CNP vs. NGG: CenterPoint Energy vs. National Grid Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) are both classified in the Multi-Utilities sub-industry within the broader Multi-Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) trades as ordinary local shares, while National Grid (NGG) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and National Grid (NGG)
Profile Item	CNP	NGG
Name	CenterPoint Energy, Inc.	National Grid plc Sponsored ADR
Country/Region	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Multi-Utilities	Multi-Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Multi-Utilities	Multi-Utilities
Market Capitalization	26.95 billion USD	83.60 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	August 10, 2005
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNP

NGG

GSPC

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. National Grid (NGG), 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 National Grid (NGG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and National Grid (NGG)
Metric	CNP	NGG
Total Return (1Y)	5.91%	13.00%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.08%	19.82%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.79%	12.34%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNP

NGG

GSPC

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. National Grid (NGG), 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 National Grid (NGG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and National Grid (NGG)
Metric	CNP	NGG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	18.24%	22.32%
Beta (5Y)	0.44	0.73
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-22.81%	-39.20%
Avg. Volume (3M)	6.95M	911.70K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CNP and NGG 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 National Grid (NGG)
Metric	CNP	NGG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.09	0.39
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.12	0.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% and National Grid (NGG) at 10.31% 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%

NGG

Utilities industry group

10.31%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
NGG: 10.31%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. National Grid (NGG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

National Grid (NGG) at 21.15% 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%

NGG

Utilities industry group

21.15%

Max: 28.78%
NGG: 21.15%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26% and National Grid (NGG) at 28.64% 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%

NGG

Utilities industry group

28.64%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
NGG: 28.64%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and National Grid (NGG)
Metric	CNP	NGG
ROE (TTM)	10.14%	10.31%
ROA (TTM)	3.15%	3.33%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.76%	21.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)	30.26%	28.64%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.39%	100.00%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while National Grid (NGG) at -3.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. National Grid (NGG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: CenterPoint Energy (CNP) reports EPS growth of 1.27%, ranked against its industry; National Grid (NGG) has no EPS growth figure this period.

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. National Grid (NGG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and National Grid (NGG)
Metric	CNP	NGG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.26%	-3.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.13%	-6.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1.27%	--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.21%	-30.59%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while National Grid (NGG) at 0.62 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NGG.

CNP

Utilities industry group

1.15

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

NGG

Utilities industry group

0.62

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
NGG: 0.62
Min: 0.29

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

National Grid (NGG) at 1.32 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

NGG

Utilities industry group

1.32

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
NGG: 1.32
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. National Grid (NGG): 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 National Grid (NGG)
Metric	CNP	NGG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.15	0.62
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.12	1.32
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.98	6.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while National Grid (NGG) at 0.57% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.30%

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

NGG

Utilities industry group

0.57%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
NGG: 0.57%
Min: 0.00%

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. National Grid (NGG): 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 National Grid (NGG) at 71.97% 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%

NGG

Utilities industry group

71.97%

Max: 113.04%
NGG: 71.97%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and National Grid (NGG)
Metric	CNP	NGG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.30%	0.57%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	52.87%	71.97%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

National Grid (NGG) at 15.54 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

NGG

Utilities industry group

15.54

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
NGG: 15.54
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. National Grid (NGG): 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 National Grid (NGG) at 4.46 sits in the pricier quartile — NGG 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

NGG

Utilities industry group

4.46

Max: 6.35
NGG: 4.46
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and National Grid (NGG) at 9.36 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.30

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

NGG

Utilities industry group

9.36

NGG: 9.36
Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and National Grid (NGG)
Metric	CNP	NGG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.37	15.54
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.74	4.46
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.30	9.36
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-18.50%	-5.94%