CMS vs. TLN: CMS Energy vs. Talen Energy Stock Comparison
How do CMS Energy (CMS) and Talen Energy (TLN) 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 Talen Energy (TLN) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CMS is classified in Multi-Utilities while TLN is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.
CMS Energy (CMS) has more than two decades of public-market history since February 21, 1973, whereas Talen Energy (TLN) listed on June 2, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | CMS | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CMS Energy Corporation Common Stock | Talen Energy Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Multi-Utilities | Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Multi-Utilities | Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders |
| Market Capitalization | 21.70 billion USD | 14.73 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | June 2, 2023 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CMS | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -1.93% | -6.63% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 11.79% | 88.64% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.25% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Talen Energy (TLN) has an aggressive beta of 1.53, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while CMS Energy (CMS) is defensive at 0.31 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | CMS | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 17.58% | 58.28% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.31 | 1.53 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -28.04% | -36.72% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.84M | 1.01M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CMS | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.35 | -0.19 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.49 | -0.26 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Talen Energy (TLN) reports a negative ROE of -16.54%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile CMS Energy (CMS) reports 5.31%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CMS
Utilities industry group
5.31%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- CMS
- 5.31%
- Min
- 2.17%
TLN
Utilities industry group
-16.54%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
- TLN
- -16.54%
Net Margin (TTM)
Talen Energy (TLN) reports a negative net margin of -5.67%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile CMS Energy (CMS) reports 9.72%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CMS
Utilities industry group
9.72%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- CMS
- 9.72%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
TLN
Utilities industry group
-5.67%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
- TLN
- -5.67%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 28.45% and Talen Energy (TLN) at 17.35% 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%
TLN
Utilities industry group
17.35%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- TLN
- 17.35%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CMS | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 5.31% | -16.54% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.07% | 0.88% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 9.72% | -5.67% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.45% | 17.35% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 40.76% | 42.67% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 13.63% and Talen Energy (TLN) at 26.68% sit in the top peer quartile for revenue growth, so each is growing its top line faster than typical industry peers.
EPS Growth
CMS Energy (CMS) at 4.19% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Talen Energy (TLN) at -127.11% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CMS | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 13.63% | 26.68% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.22% | 2.87% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 4.19% | -127.11% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.84% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 0.95 and Talen Energy (TLN) at 0.89 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
TLN
Utilities industry group
0.89
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- TLN
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but TLN is more stretched: CMS Energy (CMS) at 1.96 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Talen Energy (TLN) at 5.97 is above its industry benchmark range.
CMS
Utilities industry group
1.96
- Max
- 2.63
- CMS
- 1.96
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
TLN
Utilities industry group
5.97
- TLN
- 5.97
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CMS | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.95 | 0.89 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.96 | 5.97 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 6.33 | 13.69 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Talen Energy (TLN) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile CMS Energy (CMS) reports a yield of 3.21%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CMS
Utilities industry group
3.21%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- CMS
- 3.21%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
TLN
Utilities industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- TLN
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Talen Energy (TLN) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile CMS Energy (CMS) reports a payout of 80.45%, ranking against industry peers normally.
CMS
Utilities industry group
80.45%
- Max
- 113.04%
- CMS
- 80.45%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
TLN
Utilities industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- TLN
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CMS | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.21% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 80.45% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: CMS Energy (CMS) trades at 24.71 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Talen Energy (TLN) has no P/E ratio this period.
CMS
Utilities industry group
24.71
- Max
- 31.22
- CMS
- 24.71
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
TLN
Utilities industry group
--
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
- TLN
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.42 and Talen Energy (TLN) at 3.29 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
TLN
Utilities industry group
3.29
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- TLN
- 3.29
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.28 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Talen Energy (TLN) at 10.14 prices even higher, above its industry range.
CMS
Utilities industry group
2.28
- Max
- 3.12
- CMS
- 2.28
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
TLN
Utilities industry group
10.14
- TLN
- 10.14
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CMS | TLN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 24.71 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.42 | 3.29 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.28 | 10.14 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -9.54% | 6.39% |