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CMS vs. LNT: CMS Energy vs. Alliant Energy Stock Comparison

How do CMS Energy (CMS) and Alliant Energy (LNT) 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CMS is classified in Multi-Utilities while LNT is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for CMS Energy (CMS) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
Profile ItemCMSLNT
NameCMS Energy Corporation Common StockAlliant Energy Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization21.70 billion USD18.85 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMS
LNT
GSPC
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT), 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 Alliant Energy (LNT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricCMSLNT
Total Return (1Y)-1.93%12.31%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.79%18.55%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.25%9.28%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMS
LNT
GSPC
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT), 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 Alliant Energy (LNT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricCMSLNT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.58%17.65%
Beta (5Y)0.310.50
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.04%-25.59%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.84M2.73M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CMS and LNT 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 Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricCMSLNT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.350.46
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.490.66

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 12.36% sits in the top ROE quartile, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 5.31% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in returns on 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%

LNT

Utilities industry group

12.36%

Max
17.99%
LNT
12.36%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.74% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of CMS Energy (CMS) at 9.72%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CMS

Utilities industry group

9.72%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CMS
9.72%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%

LNT

Utilities industry group

20.74%

Max
28.78%
LNT
20.74%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 28.45% and Alliant Energy (LNT) at 30.27% 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%

LNT

Utilities industry group

30.27%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
LNT
30.27%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricCMSLNT
ROE (TTM)5.31%12.36%
ROA (TTM)3.07%2.47%
Net Margin (TTM)9.72%20.74%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.45%30.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.76%45.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CMS Energy (CMS) at 13.63% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 9.57% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for CMS.

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

EPS Growth

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 4.19% and Alliant Energy (LNT) at 16.73% 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. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricCMSLNT
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.63%9.57%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.22%1.23%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.19%16.73%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.84%4.77%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CMS Energy (CMS) at 0.95 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 0.51 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LNT.

CMS

Utilities industry group

0.95

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
CMS
0.95
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29

LNT

Utilities industry group

0.51

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
LNT
0.51
Min
0.29
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 1.61 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 1.96 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

1.96

Max
2.63
CMS
1.96
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00

LNT

Utilities industry group

1.61

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
LNT
1.61
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): 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 Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricCMSLNT
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.950.51
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.961.61
Net Debt / EBITDA6.336.67

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 3.21% and Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.88% 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%

LNT

Utilities industry group

2.88%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
LNT
2.88%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 58.84% 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%

LNT

Utilities industry group

58.84%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
LNT
58.84%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricCMSLNT
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.21%2.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)80.45%58.84%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.24 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 24.71 sits in the richer quartile — CMS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CMS

Utilities industry group

24.71

Max
31.22
CMS
24.71
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34

LNT

Utilities industry group

20.24

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
LNT
20.24
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.42 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 4.18 sits in the pricier quartile — LNT costs more per dollar of sales.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.42

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
CMS
2.42
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00

LNT

Utilities industry group

4.18

Max
6.35
LNT
4.18
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.41 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

LNT

Utilities industry group

2.41

Max
3.12
LNT
2.41
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricCMSLNT
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.7120.24
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.424.18
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.282.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.54%-8.11%