Revenue growth remains modest at 1.9% year-over-year as of 2026Q1, with operating margins of 22.1% reflecting the ongoing challenges of navigating regulatory lag and volatile volumetric demand.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 | Dec'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Revenue | 9.41B | 9.36B | 8.64B | 8.7B | 9.32B | 8.35B | 7.42B | 7.56B | 6.28B | 9.61B | 7.53B | 7.39B | 9.23B | 8.11B | 7.45B | 8.45B | 8.79B | 8.28B | 11.32B | 9.62B | 9.32B | 9.72B | 8B | 7.79B | 6.44B | 10.66B | 10.37B | 15.21B | 11.23B | 6.88B | 4.1B |
| Revenue Growth % | 5.24% | 8.26% | -0.61% | -6.71% | 11.6% | 12.59% | -1.93% | 20.5% | -34.71% | 27.71% | 1.92% | -19.94% | 13.82% | 8.78% | -11.81% | -3.81% | 6.09% | -26.86% | 17.66% | 3.26% | -4.15% | 21.54% | 2.69% | 21% | -39.59% | 2.72% | -31.8% | 35.46% | 63.26% | 67.95% | 9.81% |
| Cost of Revenue | 5.53B | 6.67B | 4.67B | 5.01B | 5.92B | 5.14B | 4.49B | 4.79B | 3.77B | 7.05B | 5B | 5.11B | 6.89B | 5.75B | 4.75B | 5.89B | 6.29B | 4.37B | 7.47B | 6B | 5.91B | 6.51B | 5.01B | 4.3B | 2.95B | 6.37B | 6.03B | 10.84B | 7.03B | 3.55B | 1.37B |
| Gross Profit | 3.89B | 2.69B | 3.98B | 3.69B | 3.4B | 3.21B | 2.93B | 2.77B | 2.5B | 2.56B | 2.53B | 2.28B | 2.34B | 2.35B | 2.71B | 2.56B | 2.49B | 3.91B | 3.86B | 3.63B | 3.41B | 3.21B | 2.99B | 3.49B | 3.48B | 4.29B | 4.35B | 4.37B | 4.2B | 3.33B | 2.73B |
| Gross Margin % | 41.3% | 28.71% | 46% | 42.39% | 36.44% | 38.4% | 39.49% | 36.62% | 39.86% | 26.66% | 33.65% | 30.83% | 25.32% | 29% | 36.3% | 30.3% | 28.37% | 47.22% | 34.06% | 37.7% | 36.59% | 33.05% | 37.33% | 44.83% | 54.11% | 40.27% | 41.91% | 28.72% | 37.39% | 48.37% | 66.65% |
| Gross Profit Growth % | - | -32.44% | 7.87% | 8.51% | 5.92% | 9.49% | 5.74% | 10.71% | -2.38% | 1.18% | 11.24% | -2.53% | -0.64% | -13.09% | 5.66% | 2.73% | -36.27% | 1.4% | 6.28% | 6.39% | 6.13% | 7.6% | -14.48% | 0.23% | -18.81% | -1.3% | -0.49% | 4.04% | 26.2% | 21.89% | 4.31% |
| Operating Expenses | 1.77B | 576M | 1.99B | 1.93B | 1.83B | 1.84B | 1.89B | 1.7B | 1.63B | 1.43B | 1.51B | 1.34B | 1.4B | 1.34B | 1.67B | 1.26B | 1.24B | 2.79B | 2.58B | 2.41B | 2.37B | 2.15B | 1.9B | 2.14B | 2.04B | 3.05B | 3.3B | 3.11B | 2.92B | 2.38B | 1.83B |
| Other Operating Expenses | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| EBITDA | 3.71B | 3.64B | 3.43B | 3.16B | 2.85B | 2.68B | 2.23B | 2.3B | 2.11B | 2.17B | 2.15B | 1.9B | 1.95B | 1.96B | 2.09B | 2.18B | 2.11B | 1.87B | 1.98B | 1.91B | 1.7B | 1.68B | 1.67B | 1.96B | 2.2B | 1.94B | 1.96B | 2.16B | 2.16B | 1.62B | 1.48B |
| EBITDA Margin % | 39.41% | 38.9% | 39.67% | 36.35% | 30.62% | 32.08% | 30.04% | 30.35% | 33.63% | 22.59% | 28.55% | 25.76% | 21.11% | 24.23% | 28.02% | 25.85% | 24.05% | 22.55% | 17.5% | 19.88% | 18.24% | 17.26% | 20.89% | 25.18% | 34.12% | 18.21% | 18.87% | 14.23% | 19.25% | 23.6% | 36.12% |
| EBITDA Growth % | 7.13% | 6.15% | 8.48% | 10.76% | 6.53% | 20.24% | -2.96% | 8.76% | -2.81% | 1.07% | 12.93% | -2.31% | -0.81% | -5.94% | -4.4% | 3.36% | 13.18% | -5.75% | 3.55% | 12.53% | 1.31% | 0.42% | -14.82% | -10.69% | 13.19% | -0.88% | -9.53% | 0.1% | 33.19% | 9.72% | 4.98% |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 1.59B | 1.53B | 1.44B | 1.4B | 1.29B | 1.32B | 1.19B | 1.23B | 1.24B | 1.04B | 1.13B | 970M | 1.01B | 954M | 1.05B | 886M | 864M | 743M | 708M | 696M | 655M | 618M | 582M | 606.21M | 756.68M | 700.76M | 906.32M | 905.3M | 882.1M | 0 | 0 |
| D&A / Revenue % | 16.89% | 16.35% | 16.65% | 16.11% | 13.82% | 15.76% | 16.03% | 16.2% | 19.8% | 10.78% | 14.96% | 13.13% | 10.98% | 11.77% | 14.09% | 10.49% | 9.83% | 8.97% | 6.25% | 7.23% | 7.03% | 6.36% | 7.28% | 7.78% | 11.75% | 6.58% | 8.74% | 5.95% | 7.86% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating Income (EBIT) | 2.12B | 2.11B | 1.99B | 1.76B | 1.57B | 1.36B | 1.04B | 1.07B | 868M | 1.14B | 1.02B | 933M | 935M | 1.01B | 1.04B | 1.3B | 1.25B | 1.12B | 1.27B | 1.22B | 1.04B | 1.06B | 1.09B | 1.36B | 1.44B | 1.24B | 1.05B | 1.26B | 1.28B | 943.1M | 895.5M |
| Operating Margin % | 22.51% | 22.55% | 23.02% | 20.24% | 16.8% | 16.32% | 14.01% | 14.16% | 13.83% | 11.82% | 13.59% | 12.63% | 10.13% | 12.46% | 13.93% | 15.36% | 14.22% | 13.57% | 11.24% | 12.65% | 11.21% | 10.9% | 13.61% | 17.4% | 22.36% | 11.63% | 10.14% | 8.28% | 11.4% | 13.71% | 21.87% |
| Operating Income Growth % | - | 6.03% | 13.07% | 12.39% | 14.89% | 31.18% | -2.99% | 23.39% | -23.59% | 11.05% | 9.65% | -0.21% | -7.43% | -2.7% | -20.03% | 3.92% | 11.12% | -11.7% | 4.6% | 16.46% | -1.42% | -2.66% | -19.66% | -5.86% | 16.13% | 17.9% | -16.47% | -1.65% | 35.71% | 5.32% | -1.1% |
| Interest Expense | 4M | 903M | 838M | 701M | 524M | 529M | 529M | 567M | 420M | 390M | 429M | 457M | 471M | 484M | 569M | 583M | 621M | 644M | 604M | 0 | 600M | 710M | 0 | 933.82M | 0 | 0 | 754.44M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Coverage | - | 2.38x | 2.45x | 2.55x | 3.70x | 2.47x | 2.06x | 1.96x | 2.31x | 3.73x | 2.60x | -1.47x | 2.88x | 2.61x | 2.33x | 3.01x | 2.14x | 1.85x | 2.20x | - | 1.74x | 1.49x | - | 1.45x | - | - | 1.39x | - | - | - | - |
| Interest / Revenue % | 0.04% | 9.65% | 9.7% | 8.06% | 5.62% | 6.33% | 7.13% | 7.5% | 6.69% | 4.06% | 5.7% | 6.19% | 5.11% | 5.97% | 7.64% | 6.9% | 7.07% | 7.78% | 5.33% | 0% | 6.44% | 7.3% | 0% | 11.99% | 0% | 0% | 7.27% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Non-Operating Income | -4M | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K | -1000K |
| Pretax Income | 1.28B | 1.25B | 1.21B | 1.09B | 1.42B | 778M | 563M | 545M | 551M | 1.06B | 686M | -1.13B | 885M | 781M | 757M | 1.17B | 705M | 548M | 723M | 594M | 494M | 378M | 344M | 613.84M | 754.21M | 675.18M | 456.24M | 2.56B | -360.93M | 627.5M | 605.1M |
| Pretax Margin % | 13.58% | 13.33% | 14.05% | 12.5% | 15.2% | 9.32% | 7.59% | 7.21% | 8.78% | 11.06% | 9.11% | -15.3% | 9.59% | 9.63% | 10.16% | 13.89% | 8.03% | 6.62% | 6.39% | 6.17% | 5.3% | 3.89% | 4.3% | 7.88% | 11.72% | 6.34% | 4.4% | 16.86% | -3.21% | 9.12% | 14.78% |
| Income Tax | 207M | 195M | 195M | 170M | 360M | 110M | 80M | 30M | 155M | -729M | 254M | -438M | 274M | 470M | 340M | 404M | 263M | 176M | 277M | 195M | 62M | 153M | 138M | 205.06M | 272.25M | 228.25M | 234.2M | 899.12M | -82.56M | 206.4M | 200.2M |
| Effective Tax Rate % | 16.2% | 15.64% | 16.06% | 15.64% | 25.41% | 14.14% | 14.21% | 5.5% | 28.13% | -68.58% | 37.03% | 38.76% | 30.96% | 60.18% | 44.91% | 34.41% | 37.3% | 32.12% | 38.31% | 32.83% | 12.55% | 40.48% | 40.12% | 33.41% | 36.1% | 33.81% | 51.33% | 35.06% | 22.88% | 32.89% | 33.09% |
| Net Income | 1.07B | 1.05B | 1.02B | 917M | 1.06B | 1.49B | -773M | 791M | 368M | 1.79B | 432M | -692M | 611M | 311M | 417M | 1.36B | 442M | 372M | 447M | 399M | 432M | 252M | -904.7M | 483.67M | -3.92B | 980.56M | 447.5M | 1.85B | -141.1M | 421.1M | 404.9M |
| Net Margin % | 11.38% | 11.24% | 11.79% | 10.55% | 11.34% | 17.79% | -10.42% | 10.46% | 5.86% | 18.64% | 5.74% | -9.37% | 6.62% | 3.84% | 5.6% | 16.06% | 5.03% | 4.49% | 3.95% | 4.15% | 4.64% | 2.59% | -11.31% | 6.21% | -60.9% | 9.2% | 4.31% | 12.16% | -1.26% | 6.12% | 9.89% |
| Net Income Growth % | 10.87% | 3.24% | 11.12% | -13.25% | -28.87% | 292.24% | -197.72% | 114.95% | -79.46% | 314.81% | 162.43% | -213.26% | 96.46% | -25.42% | -69.27% | 207.01% | 18.82% | -16.78% | 12.03% | -7.64% | 71.43% | 127.85% | -287.05% | 112.34% | -499.8% | 119.12% | -75.8% | 1410.42% | -133.51% | 4% | -63.37% |
| EPS (Diluted) | 1.63 | 1.60 | 1.58 | 1.37 | 1.59 | 2.28 | -1.79 | 1.33 | 0.74 | 4.13 | 1.00 | -1.61 | 1.42 | 0.72 | 0.97 | 3.17 | 1.07 | 1.01 | 1.30 | 1.17 | 1.33 | 0.75 | -2.94 | 1.46 | -13.16 | 3.35 | 1.56 | 5.18 | -0.50 | 1.66 | 1.66 |
| EPS Growth % | 9.4% | 1.27% | 15.33% | -13.84% | -30.26% | 227.37% | -234.59% | 79.73% | -82.08% | 313% | 162.11% | -213.38% | 97.22% | -25.77% | -69.4% | 196.26% | 5.94% | -22.31% | 11.11% | -12.03% | 77.33% | 125.51% | -301.37% | 111.09% | -492.84% | 114.74% | -69.88% | 1136% | -130.12% | 0% | -62.78% |
| EPS (Basic) | - | 1.61 | 1.58 | 1.37 | 1.60 | 2.35 | -1.79 | 1.34 | 0.74 | 4.16 | 1.00 | -1.61 | 1.42 | 0.73 | 0.98 | 3.19 | 1.08 | 1.02 | 1.32 | 1.25 | 1.39 | 0.81 | -2.94 | 1.59 | -13.16 | 3.38 | 1.57 | 5.20 | -0.50 | 1.66 | 1.66 |
| Diluted Shares Outstanding | 659M | 656M | 644.14M | 633.18M | 632.35M | 609.94M | 531.03M | 505.16M | 452.46M | 434.31M | 433.6M | 430.18M | 431.67M | 431M | 430M | 429M | 413M | 368M | 344M | 342.51M | 324.81M | 336M | 364.52M | 331.28M | 299.71M | 292.45M | 286.61M | 286.02M | 282.96M | 253.55M | 243.92M |
Elevated regulatory and political exposure
According to recent financial disclosures, CenterPoint Energy achieved a 1.9% year-over-year revenue increase in 2026Q1, reflecting the company's ongoing reliance on rate base expansion within the high-growth Houston metropolitan area to offset the inherent volatility of seasonal volumetric demand and shifting regulatory rate case outcomes.
The revenue trajectory appears heavily tethered to the company's aggressive capital investment cycle, which facilitates periodic rate base adjustments. While the current growth is durable, investors should monitor whether these gains are being absorbed by rising operating costs or if they are successfully translating into sustainable earnings power.
As reported in quarterly filings, CenterPoint maintained an operating margin of 22.1% in 2026Q1, suggesting that the utility is navigating a complex regulatory environment where the gap between authorized and earned returns remains a critical factor in assessing the overall quality of its regulated earnings.
The fluctuation in operating margins across the observed periods indicates that regulatory lag continues to impact the timing of cost recovery. A narrowing gap between authorized and earned ROE would be necessary to signal a more constructive regulatory compact, particularly given the recent political scrutiny in Texas.
Based on the provided income statement data, the company's gross margin of 28.71% reflects the pass-through nature of fuel and purchased power costs, which effectively insulate the bottom line from commodity price volatility while simultaneously inflating the top-line revenue figures reported in recent quarterly statements.
Because fuel costs are largely recovered through automatic adjustment mechanisms, the primary risk lies in the potential for regulatory lag during periods of extreme cost inflation. This structure suggests that management's ability to control O&M expenses is the true indicator of operational health rather than headline revenue growth.
Financial statements indicate that EPS growth has been highly erratic, ranging from a 50% increase in 2025Q3 to a 25% decline in 2024Q3, which suggests that reported earnings are frequently impacted by non-recurring items, weather-related anomalies, and the timing of regulatory settlements rather than pure operational growth.
The inconsistency in EPS growth warrants further investigation into the normalization of weather impacts and the influence of regulatory asset accounting. Investors should be cautious of relying on headline EPS as a proxy for sustainable regulated earnings power without adjusting for these periodic distortions.
As evidenced by the multi-billion dollar investment plan, CenterPoint's earnings growth is fundamentally driven by the expansion of its rate base, with depreciation and amortization expenses reaching $423 million in 2026Q1, reflecting the significant asset base required to support the Houston region's infrastructure needs.
The translation of incremental CAPEX into EPS growth appears dependent on the timely recovery of these investments through the regulatory process. If the company fails to secure favorable rate case outcomes, the current capital-intensive strategy may lead to a compression of returns on invested capital.
Based on recent corporate actions, the divestiture of non-core midstream and gas assets represents a major inflection point that has simplified the company's business model, aiming to concentrate earnings power within the regulated electric T&D segment to improve long-term predictability and reduce exposure to commodity-sensitive markets.
This strategic shift appears designed to align the company's risk profile with its core regulated utility operations. While this transition is intended to enhance earnings quality, the long-term success of this pivot remains contingent on the company's ability to execute its massive capital program without regulatory disallowance.
Analysis of the provided figures suggests that the market may be underestimating the potential for regulatory compression, as the income statement does not explicitly account for the rising political pressure in Texas to limit rate increases following recent grid reliability challenges and extreme weather events.
The reliance on regulatory assets to smooth earnings may mask underlying pressures that could emerge if the regulatory environment becomes more adversarial. Investors should monitor whether future rate cases reflect a shift in the political willingness to support the current authorized ROE levels.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CNP stock.
For fiscal year 2025, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) reported total revenue of $9.36B. This represents a 128.5% increase compared to $4.10B in 1996.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) is profitable, generating $1.05B in net income for the fiscal year ending 2025 with a net profit margin of 11.2%.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) reported an operating income of $2.11B, resulting in an operating profit margin of 22.6%. This margin reflects the operational efficiency of the business before interest and taxes.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) generated $2.69B in gross profit for the year, representing a gross profit margin of 28.7%. This demonstrates the company's core pricing power and production efficiency.