CNP
CenterPoint Energy Inc. Utilities - Multi-Utilities Investor Relations →
CenterPoint Energy Inc. (CNP) closed at $43.35 as of 2026-05-01, trading 39.9% above its 200-week moving average of $30.99. The stock moved further from the line this week, up from 37.4% last week. With a 14-week RSI of 71, CNP is in overbought territory.
Trading volume is running at 1.2x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (1.13 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 3308 weeks of data, CNP has crossed below its 200-week moving average 26 times. On average, these episodes lasted 28 weeks. Historically, investors who bought CNP at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +6.3%.
With a market cap of $28.4 billion, CNP is a large-cap stock. Free cash flow yield is currently negative, meaning the company is burning cash. Return on equity stands at 9.6%. The stock trades at 2.5x book value.
Share count has increased 3.7% over three years, indicating dilution.
Over the past 33.3 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in CNP would have grown to $1239, compared to $2973 for the S&P 500. CNP has returned 7.8% annualized vs 10.7% for the index, underperforming the broader market over this period.
Free cash flow has been declining. A deteriorating cash flow trend warrants extra scrutiny — the stock may be cheap for a reason.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: CNP vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After CNP Crosses Below the Line?
Across 10 historical episodes, buying CNP when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +22.9% after 12 months (median +19.0%), compared to +7.2% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 60% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +28.3% vs +19.4% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment CNP crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
CNP has crossed below its 200-week MA 26 times with an average 1-year return of +6.3% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1966 | Oct 1966 | 17 | 12.8% | +6.5% | +12113.3% |
| Nov 1966 | Nov 1966 | 1 | 1.3% | -11.3% | +11555.9% |
| Mar 1967 | Mar 1967 | 1 | 0.7% | -6.9% | +11309.7% |
| May 1967 | Jan 1968 | 36 | 18.8% | -9.8% | +11219.3% |
| Jan 1968 | Nov 1968 | 42 | 12.1% | +2.0% | +11233.5% |
| Dec 1968 | Jan 1969 | 7 | 6.2% | -7.8% | +11289.7% |
| Feb 1969 | Oct 1969 | 35 | 19.4% | -8.3% | +11378.9% |
| Nov 1969 | Feb 1970 | 16 | 11.9% | +1.8% | +11889.8% |
| Apr 1970 | Jul 1970 | 14 | 14.0% | +21.2% | +12189.8% |
| Aug 1970 | Aug 1970 | 2 | 1.2% | +13.2% | +12129.7% |
| Oct 1970 | Nov 1970 | 1 | 0.7% | +18.4% | +12114.4% |
| Apr 1973 | Apr 1973 | 1 | 0.7% | -44.5% | +10908.9% |
| Jun 1973 | Sep 1973 | 14 | 10.8% | -44.7% | +10752.5% |
| Oct 1973 | Aug 1976 | 148 | 52.5% | -45.4% | +10817.9% |
| Aug 1976 | Aug 1976 | 1 | 0.6% | +33.7% | +14630.2% |
| Nov 1980 | Nov 1980 | 1 | 2.2% | +28.2% | +10752.2% |
| Mar 1994 | Dec 1994 | 38 | 16.9% | +18.2% | +1375.2% |
| Dec 1999 | Jan 2000 | 1 | 0.6% | +99.0% | +683.1% |
| Jan 2000 | Apr 2000 | 12 | 11.3% | +53.8% | +676.8% |
| Sep 2001 | Jan 2005 | 176 | 73.4% | -61.3% | +492.1% |
| Sep 2008 | Nov 2009 | 60 | 34.3% | -4.3% | +527.2% |
| Jun 2010 | Jul 2010 | 1 | 0.7% | +59.3% | +489.0% |
| May 2015 | Mar 2016 | 43 | 17.8% | +13.8% | +209.6% |
| Nov 2019 | Dec 2019 | 2 | 1.3% | -1.5% | +109.5% |
| Feb 2020 | Apr 2021 | 60 | 50.3% | -12.3% | +102.9% |
| Aug 2024 | Aug 2024 | 1 | 2.4% | +51.9% | +75.6% |
| Average | 28 | — | +6.3% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CNP below its 200-week moving average?
No. CenterPoint Energy Inc. (CNP) is currently 39.9% above its 200-week moving average of $30.99. It would need to fall to $30.99 to cross below the line.
What is CNP's 200-week moving average price?
CenterPoint Energy Inc.'s 200-week moving average is $30.99 as of 2026-05-01. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when CNP drops below its 200-week moving average?
CNP has crossed below its 200-week moving average 26 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +6.3%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 28 weeks on average.
Is CNP a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about CNP as of 2026-05-01: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 71 (overbought). Free cash flow is currently negative. Return on equity is 9.6%. Price-to-book is 2.5x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does CNP compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 33.3 years, $100 invested in CNP would have grown to $1239, compared to $2973 for the S&P 500. That's 7.8% annualized vs 10.7% for the index. CNP has underperformed the broader market over this period.
Does CNP pay a dividend?
Yes. CenterPoint Energy Inc. currently pays a dividend yield of 212.00%.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-05-01