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Companies · CNP · Utility (General)

What does Centerpoint Energy's price assume?

$41.00, close of November 11, 2026 (Qualuation's records) · scan of November 12, 2026

The margin the price assumes

Revenue grows as its record suggests; the operating margin is solved at today's price.

At $41.00 on November 11, 2026, with growth of 2.4% a year, the price assumes an operating margin of 50.3% by year 5.

The price assumes

50.3%

Operating margin by year 5, solved at the price

Its 10-year median

15.2%

Fiscal 2016–2025, adjusted for R&D and leases

Its industry

23.2%

Utility (General), Damodaran Online, January 2026

The price assumes a margin above the company's own median and above its industry's.

Operating margin, adjusted, fiscal 2016-2025The adjusted operating margin each year from 2016 to 2025, its 10-year median of 15.2%, and the 50.3% the price assumes by 2031, year 5.ahead0%10%20%30%40%50%60%20162019202220252031Fiscal 2016: 13.6%Fiscal 2017: 11.8%Fiscal 2018: 13.8%Fiscal 2019: 14.1%Fiscal 2020: 14.1%Fiscal 2021: 16.4%Fiscal 2022: 16.8%Fiscal 2023: 20.3%Fiscal 2024: 23.1%Fiscal 2025: 22.6%10-year median 15.2%The price assumes 50.3% by 203150.3%the price assumesOperating margin, adjusted, fiscal 2016-2025The adjusted operating margin each year from 2016 to 2025, its 10-year median of 15.2%, and the 50.3% the price assumes by 2031, year 5.ahead0%10%20%30%40%50%60%201620252031Fiscal 2016: 13.6%Fiscal 2017: 11.8%Fiscal 2018: 13.8%Fiscal 2019: 14.1%Fiscal 2020: 14.1%Fiscal 2021: 16.4%Fiscal 2022: 16.8%Fiscal 2023: 20.3%Fiscal 2024: 23.1%Fiscal 2025: 22.6%median 15.2%The price assumes 50.3% by 203150.3%the price assumes
Operating margin each fiscal year, adjusted for R&D and leases (SEC filings), the 10-year median, and the margin the price assumes by year 5.
The numbers behind the chart
Fiscal yearAdjusted operating margin
201613.6%
201711.8%
201813.8%
201914.1%
202014.1%
202116.4%
202216.8%
202320.3%
202423.1%
202522.6%
Revenue growth, years 1 to 5
2.4% a yearFrom its own revenue growth, the lower of its 5- and 10-year rates (here the 10-year).SEC filings, revenue to fiscal 2025
Margin path
From today's margin to 50.3% by year 5Solved at the price. After that, the margin holds.

The growth the price assumes

At its median margin, no revenue growth between −50% and 100% a year matches today's price.

The assumptions both views share

These are neutral settings, the same for every company. Each view holds them and solves for one driver at today's price.

Reinvestment
$0.30 of revenue for each $1 investedThe industry's sales-to-capital ratio: how much new capital growth needs.Damodaran Online, January 2026 industry data, Utility (General)
Cost of capital
6.39%The return investors need for the risk: the industry's beta, the market's risk premium, and debt rated B3/B- from its median margin, with a stated 5-year debt maturity. Built by the engine from the parts listed under Sources, each with its date.
After year 10
Growth at the riskfree rate, foreverNew investment earns its cost of capital and no more, so growth after year 10 adds no value, and the cost of capital moves to a mature company's.

Worth knowing

  • Its debt is large against its usual earnings: rated B3/B- at its median margin.

This is a mechanical starting point with neutral assumptions, not a valuation. The story decides.

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Sources

  • Price: Qualuation's records, close of November 11, 2026.
  • 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2025, filed February 19, 2026 (SEC EDGAR, accession 0001130310-26-000008).
  • 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2026, filed October 27, 2026 (SEC EDGAR, accession 0001130310-26-000048).
  • Margin record: SEC filings, fiscal 2016-2025, operating margin adjusted for R&D and leases.
  • Industry margin: Damodaran Online, January 2026 industry data, Utility (General), adjusted for R&D and leases.
  • Sales to capital: Damodaran Online, January 2026 industry data, Utility (General).
  • US 10-year Treasury yield (FRED), October 29, 2026.
  • Less the US default spread (Damodaran Online, July 2026).
  • Industry beta, Utility (General) (Damodaran Online, January 2026).
  • Equity risk premium (Damodaran Online, October 2026).
  • Debt rated B3/B- at its median margin (rating table, Damodaran Online, January 2026).
  • The margin the price assumes: solved by the engine at the price on November 12, 2026, with the assumptions above.