CNP vs. FE: CenterPoint Energy vs. FirstEnergy Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE) 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

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CNP is classified in Multi-Utilities while FE is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Profile Item	CNP	FE
Name	CenterPoint Energy, Inc.	FirstEnergy Corp.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Multi-Utilities	Electric Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Multi-Utilities	Electric Utilities
Market Capitalization	26.95 billion USD	26.88 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	November 10, 1997
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNP

GSPC

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE), 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 CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	CNP	FE
Total Return (1Y)	5.91%	5.62%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.08%	14.20%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.79%	8.32%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNP

GSPC

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE), 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 CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	CNP	FE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	18.24%	16.31%
Beta (5Y)	0.44	0.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-22.81%	-28.59%
Avg. Volume (3M)	6.95M	4.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CNP and FE 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 CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	CNP	FE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.09	0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.12	0.11

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% and FirstEnergy (FE) at 10.04% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

CNP

Utilities industry group

10.14%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
CNP: 10.14%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

FE

Utilities industry group

10.04%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
FE: 10.04%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 11.76% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 7.49% retains only a bottom-quartile share.

CNP

Utilities industry group

11.76%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
CNP: 11.76%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

FE

Utilities industry group

7.49%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
FE: 7.49%
Min: -0.20%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26% and FirstEnergy (FE) at 21.24% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CNP

Utilities industry group

30.26%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
CNP: 30.26%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

FE

Utilities industry group

21.24%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
FE: 21.24%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	CNP	FE
ROE (TTM)	10.14%	10.04%
ROA (TTM)	3.15%	3.66%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.76%	7.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)	30.26%	21.24%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.39%	69.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% and FirstEnergy (FE) at 12.01% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% and FirstEnergy (FE) at 3.53% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	CNP	FE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.26%	12.01%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.13%	6.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1.27%	3.53%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.21%	35.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 0.38 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for FE.

CNP

Utilities industry group

1.15

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
CNP: 1.15
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

FE

Utilities industry group

0.38

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
FE: 0.38
Min: 0.29

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.12 and FirstEnergy (FE) at 2.07 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.12

Max: 2.63
CNP: 2.12
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

FE

Utilities industry group

2.07

Max: 2.63
FE: 2.07
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	CNP	FE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.15	0.38
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.12	2.07
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.98	5.85

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

FirstEnergy (FE) at 3.90% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FE the richer one.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.30%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
CNP: 2.30%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

FE

Utilities industry group

3.90%

Max: 6.66%
FE: 3.90%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): 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 FirstEnergy (FE) at 87.92% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CNP

Utilities industry group

52.87%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
CNP: 52.87%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

FE

Utilities industry group

87.92%

Max: 113.04%
FE: 87.92%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	CNP	FE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.30%	3.90%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	52.87%	87.92%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

FirstEnergy (FE) at 22.43 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.

CNP

Utilities industry group

23.37

Max: 31.22
CNP: 23.37
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

FE

Utilities industry group

22.43

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
FE: 22.43
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.74 and FirstEnergy (FE) at 1.68 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.74

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
CNP: 2.74
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

FE

Utilities industry group

1.68

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
FE: 1.68
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

FirstEnergy (FE) at 2.07 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.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.30

Max: 3.12
CNP: 2.30
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

FE

Utilities industry group

2.07

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
FE: 2.07
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	CNP	FE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.37	22.43
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.74	1.68
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.30	2.07
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-18.50%	-9.48%