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CNP vs. NRG: CenterPoint Energy vs. NRG Energy Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
Profile ItemCNPNRG
NameCenterPoint Energy, Inc.NRG Energy, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization26.95 billion USD18.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962December 2, 2003
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCNPNRG
Total Return (1Y)5.91%-43.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.08%31.18%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.79%25.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCNPNRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.24%52.51%
Beta (5Y)0.441.20
Max Drawdown (5Y)-22.81%-55.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.95M3.15M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CNP and NRG 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 NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCNPNRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.09-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.12-1.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.77% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

CNP

Utilities industry group

10.14%

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

NRG

Utilities industry group

23.77%

NRG
23.77%
Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): 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 NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.56% 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%

NRG

Utilities industry group

2.56%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
NRG
2.56%
Min
-0.20%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while NRG Energy (NRG) at 12.77% operates in the bottom quartile.

CNP

Utilities industry group

30.26%

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

NRG

Utilities industry group

12.77%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
NRG
12.77%
Min
-4.90%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCNPNRG
ROE (TTM)10.14%23.77%
ROA (TTM)3.15%4.06%
Net Margin (TTM)11.76%2.56%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.26%12.77%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.39%18.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 9.18% 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. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while NRG Energy (NRG) at -19.64% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCNPNRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.26%9.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.13%-0.88%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.27%-19.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)0.21%-8.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 and NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.97 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CNP

Utilities industry group

1.15

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

NRG

Utilities industry group

0.97

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
NRG
0.97
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but NRG is more stretched: CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.12 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.83 is above its industry benchmark range.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.12

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

NRG

Utilities industry group

4.83

NRG
4.83
Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): 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 NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCNPNRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.150.97
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.124.83
Net Debt / EBITDA5.987.16

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 2.32% 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%

NRG

Utilities industry group

2.32%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
NRG
2.32%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% and NRG Energy (NRG) at 47.91% 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%

NRG

Utilities industry group

47.91%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
NRG
47.91%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCNPNRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.30%2.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)52.87%47.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 23.11 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

NRG

Utilities industry group

23.11

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
NRG
23.11
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

NRG Energy (NRG) at 0.56 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.74 prices around its industry’s middle — NRG costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.74

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

NRG

Utilities industry group

0.56

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
NRG
0.56
Min
0.00
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): 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 NRG Energy (NRG) at 4.42 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

NRG

Utilities industry group

4.42

NRG
4.42
Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. NRG Energy (NRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and NRG Energy (NRG)
MetricCNPNRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.3723.11
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.740.56
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.304.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-18.50%4.16%