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CNPElectric & gas utilities

CenterPoint Energy

Not investment advice. Kevin may own this stock. How we value stocks

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Updated

Price
$41.00
Analysts view
Leaning bullish
Discount category
Close to intrinsic value
Pick status
Research only
Next earnings
Earnings Jan 27 · · estimated
History
Market cap
$27B
Shares of Apr 15, 2026
Yield at current rate
2.3%
Current annual rate, at the price of Nov 12, 2026
Dividend yield
2.2%
Last 12 months, at the price of Nov 12, 2026
P/E (trailing)
25.2
Price of Nov 12, 2026
EPS (trailing)
$1.63
12 months to Mar 31, 2026
52-week range
$36.37 – $45.26
To Nov 12, 2026
Beta
0.42
Vs S&P 500, 5 years monthly, to Oct 30, 2026
Average volume
7.2M
3 months, to Nov 12, 2026

Check the numbers:ExchangeGoogle FinanceYahoo FinanceSEC filings

In short

Thesis
The market prices CenterPoint for the cost of a large building plan and Houston storm risk, and timely cost recovery with new large-load connections over the next four to six quarters can close the gap.
Gap
Can close. Quarterly large-load connections and regulatory decisions on cost recovery give dated tests of the capital plan.

Company guidance: Non-GAAP EPS of $1.90 to $1.92 for 2026 and $2.07 to $2.09 for 2027 (, Q3 2026 earnings release (8-K Ex. 99.1))

Price history

About

CenterPoint Energy is a utility holding company. Its largest business, Houston Electric, delivers electricity in the Houston area in Texas. CenterPoint also distributes natural gas, and it generates and delivers electricity in southern Indiana.

On October 1, 2026, it sold its Ohio gas business to National Fuel Gas for $2.62 billion, and it sold its Louisiana and Mississippi gas businesses earlier. The company plans $70.7 billion of capital investment from 2026 through 2035. Jason Wells is Chair, President and CEO.

Thesis

The market prices CenterPoint for the cost of its large capital plan and for storm risk in Houston. After Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, government agencies and regulators investigated how Houston Electric prepared for and responded to the storm, and lawsuits about the storm continue. In October 2026, CenterPoint raised its 10-year capital plan by $4.0 billion to $70.7 billion. The plan needs new debt and new shares, and higher financing costs lowered Q3 2026 non-GAAP EPS by $0.04 per share against Q3 2025.

For the gap to close, three things must be true. Large-load customers in Houston must connect as planned: Houston Electric estimates that about 10 gigawatts of base load and about 2 gigawatts of studied load from these customers remain in ERCOT's Batch Zero process. Regulators must approve the recovery of its investment on time. Non-GAAP EPS must reach the raised 2026 guidance of $1.90 to $1.92 and the 2027 guidance of $2.07 to $2.09, and then keep growing at the mid to high end of 7% to 9% a year through 2030, as the company expects.

The full-year 2026 report in early 2027 is the next test. If these checks pass, the gap can close over the next four to six quarters. The main reason it may not close is a major storm or a regulatory decision that limits cost recovery.

Checkpoints

  1. Oct 27, 2026Passed
    Q3 2026 earnings: guidance and large-load growth2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance kept at least at the midpoint of $1.89 to $1.91 and more large-load connections pass; a guidance cut or a lower capital plan fail.Outcome: CenterPoint raised its 2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance to $1.90 to $1.92 and raised its 10-year capital plan by $4.0 billion to $70.7 billion.
  2. Jan 27, 2027 · est.Pending
    Full-year 2026 results and 2027 guidance2026 non-GAAP EPS within $1.90 to $1.92 and 2027 guidance of $2.07 to $2.09 kept pass; a guidance cut or a lower capital plan fail.
  3. Sep 30, 2027Pending
    Ohio sale note repaidNational Fuel Gas repays the $1.20 billion seller note on time pass; a default or a delay fails.

Every passed and failed checkpoint across all picks

Recent events

  • October 27, 2026CenterPoint reported Q3 2026 non-GAAP EPS of $0.53, up from $0.50, and GAAP EPS of $0.50. It raised its 2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance to $1.90 to $1.92 and gave 2027 guidance of $2.07 to $2.09. It raised its 10-year capital plan by $4.0 billion to $70.7 billion and expects non-GAAP EPS growth at the mid to high end of its 7% to 9% range through 2030. Its Form 10-Q says that about 10 gigawatts of base load and about 2 gigawatts of studied load from large-load customers remain in ERCOT's Batch Zero process, from about 14 gigawatts that Houston Electric first submitted.
  • October 1, 2026CenterPoint completed the sale of its Ohio gas business, Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, to National Fuel Gas for $2.62 billion. It received $1.42 billion in cash and a $1.20 billion promissory note that pays 6.50% interest and matures on September 30, 2027.
  • September 14, 2026CenterPoint said that an unauthorized third party obtained personal information about some of its customers through one of its external facing systems. Electric and gas service was not affected. The company does not expect a material financial impact and believes insurance will offset the costs.
Show 3 older events
  • September 9, 2026CenterPoint and its subsidiaries replaced their revolving credit facilities with four new facilities with total commitments of $4.6 billion, including a new $2.2 billion five-year facility at the parent company.
  • July 30, 2026CenterPoint agreed to sell $700 million of 6.400% fixed-to-fixed reset rate junior subordinated notes due 2058.
  • July 28, 2026CenterPoint reported Q2 2026 non-GAAP EPS of $0.40, up from $0.29, and reiterated 2026 guidance of at least the midpoint of $1.89 to $1.91. It raised its 10-year capital plan by $1.2 billion to $66.7 billion and said it submitted more than 17 gigawatts of large-load projects to ERCOT's Batch Zero process.

Latest news and filings

Last earnings
October 27, 2026 (8-K on sec.gov)
Next earnings
Expected about January 27, 2027. The company has not confirmed the date.

Every filing on SEC EDGAR (CIK 1130310)

Risks

  • Houston is exposed to hurricanes and other severe storms. After Hurricane Beryl in 2024, agencies investigated Houston Electric's preparation and response. A new major storm can cause large costs, penalties or damage to the company's reputation.
  • CenterPoint needs regulators to approve the recovery of its large capital plan in rates. A decision that delays or limits recovery lowers earnings growth.
  • Large-load customers can leave the queue. Of about 14 gigawatts that Houston Electric first submitted to ERCOT's Batch Zero process, it estimated in October 2026 that about 12 gigawatts remain. If more projects leave or connect later, the growth in demand and investment is slower.
  • The capital plan needs new debt and new shares. Interest expense and other finance charges were $764 million in the first nine months of 2026, up from $663 million a year earlier, and higher interest rates or a lower share price raise the cost of the plan.
  • In September 2026, a third party obtained customer personal information from one of CenterPoint's systems. The investigation continues, and costs or regulatory actions can follow.

Balance sheet

Cash
$132M
Debt
$24.9B
Net debt
$24.8B
Interest cover
2.3×
times profit pays interest

Cash against debt

Cash$132M
Debt$24.9B

debt covered by cashnet debt $24.8B

When the debt is due

12 months$1.2B
Later$23.7B

The last debt is due in 2058.

CenterPoint funds its utilities with senior notes, first mortgage bonds, securitization bonds, junior subordinated notes and new shares. At September 30, 2026, total debt was $24.90 billion: $21.93 billion of other long-term debt, $1.11 billion of other long-term debt due within a year and $1.87 billion of securitization bonds, which customers repay through dedicated charges.

Dividends

Yield at the current rate
2.3% (current annual rate, at today’s price)
Dividend yield
2.2% (last 12 months, at today’s price of $41.00)
Paid per share
$0.92 in the last 12 months (4 payments)
Current annual rate
$0.96 ($0.24 × 4 a year)
Payout ratio
55% of the last fiscal year’s earnings (the year that ended December 31, 2025)
Latest ex-dividend date
August 20, 2026, $0.24 per share

Dividends per share by year

CenterPoint Energy dividends per share by year
2016
$1.032
2017
$1.072
2018
$1.112
2019
$1.152
2020
$0.74
2021
$0.65
2022
$0.70
2023
$0.77
2024
$0.81
2025
$0.88

From 2020 to 2025, the dividend grew by about 3.5% a year. From 2015 to 2025, the dividend fell by about 1.2% a year.

Source: company filings and market data, read on November 13, 2026. The ex-dividend date is the first day a buyer no longer gets the next payment.

Questions about CenterPoint Energy

What does CenterPoint Energy do?

CenterPoint Energy is a utility holding company. Its largest business, Houston Electric, delivers electricity in the Houston area in Texas. Its market cap is $27B at the current price of $41.00.

When does CenterPoint Energy report earnings next?

This is an estimate: CenterPoint Energy may report on January 27, 2027.

Is CenterPoint Energy stock below its intrinsic value?

CenterPoint Energy stock is close to intrinsic value. This is general information, not advice.

What changed recently at CenterPoint Energy?

The latest update is from October 27, 2026. CenterPoint reported Q3 2026 non-GAAP EPS of $0.53, up from $0.50, and GAAP EPS of $0.50.

What are the main risks for CenterPoint Energy?

Houston is exposed to hurricanes and other severe storms. CenterPoint needs regulators to approve the recovery of its large capital plan in rates. Large-load customers can leave the queue.

How much debt and cash does CenterPoint Energy have?

At September 30, 2026, CenterPoint Energy had $24.9B of debt and $132M of cash.

Does CenterPoint Energy pay a dividend?

Yes. The current annual dividend of CenterPoint Energy is $0.96 per share. That is a dividend yield of 2.3% at the current price of $41.00. In the last 12 months, it paid $0.92 per share (2.2%). The latest ex-dividend date was August 20, 2026.

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