CenterPoint Energy (CNP)

Utilities · $27.0B market cap · SEC CIK 0001130310

Next reports on Feb 17, 2027, after the close, with analysts expecting $0.43 in earnings per share.

52-week range $36.37 to $45.26. 9% below its 52-week high and 13% above its low.

The case for CNP

• Pays a 2.9% dividend while you wait.
• Moves less than the market (beta 0.41).

The case against

• Expensive for its growth: 23.4× earnings, where 0% a year of growth plus a 2.9% dividend would justify about 12×.
• Burned $2.4B of free cash in FY2025.
• Long-term debt of $20.6B would take 8 years of operating cash flow to repay.
• Operating profit covers its interest bill only 2.4 times.
• Revenue has shrunk 3.8% a year over five years.
• Net margin of 6% is thinner than 97% of Utilities companies.

What the score is made of

Each factor is half a curve over reported figures and half a rank among the other Utilities companies (momentum is judged against fixed thresholds only), and the five are blended by weight. The score is where that blend places it in the S&P 500. It describes the last filing and the current price. It is not a forecast.

• Each factor except momentum is half fixed thresholds, half rank among the 31 Utilities companies.

The financials

The financials, five years deep

Pulled from CenterPoint Energy's XBRL filings on SEC EDGAR. Italic rows are worked out from the others.

What CenterPoint Energy says it does

This combined Form 10-K is filed separately by three registrants: CenterPoint Energy, Inc., CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC and CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. Information contained herein relating to any individual Registrant is filed by such Registrant solely on its own behalf. No Registrant makes any representation as to information relating to the other Registrants or the subsidiaries of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. other than itself or its subsidiaries. Except as discussed in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements, no Registrant has an obligation in respect of any other Registrant’s debt securities, and holders of such debt securities should not consider the financial resources or results of operations of any Registrant other than the obligor in making a decision with respect to such securities. The discussion of CenterPoint Energy’s consolidated financial information includes the financial results of Houston…

Risk factors CNP lists in its 10-K

• Electric Transmission, Distribution and Generation (CenterPoint Energy and Houston Electric)
• Natural Gas (CenterPoint Energy and CERC)
• Access to natural gas supplies and pipeline transmission and storage capacity are essential components of reliable service for our natural gas business customers
• Our natural gas businesses must compete with alternate energy sources, which could result in less natural gas delivered and have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
• Rate regulation of the Registrants’ electric and natural gas businesses may delay or deny their ability to earn an expected return and fully and timely recover their costs
• We are involved in numerous legal proceedings, the outcomes of which are uncertain, and resolutions adverse to us could negatively affect our financial results
• We are subject to operational and financial risks and liabilities arising from environmental laws and regulations, including regulation of CCR,
• climate change legislation and certain local initiatives that seek to limit fossil fuel usage
• We are subject to extensive regulation, which could result in higher costs for system improvements, as well as fines or other sanctions
• Our businesses may be adversely affected by the intentional misconduct of our employees, consultants, contractors, suppliers and vendors
• If we are unable to arrange future financings on acceptable terms, our ability to finance our capital expenditures and operations or
• refinance outstanding indebtedness could be limited
• CenterPoint Energy’s previously owned Energy Systems Group business has performance and warranty obligations, some of which are guaranteed by CenterPoint Energy
• An impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets or equity method investments or a fair value adjustment could reduce our earnings
• We may be significantly affected by changes in federal income tax laws and regulations, including any comprehensive federal tax reform legislation
• The Registrants’ businesses have safety risks
• Cyberattacks, physical security breaches, acts of terrorism or other disruptions could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
• Failure to maintain the security of personal information could adversely affect us
• We may not be successful in our adoption, development and deployment of AI, which could adversely affect our business, reputation, or financial results
• Severe weather events, natural disasters and other climate-related impacts could adversely impact our businesses, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
• We are exposed to risks related to changes in demand and energy consumption that could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
• Aging infrastructure may lead to increased costs and disruptions in operations that could negatively impact our financial results
• Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may be adversely affected if we are unable to successfully operate our facilities or perform certain corporate functions
• Our insurance coverage may not be sufficient. Insufficient insurance coverage and increased insurance costs could adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
• Global or regional health pandemics, epidemics or similar public health threats could negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows

Filings

Other Utilities companies