CNP vs. SO: CenterPoint Energy vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Southern Company (SO)
Profile Item	CNP	SO
Name	CenterPoint Energy, Inc.	The Southern Company
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Multi-Utilities	Electric Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Multi-Utilities	Electric Utilities
Market Capitalization	26.95 billion USD	107.51 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNP

GSPC

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Southern Company (SO), 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 Southern Company (SO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	CNP	SO
Total Return (1Y)	5.91%	6.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.08%	15.28%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.79%	12.24%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNP

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	CNP	SO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	18.24%	17.95%
Beta (5Y)	0.44	0.30
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-22.81%	-23.28%
Avg. Volume (3M)	6.95M	6.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CNP and SO 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 Southern Company (SO)
Metric	CNP	SO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.09	0.11
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.12	0.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% and Southern Company (SO) at 11.90% 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%

SO

Utilities industry group

11.90%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
SO: 11.90%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 11.76% and Southern Company (SO) at 16.00% 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%

SO

Utilities industry group

16.00%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
SO: 16.00%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 36.92% 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%

SO

Utilities industry group

36.92%

Max: 53.83%
SO: 36.92%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	CNP	SO
ROE (TTM)	10.14%	11.90%
ROA (TTM)	3.15%	3.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.76%	16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)	30.26%	36.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)	48.39%	48.55%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% and Southern Company (SO) at 10.59% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% and Southern Company (SO) at -1.75% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	CNP	SO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.26%	10.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.13%	0.31%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1.27%	-1.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.21%	6.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 and Southern Company (SO) at 0.84 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

SO

Utilities industry group

0.84

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
SO: 0.84
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Southern Company (SO) at 1.68 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

SO

Utilities industry group

1.68

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
SO: 1.68
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Southern Company (SO): 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 Southern Company (SO)
Metric	CNP	SO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.15	0.84
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.12	1.68
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.98	5.01

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% and Southern Company (SO) at 3.21% 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%

SO

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
SO: 3.21%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% and Southern Company (SO) at 68.49% 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%

SO

Utilities industry group

68.49%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
SO: 68.49%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	CNP	SO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.30%	3.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	52.87%	68.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 21.08 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

SO

Utilities industry group

21.08

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
SO: 21.08
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Southern Company (SO): 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 Southern Company (SO) at 3.45 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

SO

Utilities industry group

3.45

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
SO: 3.45
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Southern Company (SO): 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 Southern Company (SO) at 2.56 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

SO

Utilities industry group

2.56

Max: 3.12
SO: 2.56
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	CNP	SO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.37	21.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.74	3.45
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.30	2.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-18.50%	-4.73%