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

How do CMS Energy (CMS) 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

CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
Profile ItemCMSCNP
NameCMS Energy Corporation Common StockCenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesMulti-Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesMulti-Utilities
Market Capitalization21.70 billion USD26.95 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricCMSCNP
Total Return (1Y)-1.93%5.91%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.79%18.08%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.25%11.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricCMSCNP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.58%18.24%
Beta (5Y)0.310.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.04%-22.81%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.84M6.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CMS 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricCMSCNP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.350.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.490.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% is around its peer norm for ROE, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 5.31% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

CMS

Utilities industry group

5.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
CMS
5.31%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 9.72% 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.

CMS

Utilities industry group

9.72%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CMS
9.72%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 28.45% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CMS

Utilities industry group

28.45%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
CMS
28.45%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricCMSCNP
ROE (TTM)5.31%10.14%
ROA (TTM)3.07%3.15%
Net Margin (TTM)9.72%11.76%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.45%30.26%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.76%48.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CMS Energy (CMS) at 13.63% 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 CMS.

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

EPS Growth

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 4.19% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricCMSCNP
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.63%8.26%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.22%0.13%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.19%1.27%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.84%0.21%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 0.95 and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

0.95

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
CMS
0.95
Median
0.88
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 1.96 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.

CMS

Utilities industry group

1.96

Max
2.63
CMS
1.96
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricCMSCNP
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.951.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.962.12
Net Debt / EBITDA6.335.98

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 3.21% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CMS

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
CMS
3.21%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 80.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CMS

Utilities industry group

80.45%

Max
113.04%
CMS
80.45%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricCMSCNP
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.21%2.30%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)80.45%52.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 24.71 and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 23.37 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

24.71

Max
31.22
CMS
24.71
Q3
23.30
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
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.42 and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.74 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.42

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
CMS
2.42
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
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.28 and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.28

Max
3.12
CMS
2.28
Q3
2.21
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. CenterPoint Energy (CNP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP)
MetricCMSCNP
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.7123.37
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.422.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.282.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.54%-18.50%