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CNP vs. XEL: CenterPoint Energy vs. Xcel Energy Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Profile ItemCNPXEL
NameCenterPoint Energy, Inc.Xcel Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization26.95 billion USD51.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCNPXEL
Total Return (1Y)5.91%2.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.08%14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.79%8.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCNPXEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.24%19.49%
Beta (5Y)0.440.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)-22.81%-34.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.95M5.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CNP and XEL 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 Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCNPXEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.09-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.12-0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 11.44% 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%

XEL

Utilities industry group

11.44%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
XEL
11.44%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 17.95% 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%

XEL

Utilities industry group

17.95%

Max
28.78%
XEL
17.95%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 28.50% 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%

XEL

Utilities industry group

28.50%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
XEL
28.50%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCNPXEL
ROE (TTM)10.14%11.44%
ROA (TTM)3.15%2.37%
Net Margin (TTM)11.76%17.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.26%28.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)48.39%47.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 9.14% 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. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at -0.58% 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. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCNPXEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.26%9.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)0.13%-1.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.27%-0.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)0.21%2.56%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 0.69 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

XEL

Utilities industry group

0.69

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
XEL
0.69
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Xcel Energy (XEL) 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

XEL

Utilities industry group

1.68

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
XEL
1.68
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): 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 Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCNPXEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.150.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.121.68
Net Debt / EBITDA5.986.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 2.92% 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%

XEL

Utilities industry group

2.92%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
XEL
2.92%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 54.72% 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%

XEL

Utilities industry group

54.72%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
XEL
54.72%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCNPXEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.30%2.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)52.87%54.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 18.57 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

XEL

Utilities industry group

18.57

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
XEL
18.57
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): 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 Xcel Energy (XEL) at 3.44 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

XEL

Utilities industry group

3.44

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
XEL
3.44
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.98 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

XEL

Utilities industry group

1.98

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
XEL
1.98
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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CenterPoint Energy (CNP) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCNPXEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.3718.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.743.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.301.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-18.50%-16.32%