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CNP vs. SRE: CenterPoint Energy vs. Sempra Stock Comparison

How do CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Sempra (SRE) 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 Sempra (SRE) 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 Sempra (SRE)
Profile ItemCNPSRE
NameCenterPoint Energy, Inc.Sempra
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesMulti-Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesMulti-Utilities
Market Capitalization26.95 billion USD51.13 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962June 29, 1998
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Sempra (SRE)
MetricCNPSRE
Total Return (1Y)5.91%-13.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.08%7.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.79%8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Sempra (SRE)
MetricCNPSRE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.24%21.00%
Beta (5Y)0.440.57
Max Drawdown (5Y)-22.81%-31.62%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.95M3.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CNP and SRE 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 Sempra (SRE)
MetricCNPSRE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.09-0.83
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.12-1.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% and Sempra (SRE) at 8.73% 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%

SRE

Utilities industry group

8.73%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
SRE
8.73%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Sempra (SRE): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Sempra (SRE) at 22.53% 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%

SRE

Utilities industry group

22.53%

Max
28.78%
SRE
22.53%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Sempra (SRE): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26% and Sempra (SRE) at 21.06% 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%

SRE

Utilities industry group

21.06%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
SRE
21.06%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Sempra (SRE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Sempra (SRE)
MetricCNPSRE
ROE (TTM)10.14%8.73%
ROA (TTM)3.15%1.99%
Net Margin (TTM)11.76%22.53%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.26%21.06%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.39%44.81%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% and Sempra (SRE) at 3.92% 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. Sempra (SRE): 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 Sempra (SRE) at -37.78% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Sempra (SRE)
MetricCNPSRE
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.26%3.92%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.13%-1.73%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.27%-37.78%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)0.21%-5.99%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Sempra (SRE) at 1.61 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets 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

SRE

Utilities industry group

1.61

Max
1.90
SRE
1.61
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Sempra (SRE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Sempra (SRE) at 0.85 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

SRE

Utilities industry group

0.85

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
SRE
0.85
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Sempra (SRE): 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 Sempra (SRE)
MetricCNPSRE
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.151.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.120.85
Net Debt / EBITDA5.986.18

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% and Sempra (SRE) at 3.27% 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%

SRE

Utilities industry group

3.27%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
SRE
3.27%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Sempra (SRE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% and Sempra (SRE) at 56.05% 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%

SRE

Utilities industry group

56.05%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
SRE
56.05%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Sempra (SRE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Sempra (SRE)
MetricCNPSRE
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.30%3.27%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)52.87%56.05%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sempra (SRE) at 16.74 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

SRE

Utilities industry group

16.74

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
SRE
16.74
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Sempra (SRE): 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 Sempra (SRE) at 3.76 sits in the pricier quartile — SRE 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

SRE

Utilities industry group

3.76

Max
6.35
SRE
3.76
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Sempra (SRE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Sempra (SRE) at 1.53 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

SRE

Utilities industry group

1.53

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
SRE
1.53
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Sempra (SRE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Sempra (SRE)
MetricCNPSRE
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.3716.74
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.743.76
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.301.53
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-18.50%-22.35%