CNP vs. LNT: CenterPoint Energy vs. Alliant Energy Stock Comparison
How do CenterPoint Energy (CNP) 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
CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Alliant Energy (LNT) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CNP is classified in Multi-Utilities while LNT is classified in Electric Utilities.
| Profile Item | CNP | LNT |
|---|---|---|
| Name | CenterPoint Energy, Inc. | Alliant Energy Corporation |
| 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 | 18.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CNP | LNT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 5.91% | 12.31% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.08% | 18.55% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 11.79% | 9.28% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CNP | LNT |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.24% | 17.65% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.44 | 0.50 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -22.81% | -25.59% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 6.95M | 2.73M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CNP | LNT |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.09 | 0.46 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.12 | 0.66 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Alliant Energy (LNT) at 12.36% sits in the top ROE quartile, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LNT.
CNP
Utilities industry group
10.14%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- CNP
- 10.14%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.74% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 11.76%, which keeps about the industry-typical 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%
LNT
Utilities industry group
20.74%
- Max
- 28.78%
- LNT
- 20.74%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26% and Alliant Energy (LNT) at 30.27% 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%
LNT
Utilities industry group
30.27%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- LNT
- 30.27%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CNP | LNT |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.14% | 12.36% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.15% | 2.47% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.76% | 20.74% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 30.26% | 30.27% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 48.39% | 45.05% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% and Alliant Energy (LNT) at 9.57% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% 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.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | CNP | LNT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.26% | 9.57% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.13% | 1.23% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 1.27% | 16.73% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.21% | 4.77% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 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.
CNP
Utilities industry group
1.15
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- CNP
- 1.15
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Alliant Energy (LNT) at 1.61 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.12 uses more debt funding than most peers.
CNP
Utilities industry group
2.12
- Max
- 2.63
- CNP
- 2.12
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CNP | LNT |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.15 | 0.51 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.12 | 1.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.98 | 6.67 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% and Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.88% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
CNP
Utilities industry group
2.30%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- CNP
- 2.30%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% and Alliant Energy (LNT) at 58.84% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
CNP
Utilities industry group
52.87%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- CNP
- 52.87%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CNP | LNT |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.30% | 2.88% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 52.87% | 58.84% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.24 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
LNT
Utilities industry group
20.24
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- LNT
- 20.24
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.74 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.
CNP
Utilities industry group
2.74
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- CNP
- 2.74
- Median
- 2.63
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30 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.
CNP
Utilities industry group
2.30
- Max
- 3.12
- CNP
- 2.30
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CNP | LNT |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.37 | 20.24 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.74 | 4.18 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.30 | 2.41 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -18.50% | -8.11% |