas Utilities while CNP is classified in Multi-Utilities.

Company profile comparison for Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Profile Item	ATO	CNP
Name	Atmos Energy Corporation	CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Gas Utilities	Multi-Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Gas Utilities	Multi-Utilities
Market Capitalization	29.27 billion USD	26.95 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 28, 1983	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ATO

CNP

GSPC

Atmos Energy (ATO) 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	ATO	CNP
Total Return (1Y)	0.43%	5.91%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.83%	18.08%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	16.10%	11.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ATO

CNP

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	ATO	CNP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	16.06%	18.24%
Beta (5Y)	0.55	0.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-19.08%	-22.81%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.03M	6.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ATO 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	ATO	CNP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.24	0.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.34	0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.79% 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.

ATO

Utilities industry group

9.79%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
ATO: 9.79%
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%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 28.50% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 11.76%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ATO

Utilities industry group

28.50%

Max: 28.78%
ATO: 28.50%
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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 37.22% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ATO

Utilities industry group

37.22%

Max: 53.83%
ATO: 37.22%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	ATO	CNP
ROE (TTM)	9.79%	10.14%
ROA (TTM)	3.89%	3.15%
Net Margin (TTM)	28.50%	11.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)	37.22%	30.26%
Gross Margin (TTM)	62.21%	48.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 12.91% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.22% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	ATO	CNP
Revenue Growth (YoY)	12.91%	8.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.83%	0.13%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.22%	1.27%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.03%	0.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.81 and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

ATO

Utilities industry group

0.81

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
ATO: 0.81
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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.68 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.12 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

ATO

Utilities industry group

0.68

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
ATO: 0.68
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

Atmos Energy (ATO) 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	ATO	CNP
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.81	1.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.68	2.12
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.74	5.98

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 2.21% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ATO

Utilities industry group

2.21%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
ATO: 2.21%
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%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 46.13% 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.

ATO

Utilities industry group

46.13%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
ATO: 46.13%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	ATO	CNP
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.21%	2.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	46.13%	52.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 20.65 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.

ATO

Utilities industry group

20.65

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
ATO: 20.65
Median: 19.64
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

Atmos Energy (ATO) 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) at 5.95 sits in the pricier quartile — ATO costs more per dollar of sales.

ATO

Utilities industry group

5.95

Max: 6.35
ATO: 5.95
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

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 1.92 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.

ATO

Utilities industry group

1.92

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
ATO: 1.92
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Metric	ATO	CNP
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.65	23.37
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.95	2.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.92	2.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-7.59%	-18.50%