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CNP vs. NEE: CenterPoint Energy vs. NextEra Energy Stock Comparison

How do CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NextEra Energy (NEE) 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 NextEra Energy (NEE) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CNP is classified in Multi-Utilities while NEE is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Profile ItemCNPNEE
NameCenterPoint Energy, Inc.NextEra Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization26.95 billion USD182.36 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNP
NEE
GSPC
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE), 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 NextEra Energy (NEE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCNPNEE
Total Return (1Y)5.91%7.27%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.08%20.47%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.79%3.34%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNP
NEE
GSPC
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE), 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 NextEra Energy (NEE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCNPNEE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.24%21.60%
Beta (5Y)0.440.59
Max Drawdown (5Y)-22.81%-44.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.95M11.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CNP and NEE 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 NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCNPNEE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.090.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.120.21

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 14.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NEE.

CNP

Utilities industry group

10.14%

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

NEE

Utilities industry group

14.06%

Max
17.99%
NEE
14.06%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 40.37% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 11.76% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

CNP

Utilities industry group

11.76%

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

NEE

Utilities industry group

40.37%

NEE
40.37%
Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 33.00% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CNP

Utilities industry group

30.26%

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

NEE

Utilities industry group

33.00%

Max
53.83%
NEE
33.00%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCNPNEE
ROE (TTM)10.14%14.06%
ROA (TTM)3.15%2.41%
Net Margin (TTM)11.76%40.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.26%33.00%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.39%60.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 10.74% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at -2.63% 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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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCNPNEE
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.26%10.74%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.13%9.36%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.27%-2.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)0.21%16.28%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 0.53 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NEE.

CNP

Utilities industry group

1.15

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

NEE

Utilities industry group

0.53

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
NEE
0.53
Min
0.29
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 1.53 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

NEE

Utilities industry group

1.53

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
NEE
1.53
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): 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 NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCNPNEE
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.150.53
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.121.53
Net Debt / EBITDA5.988.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.76% 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%

NEE

Utilities industry group

2.76%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
NEE
2.76%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 43.89% 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%

NEE

Utilities industry group

43.89%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
NEE
43.89%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCNPNEE
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.30%2.76%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)52.87%43.89%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 15.67 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

NEE

Utilities industry group

15.67

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
NEE
15.67
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.74 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 6.33 sits in the pricier quartile — NEE 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

NEE

Utilities industry group

6.33

Max
6.35
NEE
6.33
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30 and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.97 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

NEE

Utilities industry group

2.97

Max
3.12
NEE
2.97
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCNPNEE
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.3715.67
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.746.33
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.302.97
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-18.50%-11.63%