CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP) Stock

CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy owns a portfolio of businesses. Its regulated electric utilities provide transmission and distribution services to more than 2.5 million customers in the Houston area, southern Indiana, and west central Ohio. The company has natural gas distribution systems serving approximately 4 million customers.

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CenterPoint Energy Inc. reported a 25% increase in adjusted EPS, in line with consensus. Plans for grid resiliency and forecast of 50% electric demand growth in Houston region by 2031. 

CenterPoint Energy Stays On Track: EPS Rises 25%, Grid Upgrade Planned And More

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Unprecedented winter storm strikes southern US, blanketing the region in snow and causing widespread power outages and transportation disruptions.

Southern Power Grids Face Historic Winter Test As Snow Blankets Gulf Coast: 5 Utilities To Watch

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CenterPoint Energy, Inc (Holding Co) Common Stock

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CenterPoint Energy, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) shares are trading lower on Thursday after the company reported adjusted EPS&nbsp;of&nbsp;40 cents,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/b43842907/centerpoint-energy-reports-q4-and-fy-2024-results-forecasts-nearly-50-electric-load-growth-demand-" rel="noreferrer noopener">which is in line with the consensus</a>.&nbsp;
Adjusted EPS increased 25% year-over-year, driven by growth, regulatory recovery, and lower O&amp;M, each adding 5 cents per share. Also, weather and usage <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">contributed an additional 2 cents per share</a>.&nbsp;
Jason Wells, President &amp; CEO of&nbsp;CenterPoint,&nbsp;said, &#8220;Through our GHRI work, we&#8217;ve made significant progress on our goal of building the most resilient coastal grid in the nation. Our recently filed $5.75 billion Systemwide Resiliency Plan will provide the next significant step change in our long-term hardening work and will accelerate our delivery of a self-healing grid, all for the benefit of our customers and communities.&#8221;&nbsp;
Outlook: CenterPoint increased its 10-year capital plan through 2030 to $47.5 billion, adding $500 million for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">grid resiliency in the Houston region</a>.
Also, CenterPoint updated its forecast for electric demand growth in its Houston Electric service territory, expecting nearly a 50% increase by 2031.
The company reaffirmed its 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance of $1.74-$1.76 (vs. consensus of $1.75), reflecting 8% growth at the midpoint over 2024, and&nbsp;maintained its long-term EPS growth target&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/41572077" rel="noreferrer noopener">of&nbsp;6%-8% annually through 2030</a>.
CenterPoint plans to efficiently fund its capital investment plan with around $3 billion in asset recycling and securitization proceeds starting in 2025, along&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investors.centerpointenergy.com/static-files/de3f6e32-8815-4f82-b69a-7dc08506bc88" rel="noreferrer noopener">with</a> $2.65 billion in equity or equity-like proceeds through 2030.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UTES#NYSE">UTES</a>) and&nbsp;Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSPU#NYSE">RSPU</a>).
Price Action: CNP shares are down 1.26% at $33.66 at the last check Thursday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43108615/southern-power-grids-face-historic-winter-test-as-snow-blankets-gulf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern Power Grids Face Historic Winter Test As Snow Blankets Gulf Coast: 5 Utilities To Watch</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock.

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<ul>
<li>Provided forecast of nearly 50% of increased electric load growth demand at Houston Electric service territory by 2031&nbsp;</li>
<li>Increased the 10-year capital plan through 2030 to $47.5 billion, a $500 million increase through 2030 related to incremental capital investments in grid resiliency in the Houston Region&nbsp;</li>
<li>Reiterated 2025 non-GAAP EPS guidance range of $1.74-$1.76, which, at the midpoint, represents 8% growth over full-year 2024 non-GAAP EPS and further maintains non-GAAP EPS growth target of mid-to-high end of 6%-8% annually thereafter through 20301</li>
</ul>

CenterPoint Reiterated 2025 Guidance With Non-GAAP EPS Range Of $1.74-$1.76 Vs. $1.75 Consensus

CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.40 per share which met the analyst consensus estimate. This is a 25 percent increase over earnings of $0.32 per share from the same period last year.

CenterPoint Energy Q4 2024 Adj. EPS $0.40, Inline

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Earnings Scheduled For February 20, 2025

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric's enhanced Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP) expected to reduce outage impacts due to extreme weather and storms by&nbsp;1.3 billion minutes into 2029
100% of lines serving the most customers will have automation devices capable of self-healing; 99% of substations will be raised above the 500-year flood plain, more than 50% of CenterPoint's electric system will be undergrounded; and replace or install 130,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles and braces&nbsp;
The 2026-2028 SRP will be the largest single resiliency investment in CenterPoint history and will help address the impact of a wide range of extreme weather&nbsp;and other threats

Reported Friday, CenterPoint Energy Unveils Multi-Year Resiliency Plan To Strengthen Houston Grid And Cut 1.3B Outage Minutes By 2029

Settlement expected to result in approximately $50 million less revenue annually and a reduction in electric customer bills by about $1 a month for most customers while also continuing to deliver support for significant local economic growth and upgrades across Greater Houston area
Combination of rate case revenue reduction and other financial commitments, including some 2024 foregone storm recovery costs, would roughly equal the same amount that has been billed to CenterPoint customers for the temporary generation costs since 2021
Company would make no revenue or profit off of the temporary emergency generator proposal to help ERCOT and State of Texas which would have otherwise been paid by all customers across the state including CenterPoint customers

Reported Earlier, CenterPoint Energy Reaches Settlement To Lower Houston Electric Bills, Cutting Revenue by $50M Annually

Across the recent three months, 5 analysts have shared their insights on CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a snapshot of their recent ratings, showcasing how sentiments have evolved over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have set 12-month price targets for CenterPoint Energy, revealing an average target of $33.5, a high estimate of $37.00, and a low estimate of $30.00. Surpassing the previous average price target of $30.50, the current average has increased by 9.84%.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738004430_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Interpreting Analyst Ratings: A Closer Look</h2>
The standing of CenterPoint Energy among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Nicholas Campanella</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paul Fremont</td>
<td>Ladenburg Thalmann</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$34.50</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Weisel</td>
<td>Scotiabank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Outperform</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>William Appicelli</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$31.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Arcaro</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$31.00</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to CenterPoint Energy. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts unravel qualitative evaluations for stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings offer insights into expectations for the relative performance of CenterPoint Energy compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for CenterPoint Energy's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of CenterPoint Energy's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CNP/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on CenterPoint Energy analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind CenterPoint Energy</h2>
CenterPoint Energy owns a portfolio of businesses. Its regulated electric utilities provide transmission and distribution services to more than 2.5 million customers in the Houston area, southern Indiana, and west central Ohio. The company has natural gas distribution systems serving approximately 4 million customers.
<h3>CenterPoint Energy: A Financial Overview</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Positioned below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization faces constraints in size. This could be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Decline in Revenue: Over the 3 months period, CenterPoint Energy faced challenges, resulting in a decline of approximately -0.22% in revenue growth as of 30 September, 2024. This signifies a reduction in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Utilities sector.
Net Margin: CenterPoint Energy's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 10.4%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): CenterPoint Energy's ROE is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 1.85%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): CenterPoint Energy's ROA lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns from its assets. With an ROA of 0.46%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 1.89.
<h2>What Are Analyst Ratings?</h2>
Ratings come from analysts, or specialists within banking and financial systems that report for specific stocks or defined sectors (typically once per quarter for each stock). Analysts usually derive their information from company conference calls and meetings, financial statements, and conversations with important insiders to reach their decisions.
In addition to their assessments, some analysts extend their insights by offering predictions for key metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates. This supplementary information provides further guidance for traders. It is crucial to recognize that, despite their specialization, analysts are human and can only provide forecasts based on their beliefs.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

Forecasting The Future: 5 Analyst Projections For CenterPoint Energy

Barclays analyst Nicholas Campanella maintains CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) with a Underweight and raises the price target from $29 to $30.

Price Target

Barclays Maintains Underweight on CenterPoint Energy, Raises Price Target to $30

Power grids across the South face an extraordinary challenge Tuesday as snow blankets regions typically prepared for summer heat waves, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/43036258/polar-vortex-brings-winters-coldest-air-for-trumps-inauguration-day-what-it-means-for-utilities-retailers-energy-stocks">not winter whiteouts.</a>
What Happened A fierce winter system has upended daily life from Texas through the Carolinas, forcing Gulf Coast weather forecasters to issue their region&#8217;s first-ever snowstorm alert, CNN <a href="url-would-go-here">reports</a>.
The system&#8217;s power shocked the region Tuesday. Streets from Houston, Texas, through Louisiana, disappeared under white blankets, reaching six inches deep in some areas. Thermometers plunged into territory more familiar to northern states, driving wind chills into single digits across Texas.
Emergency declarations spread across Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi as the storm intensified. The Gulf Coast, better known for hurricane preparation, now faces winter conditions that threaten to paralyze communities for days, CNN reports.
The storm&#8217;s intensity caught many areas off guard. Snow accumulation and icy conditions transformed southern highways into hazard zones. Weather experts warn the cold snap could shatter records dating back more than a century.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43103527/mexican-peso-canadian-dollar-slide-as-trump-threatens-25-tariffs-expert-eyes-price-hikes-on-typical-us-breakfast">Mexican Peso, Canadian Dollar Slide As Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs, Economist Eyes Price Hikes On &#8216;Typical US Breakfast&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Local power providers mobilize resources to protect vital infrastructure. The scale of the response reflects the region&#8217;s unusual winter challenge.
Officials closed roads across five southern states, emptying highways and forcing residents indoors. &#8220;Most of us haven&#8217;t experienced this combination of bitter cold and significant snow ever in our lifetime,&#8221; Louisiana climatologist Jay Grymes told CNN
The storm&#8217;s reach shut down major transportation arteries. Both Houston airports suspended flights, while New Orleans saw nearly all air traffic halt by morning. Port operations froze, and even space exploration paused as NASA&#8217;s Texas operations suspended work through Wednesday.
School systems from Texas to Florida shifted to remote learning or closed entirely. Atlanta officials warned of road conditions deteriorating rapidly as the system pushes east.
Several major utilities are positioning themselves as the winter storm impacts their service territories:
<ul>
<li>CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>), a major utility provider headquartered in Houston, Texas, focuses on electric transmission and distribution in the state and natural gas distribution across several U.S. regions.</li>
<li>Southern Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SO#NYSE">SO</a>), a prominent southeastern energy provider, specializes in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution, with operations in multiple states.</li>
<li>Entergy Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETR#NYSE">ETR</a>) serves customers in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas, providing electric power generation, transmission, and distribution services.</li>
<li>Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>) operates across the Carolinas, Florida, and parts of the Midwest, delivering electric power generation, transmission, and distribution services.</li>
<li>NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEE#NYSE">NEE</a>) primarily serves Florida through its subsidiary Florida Power &amp; Light and is a leading investor in renewable energy, focusing on wind and solar power.</li>
</ul>
Natural gas futures were down over 5% at the time of publication Tuesday.
The rare winter assault comes as utility stocks show renewed strength, with the sector seeing increased investor interest amid growing power demands from data centers <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/42974006/utilities-rebound-as-ai-powers-energy-demand-3-etfs-to-watch">and AI operations.</a>
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</ul>
Photo: K-FK/Shutterstock.com

CenterPoint Energy's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) short percent of float has risen 9.41% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 18.20 million shares sold short, which is 3.72% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.28 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>CenterPoint Energy Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734357613_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for CenterPoint Energy has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing CenterPoint Energy's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, CenterPoint Energy's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.52%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

Peering Into CenterPoint Energy's Recent Short Interest

Ladenburg Thalmann analyst Paul Fremont initiates coverage on CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $34.5.

Initiation

Ladenburg Thalmann Initiates Coverage On CenterPoint Energy with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $34.5

Scotiabank analyst Andrew Weisel upgrades CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) from Sector Perform to Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $30 to $35.

Upgrades

Scotiabank Upgrades CenterPoint Energy to Sector Outperform, Raises Price Target to $35

6 analysts have expressed a variety of opinions on CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) over the past quarter, offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Insights from analysts' 12-month price targets are revealed, presenting an average target of $31.83, a high estimate of $37.00, and a low estimate of $29.00. This current average has increased by 6.81% from the previous average price target of $29.80. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1733230815_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination</h2>
The standing of CenterPoint Energy among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>William Appicelli</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$31.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Arcaro</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$31.00</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Weisel</td>
<td>Scotiabank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sarah Akers</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Arcaro</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ross Fowler</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to CenterPoint Energy. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Delving into assessments, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings communicate expectations for the relative performance of CenterPoint Energy compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts provide insights into price targets, offering estimates for the future value of CenterPoint Energy's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Navigating through these analyst evaluations alongside other financial indicators can contribute to a holistic understanding of CenterPoint Energy's market standing. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CNP/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on CenterPoint Energy analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind CenterPoint Energy</h2>
CenterPoint Energy owns a portfolio of businesses. Its regulated electric utilities provide transmission and distribution services to more than 2.5 million customers in the Houston area, southern Indiana, and west central Ohio. The company has natural gas distribution systems serving approximately 4 million customers.
<h3>Unraveling the Financial Story of CenterPoint Energy</h3>
Market Capitalization: With restricted market capitalization, the company is positioned below industry averages. This reflects a smaller scale relative to peers.
Revenue Challenges: CenterPoint Energy's revenue growth over 3 months faced difficulties. As of 30 September, 2024, the company experienced a decline of approximately -0.22%. This indicates a decrease in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Utilities sector.
Net Margin: CenterPoint Energy's net margin is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 10.4%, the company may encounter challenges in effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 1.85%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.46%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, CenterPoint Energy adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>What Are Analyst Ratings?</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Cracking The Code: Understanding Analyst Reviews For CenterPoint Energy

UBS analyst William Appicelli upgrades CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) from Neutral to Buy and raises the price target from $31 to $37.

UBS Upgrades CenterPoint Energy to Buy, Raises Price Target to $37

CenterPoint Energy's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) short percent of float has fallen 5.82% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 18.19 million shares sold short, which is 3.72% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.61 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>CenterPoint Energy Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732552210_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for CenterPoint Energy has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing CenterPoint Energy's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, CenterPoint Energy's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.47%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

(CNP) - Analyzing CenterPoint Energy's Short Interest

Morgan Stanley analyst David Arcaro maintains CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $32 to $31.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on CenterPoint Energy, Lowers Price Target to $31

Scotiabank analyst Andrew Weisel maintains CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $28 to $30.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Perform on CenterPoint Energy, Raises Price Target to $30

Investor sentiment turned optimistic towards risk assets early this week as plummeting oil prices, driven by Israel's decision not to target Iran's crude facilities during weekend attacks, eased concerns over an escalated Middle Eastern conflict and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41575181/crude-oil-faces-steepest-one-day-drop-in-over-two-years-energy-stocks-plunge-prices">potential global economic disruptions.</a>
The S&amp;P 500 gained 0.3%, the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 mirrored this performance and the Dow added 0.6%.
Economically sensitive small-cap stocks saw stronger gains, with the Russell 2000 soaring 1.5% after a stretch of losses in six of the last seven sessions.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude – tracked by the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) – dropped over 5% in midday New York trading, heading for its sharpest one-day decline since July 2022. Natural gas prices also plunged, with Henry Hub prices falling more than 9%, poised for their steepest single-session loss since mid-January.
U.S. energy stocks weakened, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) standing as the sole sector in the red on Monday.
Despite the significant drop in energy prices, Treasury yields continued to rise, potentially tempering the stock market&#8217;s bullish momentum. Investors remain cautious about further U.S. fiscal policy deterioration as election season approaches. 
Yields on 10-year Treasury bonds rose by 5 basis points to 4.29%, aiming for their highest close since July 11.
Gold prices held steady around $2,745 per ounce, marking no gains since last Tuesday's close.
Sentiment in cryptocurrency markets remained bullish, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) up 1.4% to over $68,000, reaching a one-week high, while Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) jumped 4.5% in its third consecutive session of gains, eyeing the highest levels since June.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day % change</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,242.10</td>
<td>1.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,381.18</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,828.13</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>20,409.47</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:50 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent102824&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data:
<ul>
<li>The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.54% to $581.22.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.7% to $424.02.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) edged 0.2% higher to $496.42.</li>
<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 1.7% to $222.55.</li>
<li>The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) outperformed, up by 1.1%. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund lagged, down 0.8%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Airlines and cruise line stocks rallied as oil prices declined. American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>) was up by 4.5%, Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NYSE">AAL</a>), up by 4%, United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>), up 3.5%, Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>), up 4.5%, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>), up 2.8%, and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), up 0.9%.</li>
</ul>
Stocks reacting on earnings reports included ON Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>), up 4.4% and CenterPoint Energy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>), up 1%. 
Large-cap companies slated to report their earnings after the close are Waste Management Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WM#NYSE">WM</a>), Cadence Design Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDNS#NASDAQ">CDNS</a>), Brown &amp; Brown Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRO#NYSE">BRO</a>) and F5 Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFIV#NASDAQ">FFIV</a>). 
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41579487/amd-q3-earnings-preview-can-ai-server-gains-help-narrow-the-semiconductor-gap-with-">AMD Q3 Earnings Preview: Can AI, Server Gains Help Narrow The Semiconductor Gap With Nvidia?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Wall Street Gains As Crude Tumbles, Small Caps Soar, Bitcoin Tops $68,000: What's Driving Markets Monday?

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNP#NYSE">CNP</a>) reported third-quarter sales of&nbsp;$1.856 billion<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/10/b41569191/centerpoint-energy-reports-q3-2024-results-reiterates-2024-full-year-guidance-and-initiates-2025-f" rel="noreferrer noopener">, which missed the street view of $1.933 billion</a>.
Adjusted EPS was $0.31, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">missing the consensus of $0.32</a>. Adjusted EPS was $0.09 lower from the same period in 2023, owing to a $0.11 per share increase in operating and maintenance expenses linked to the first phase of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative.
Growth and regulatory recovery added $0.09 per share, but gains were offset by unfavorable usage ($0.02 per share) due to Hurricane Beryl outages and adverse weather variances ($0.04 per share) at Houston Electric, compared to third-quarter 2023.
Outlook: The company reaffirmed its 2024 adjusted EPS guidance of $1.61 &#8211; $1.63 (vs. street view of $1.62), reflecting 8% growth over 2023 at the midpoint.
CenterPoint also introduced 2025 adjusted EPS guidance of $1.74 &#8211; $1.76 (vs. consensus of $1.73), representing an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">8% increase from the 2024 midpoint</a>.
The company reiterated the company&#8217;s annual EPS growth target of 6% &#8211; 8% through 2030.
Jason Wells, President &amp; CEO of CenterPoin said, &#8220;Our enhanced resiliency investment journey is well underway, and we&#8217;ve made tremendous progress over the last couple years in hardening our transmission system.&#8221;
&#8220;We&#8217;ve now turned our attention to increasing and accelerating investments in automation and self-healing technologies at the distribution system level which we believe will help us deliver on our goal for Houston Electric to build the most resilient coastal grid in the nation.&#8221;
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UTES#NYSE">UTES</a>) and First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXU#NYSE">FXU</a>).
Price Action: CNP shares closed lower by 0.58% at $29.31 on Friday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40841924/nisource-set-for-outperformance-but-centerpoint-energy-faces-regulatory-hurdles-say" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NiSource Set For Outperformance But CenterPoint Energy Faces Regulatory Hurdles, Says BofA Analyst</a></li>
</ul>

CenterPoint Energy Q3: Misses On Earnings, But Keeps 2024-2025 Growth Target Strong

<ul>
<li>Initiated 2025 non-GAAP guidance range of $1.74-$1.76 per diluted share, which at the midpoint represents 8% growth from the 2024 midpoint and further maintains non-GAAP EPS growth target through 2030 of the mid-to-high end of 6%-8% annually1</li>
</ul>

CenterPoint Initiated 2025 Guidance With Non-GAAP EPS Range Of $1.74-$1.76 Vs. $1.73 Consensus

Press Releases

As temperatures drop, CenterPoint Energy continues mobilizing response efforts for Winter Storm Enzo projected to impact the Greater Houston area Monday evening

CenterPoint Storm Update: 99.9 percent of customers have power as historic Winter Storm Enzo continues to impact Greater Houston area

CenterPoint Energy Winter Storm Enzo Update: More than 99.9 percent of customers continue to have power across Greater Houston area; Crews continuing to respond to scattered customer outages and prepare for coldest overnight temperatures of the year

Final Winter Storm Enzo Update: More than 99 percent of CenterPoint Energy customers maintained power through extreme winter weather; Company deactivates emergency operations center

CenterPoint Energy reaches settlement agreement with parties to lower bills for customers in its 2024 Houston Electric Rate Case

CenterPoint Energy announces multi-year Systemwide Resiliency Plan to benefit communities and combat extreme weather threats, outages, and other hazards across Greater Houston

Legal

CNP INVESTIGATION ALERT: Johnson Fistel LLP Investigates the Directors and Officers of CenterPoint Energy for Breach of Fiduciary Duties

Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative Phase Two Update: CenterPoint Energy continues delivering progress by deploying 750 automated reliability devices in January and progressing toward goal of 4,500 by June 1, 2025; technology will help reduce number of outages and their duration

As freezing polar temperatures return to Texas, CenterPoint Energy deploys its cold weather readiness plan

CenterPoint Energy reports Q4 and FY 2024 results; forecasts nearly 50% electric load growth demand at Houston Electric by 2031; increases capital investment plan; reiterates 2025 full year guidance

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