CNP
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Regulated Electric
Market Cap$28.42B
5Y Perf.+144.8%
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Stock Comparison
CNP vs NI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NI
NiSource Inc.
Regulated Gas
Market Cap$22.99B
5Y Perf.+102.2%
CNP vs NI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CNP | NI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Regulated Electric | Regulated Gas |
| Market Cap | $28.42B | $22.99B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $9.41B | $6.33B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.07B | $896M |
| Gross Margin | 41.3% | 50.6% |
| Operating Margin | 22.5% | 27.4% |
| Forward P/E | 22.8x | 23.4x |
| Total Debt | $23.66B | $15.48B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $49M | — |
CNP vs NI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CNP
NI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| CenterPoint Energy,… (CNP) | 100 | 244.8 | +144.8% |
| NiSource Inc. (NI) | 100 | 202.2 | +102.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CNP vs NI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NI leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CNP
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
The Value Play
CNP is the clearest fit if your priority is value.
- Lower P/E (22.8x vs 23.4x)
Best for: value
NI
NiSource Inc.
The Income Pick
NI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.22, yield 2.3%
- Rev growth 21.8%, EPS growth 20.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.3%
- 143.8% 10Y total return vs CNP's 142.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NI | 21.8% revenue growth vs CNP's 8.3% |
| Value | CNP | Lower P/E (22.8x vs 23.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | NI | 14.2% margin vs CNP's 11.4% |
| Stability / Safety | NI | Lower D/E ratio (132.7% vs 212.2%) |
| Dividends | NI | 2.3% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs CNP's 2.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NI | +25.5% vs CNP's +14.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NI | 2.6% ROA vs CNP's 2.3%, ROIC 5.3% vs 4.8% |
CNP vs NI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2023
CNP vs NI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNILAGGINGCNP
CNPCenterPoint Energy, I…
0leads
NINiSource Inc.
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CNPMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NI4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NI3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NI5/6
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NI6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NI1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CNP and NI operate at a comparable scale, with $9.4B and $6.3B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 14.2% (NI) to 11.4% (CNP). On growth, NI holds the edge at +18.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CNPCenterPoint Energ… | NINiSource Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $9.4B | $6.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.7B | $2.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | $896M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$2.7B | -$1.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.3% | +50.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +22.5% | +27.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.4% | +14.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -28.4% | -28.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.9% | +18.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.7% | +5.3% |
NI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NI leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 24.7x trailing earnings, NI trades at a 9% valuation discount to CNP's 27.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NI's 12.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CNP's 14.3x.
| Metric | CNPCenterPoint Energ… | NINiSource Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $28.4B | $23.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $52.0B | $38.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 27.21x | 24.71x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.80x | 23.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.29x | 12.81x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.04x | 3.46x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.56x | 1.96x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
NI leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CNP delivers a 9.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $8 for NI. NI carries lower financial leverage with a 1.33x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CNP's 2.12x.
| Metric | CNPCenterPoint Energ… | NINiSource Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.6% | +8.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.3% | +2.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.8% | +5.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.2% | — |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.12x | 1.33x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $23.6B | $15.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $49M | — |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $23.7B | $15.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.38x | — |
NI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NI five years ago would be worth $20,694 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,526 for CNP. Over the past 12 months, NI leads with a +25.5% total return vs CNP's +14.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NI at 21.7% vs CNP's 14.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CNPCenterPoint Energ… | NINiSource Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.0% | +15.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.2% | +25.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +50.8% | +80.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +95.3% | +106.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +142.1% | +143.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.7% | +21.7% |
NI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CNP and NI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CNP is the less volatile stock with a -0.03 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NI's 0.22 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | CNPCenterPoint Energ… | NINiSource Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.03x | 0.22x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $44.47 | $48.98 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.46 | $37.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.9% | +98.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.4 | 55.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.6M | 3.8M |
Evenly matched — CNP and NI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NI leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CNP as "Hold" and NI as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 3.3% upside for NI (target: $50) vs -0.1% for CNP (target: $44). For income investors, NI offers the higher dividend yield at 2.32% vs CNP's 2.01%.
| Metric | CNPCenterPoint Energ… | NINiSource Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $43.50 | $49.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 30 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.0% | +2.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.88 | $1.12 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
NI leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
NI leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallNiSource Inc. (NI)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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CNP vs NI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CNP or NI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, NiSource Inc.
(NI) is the stronger pick with 21. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 3% for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP). NiSource Inc. (NI) offers the better valuation at 24. 7x trailing P/E (23. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NiSource Inc. (NI) a "Buy" — based on 22 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CNP or NI?
On trailing P/E, NiSource Inc.
(NI) is the cheapest at 24. 7x versus CenterPoint Energy, Inc. at 27. 2x. On forward P/E, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CNP or NI?
Over the past 5 years, NiSource Inc.
(NI) delivered a total return of +106. 9%, compared to +95. 3% for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NI returned +143. 8% versus CNP's +142. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CNP or NI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
(CNP) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 03β versus NiSource Inc. 's 0. 22β — meaning NI is approximately -748% more volatile than CNP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NiSource Inc. (NI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 133% versus 2% for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CNP or NI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), NiSource Inc.
(NI) is pulling ahead at 21. 8% versus 8. 3% for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NiSource Inc. grew EPS 20. 4% year-over-year, compared to 1. 3% for CenterPoint Energy, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NI leads at 4. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — CNP or NI?
NiSource Inc.
(NI) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 0% net margin versus 11. 2% for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NI leads at 27. 6% versus 22. 6% for CNP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NI leads at 74. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is CNP or NI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
(CNP) trades at 22. 8x forward P/E versus 23. 4x for NiSource Inc. — 0. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NI: 3. 3% to $49. 80.
08Which pays a better dividend — CNP or NI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
NiSource Inc. (NI) offers the highest yield at 2. 3%, versus 2. 0% for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP).
09Is CNP or NI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
(CNP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 03), 2. 0% yield, +142. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CNP: +142. 1%, NI: +143. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between CNP and NI?
Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: CNP is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NI is a mid-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(CNP: 1.9% · NI: 18.3%)Net Margin>
%
(CNP: 11.4% · NI: 14.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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