CNP vs. NI: CenterPoint Energy vs. NiSource Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NiSource (NI)
Profile Item	CNP	NI
Name	CenterPoint Energy, Inc.	NiSource Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
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	21.18 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNP

GSPC

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NiSource (NI), 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 NiSource (NI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NiSource (NI)
Metric	CNP	NI
Total Return (1Y)	5.91%	6.11%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.08%	25.66%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.79%	16.11%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNP

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NiSource (NI)
Metric	CNP	NI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	18.24%	18.23%
Beta (5Y)	0.44	0.53
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-22.81%	-24.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)	6.95M	5.64M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CNP and NI 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 NiSource (NI)
Metric	CNP	NI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.09	0.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.12	0.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% and NiSource (NI) at 8.71% 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%

NI

Utilities industry group

8.71%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
NI: 8.71%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 11.76% and NiSource (NI) at 13.51% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

CNP

Utilities industry group

11.76%

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

NI

Utilities industry group

13.51%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
NI: 13.51%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26% and NiSource (NI) at 25.20% 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%

NI

Utilities industry group

25.20%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
NI: 25.20%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NiSource (NI)
Metric	CNP	NI
ROE (TTM)	10.14%	8.71%
ROA (TTM)	3.15%	3.25%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.76%	13.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)	30.26%	25.20%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.39%	50.92%

Growth

Revenue Growth

NiSource (NI) at 21.76% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for NI.

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

EPS Growth

NiSource (NI) at 20.37% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for NI.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NiSource (NI)
Metric	CNP	NI
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.26%	21.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.13%	4.32%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1.27%	20.37%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.21%	4.68%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while NiSource (NI) at 0.50 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NI.

CNP

Utilities industry group

1.15

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

NI

Utilities industry group

0.50

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
NI: 0.50
Min: 0.29

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

NiSource (NI) 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

NI

Utilities industry group

1.53

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
NI: 1.53
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NiSource (NI): 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 NiSource (NI)
Metric	CNP	NI
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.15	0.50
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.12	1.53
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.98	5.87

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% and NiSource (NI) at 0.68% 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%

NI

Utilities industry group

0.68%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
NI: 0.68%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% and NiSource (NI) at 60.51% 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%

NI

Utilities industry group

60.51%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
NI: 60.51%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NiSource (NI)
Metric	CNP	NI
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.30%	0.68%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	52.87%	60.51%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

NiSource (NI) at 22.64 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

NI

Utilities industry group

22.64

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
NI: 22.64
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NiSource (NI): 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 NiSource (NI) at 3.04 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

NI

Utilities industry group

3.04

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
NI: 3.04
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

NiSource (NI) at 2.21 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

NI

Utilities industry group

2.21

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
NI: 2.21
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NiSource (NI)
Metric	CNP	NI
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.37	22.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.74	3.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.30	2.21
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-18.50%	-10.51%