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CNP Stock Analysis - CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC AI Rating

CNP NYSE Electric Services TX CIK: 0001130310
Recently Updated • Analysis: Mar 22, 2026 • SEC Data: 2025-12-31
AI Rating
HOLD
62% Confidence

📊 CNP Key Takeaways

Revenue: $9.4B
Net Margin: 11.2%
Free Cash Flow: $-2.4B
Current Ratio: 0.91x
Debt/Equity: 1.84x
EPS: $1.60
AI Rating: HOLD with 62% confidence

Investment Thesis

CenterPoint Energy demonstrates stable utility operations with solid operating margins (22.5%) and consistent profitability, but faces significant structural challenges including substantial capital expenditure requirements exceeding operating cash flow, resulting in negative free cash flow of -2.4B. The company's leverage is elevated with a 1.84x debt-to-equity ratio, constrained by capital-intensive infrastructure demands typical of regulated utilities.

CNP Strengths

  • + Stable revenue base of $9.4B with consistent net margin of 11.2% characteristic of regulated utility operations
  • + Strong operating margin of 22.5% and positive operating cash flow of $2.5B indicating operational efficiency
  • + Reasonable asset base of $46.5B supporting regulated utility service delivery

CNP Risks

  • ! Negative free cash flow of -2.4B due to capital expenditures ($4.9B) exceeding operating cash flow, limiting financial flexibility
  • ! Elevated leverage with 1.84x debt-to-equity ratio and $20.6B long-term debt constraining balance sheet
  • ! Weak liquidity position with current ratio of 0.91x and minimal cash reserves of $38M relative to operational scale

Key Metrics to Watch

CNP Financial Metrics

Revenue
$9.4B
Net Income
$1.1B
EPS (Diluted)
$1.60
Free Cash Flow
$-2.4B
Total Assets
$46.5B
Cash Position
$38.0M

💡 AI Analyst Insight

The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.

CNP Profitability Ratios

Gross Margin N/A
Operating Margin 22.5%
Net Margin 11.2%
ROE 9.4%
ROA 2.3%
FCF Margin -25.5%

CNP vs Default Sector

How CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC compares to Default sector averages

Net Margin
CNP 11.2%
vs
Sector Avg 12.0%
CNP Sector
ROE
CNP 9.4%
vs
Sector Avg 15.0%
CNP Sector
Current Ratio
CNP 0.9x
vs
Sector Avg 1.8x
CNP Sector
Debt/Equity
CNP 1.8x
vs
Sector Avg 0.7x
CNP Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

CNP Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Current Ratio
0.91x
Quick Ratio
0.87x
Debt/Equity
1.84x
Debt/Assets
0.0%
Interest Coverage
N/A
Long-term Debt
$20.6B

CNP 5-Year Financial Trend

CNP 5-year financial data: Year 2021: Revenue $8.3B, Net Income $791.0M, EPS $1.33. Year 2022: Revenue $9.3B, Net Income -$773.0M, EPS $-1.79. Year 2023: Revenue $9.3B, Net Income $1.5B, EPS $2.28. Year 2024: Revenue $9.3B, Net Income $1.1B, EPS $1.59. Year 2025: Revenue $9.3B, Net Income $917.0M, EPS $1.37.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC's revenue has grown significantly by 13% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $1.37 reflects profitable operations.

CNP Growth Metrics (YoY)

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
-25.5%
Free cash flow / Revenue

CNP Quarterly Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q3 2025 $1.8B $193.0M $0.30
Q2 2025 $1.9B $198.0M $0.30
Q1 2025 $2.6B $297.0M $0.45
Q3 2024 $1.8B $193.0M $0.30
Q2 2024 $1.9B $118.0M $0.17
Q1 2024 $2.6B $325.0M $0.49
Q3 2023 $1.9B $202.0M $0.30
Q2 2023 $1.9B $118.0M $0.17

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

CNP Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
$2.5B
Cash generated from operations
Capital Expenditures
$4.9B
Investment in assets
Dividends Paid
$574.0M
Returned to shareholders

CNP SEC Filings

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC (CIK: 0001130310)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
Mar 19, 2026 8-K cnp-20260319.htm View →
Mar 4, 2026 DEF 14A tm261341-3_def14a.htm View →
Feb 26, 2026 8-K tm267410d1_8k.htm View →
Feb 23, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1771880639.xml View →
Feb 23, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1771880634.xml View →

Frequently Asked Questions about CNP

What is the AI rating for CNP?

CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC (CNP) has an AI rating of HOLD with 62% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are CNP's key strengths?

Stable revenue base of $9.4B with consistent net margin of 11.2% characteristic of regulated utility operations. Strong operating margin of 22.5% and positive operating cash flow of $2.5B indicating operational efficiency.

What are the risks of investing in CNP?

Negative free cash flow of -2.4B due to capital expenditures ($4.9B) exceeding operating cash flow, limiting financial flexibility. Elevated leverage with 1.84x debt-to-equity ratio and $20.6B long-term debt constraining balance sheet.

What is CNP's revenue and growth?

CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC reported revenue of $9.4B.

Does CNP pay dividends?

CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC pays dividends, with $574.0M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.

Where can I find CNP SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC (CIK: 0001130310) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is CNP's EPS?

CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC has a diluted EPS of $1.60.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Our AI (Claude) analyzes publicly available SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports to evaluate financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics.

Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: Mar 22, 2026 | Data as of: 2025-12-31 | Powered by Claude AI