CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Misses Estimates By $0.01 EPS

Posted by Latisha Jones on Feb 19th, 2026

CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP – Get Free Report) issued its earnings results on Thursday. The utilities provider reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.01), FiscalAI reports. CenterPoint Energy had a net margin of 11.37% and a return on equity of 10.25%. The company had revenue of $2.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.40 EPS. CenterPoint Energy updated its FY 2026 guidance to 1.900- EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from CenterPoint Energy’s conference call:

CenterPoint now forecasts peak load will grow 50% (about 10 GW) by 2029 — with 2.5 GW under construction, 5 GW firmly committed and ~3 GW of ordinary growth — which management says will drive jobs, expand the tax base and help keep customer delivery charges essentially flat.
The company added $500 million to its 10‑year capital plan to fund a third 765 kV import line, lifting the plan to more than $65 billion and noting over $10 billion of additional CapEx upside tied to further transmission and region growth.
Financial performance: 2025 non‑GAAP EPS of $1.76 (9% y/y) and the company reaffirmed 2026 non‑GAAP EPS guidance of $1.89–$1.91 (≈8% growth at the midpoint) while maintaining a long‑term 7–9% annual EPS growth target through 2035.
Balance‑sheet tailwinds — recent Treasury guidance on the Corporate AMT, a ~$1.2B securitization priced and expected ~$800M net proceeds from the Ohio sale — should push cash taxes near zero through 2035, improve FFO‑to‑debt by ~60–70 bps and enable roughly $1B of incremental customer‑driven CapEx without issuing equity.
Near‑term headwinds included a $0.05 EPS drag in Q4 from higher interest expense tied to ~ $3.3B of incremental debt and a $0.02 adverse impact from accelerated O&M/resiliency work, which pressured quarterly results.

CenterPoint Energy Stock Up 1.0%

Shares of CNP stock traded up $0.44 during trading on Thursday, reaching $42.37. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 2,970,816 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,394,455. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. CenterPoint Energy has a one year low of $33.24 and a one year high of $43.08. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $39.22 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.93. The company has a market cap of $27.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.59.

CenterPoint Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 19th will be paid a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 19th. This is a boost from CenterPoint Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. CenterPoint Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 55.70%.

CenterPoint Energy News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting CenterPoint Energy this week:

Positive Sentiment: Revenue and earnings momentum — Q4 revenue materially exceeded estimates and non‑GAAP EPS improved year‑over‑year, driven by growth and regulatory recovery; management called the quarter “strong.” CenterPoint Energy reports strong Q4 and FY 2025 results; updates its progress on load forecast; reiterates 2026 full year guidance
Positive Sentiment: Higher investment plan — company announced it is lifting its investment plan (capex/ investments) which supports longer‑term growth and regulated rate base expansion. CenterPoint Energy Posts Strong Q4 Results, Lifts Investment Plan
Neutral Sentiment: Full materials and investor resources available — the company filed its press release, slide deck and conference call materials, useful for investors digging into drivers and regulatory assumptions. View Press Release / Slide Deck
Neutral Sentiment: Valuation and long‑term story — commentary on valuation and expanding grid‑transparency tools highlights secular optionality but is not an immediate catalyst. A Look At CenterPoint Energy’s Valuation As Earnings Near And Grid Transparency Tools Expand
Negative Sentiment: Small EPS miss — Q4 non‑GAAP EPS of $0.45 missed the Zacks/Street consensus of $0.46 by $0.01, which can temper near‑term sentiment despite revenue strength. CenterPoint Energy (CNP) Q4 Earnings Miss Estimates
Negative Sentiment: FY‑2026 guidance slightly below consensus — management set FY‑2026 EPS guidance at ~1.90 vs. the ~1.91 consensus, a modest miss that could limit upside if analysts lower estimates. (Guidance note reported alongside results.)

Analyst Ratings Changes

CNP has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of CenterPoint Energy in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on CenterPoint Energy from $44.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. UBS Group reduced their target price on CenterPoint Energy from $45.00 to $43.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of CenterPoint Energy from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on CenterPoint Energy from $43.00 to $41.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $41.82.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on CenterPoint Energy

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CenterPoint Energy

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CNP. DV Equities LLC acquired a new stake in CenterPoint Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych PZU SA grew its position in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 66.7% during the 3rd quarter. Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych PZU SA now owns 1,250 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new position in CenterPoint Energy during the second quarter worth $71,000. Arax Advisory Partners bought a new stake in CenterPoint Energy during the fourth quarter worth $81,000. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its stake in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 132.2% in the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,534 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $135,000 after buying an additional 2,012 shares during the last quarter. 91.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About CenterPoint Energy

(Get Free Report)

CenterPoint Energy, Inc (NYSE: CNP) is a Houston-based regulated utility company that provides electric and natural gas delivery services and related infrastructure operations. The company’s principal activities center on the transmission and distribution of electricity in the greater Houston metropolitan area and the distribution of natural gas to customers across several states in the Midwest and South. As a vertically integrated utility, CenterPoint focuses on the reliable delivery of energy through owned and operated networks of lines, pipelines and associated facilities.

CenterPoint’s core businesses include regulated electric transmission and distribution services, regulated natural gas distribution, and the operation and maintenance of energy infrastructure.