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CNP vs. PNW: CenterPoint Energy vs. Pinnacle West Capital Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
Profile ItemCNPPNW
NameCenterPoint Energy, Inc.Pinnacle West Capital Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization26.95 billion USD12.63 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNP
PNW
GSPC
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW), 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
MetricCNPPNW
Total Return (1Y)5.91%24.23%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.08%18.78%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.79%15.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
MetricCNPPNW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.24%17.21%
Beta (5Y)0.440.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)-22.81%-24.02%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.95M1.28M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CNP and PNW 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
MetricCNPPNW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.091.16
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.121.77

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 9.09% 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%

PNW

Utilities industry group

9.09%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
PNW
9.09%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 11.76% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 11.59% 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%

PNW

Utilities industry group

11.59%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
PNW
11.59%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 31.70% 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%

PNW

Utilities industry group

31.70%

Max
53.83%
PNW
31.70%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
MetricCNPPNW
ROE (TTM)10.14%9.09%
ROA (TTM)3.15%2.36%
Net Margin (TTM)11.76%11.59%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.26%31.70%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.39%43.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 4.20% 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. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at -3.63% 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. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
MetricCNPPNW
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.26%4.20%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.13%7.28%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.27%-3.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)0.21%5.83%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 0.71 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

PNW

Utilities industry group

0.71

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
PNW
0.71
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.12 and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.26 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

CNP

Utilities industry group

2.12

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

PNW

Utilities industry group

2.26

Max
2.63
PNW
2.26
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
MetricCNPPNW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.150.71
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.122.26
Net Debt / EBITDA5.987.67

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 3.51% 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%

PNW

Utilities industry group

3.51%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
PNW
3.51%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 68.42% 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%

PNW

Utilities industry group

68.42%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
PNW
68.42%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
MetricCNPPNW
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.30%3.51%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)52.87%68.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 19.59 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

PNW

Utilities industry group

19.59

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
PNW
19.59
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.21 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

PNW

Utilities industry group

2.21

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
PNW
2.21
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 1.69 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

PNW

Utilities industry group

1.69

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
PNW
1.69
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
MetricCNPPNW
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.3719.59
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.742.21
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.301.69
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-18.50%-7.90%