Houston, Texas-based CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) operates as a public utility holding company in the United States. Valued at a market cap of $28.1 billion, the company operates through Electric, Natural Gas and Corporate and Other segments. CNP is expected to release its Q1 2026 earnings on Thursday, Apr. 23, before the market opens.
Ahead of the event, analysts expect the company’s EPS to be $0.60 on a diluted basis, up 13.2% from $0.53 in the year-ago quarter. The company has exceeded Wall Street’s EPS estimates in only one of its last four quarters, while missing on three occasions.
For fiscal 2026, analysts project the company’s EPS to be $1.90, up 8% from $1.76 in fiscal 2025. Moreover, its EPS is expected to rise by roughly 9.5% year over year (YoY) to $2.08 in fiscal 2027.
CNP stock has surged 19.1% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 17% rise and the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF’s (XLU) 17.7% return during the same time frame.
On Feb. 19, CNP stock rose 1.7% following the release of its mixed Q4 2025 earnings. The company’s revenue for the period came in at $2.5 billion, successfully coming in on top of the Street’s estimates. Moreover, its adjusted EPS for the quarter amounted to $0.45, failing to beat Wall Street estimates. CNP expects its adjusted EPS for the coming fiscal year to be in the range of $189 to $1.91, a 8% growth in its midpoint from fiscal 2025’s delivered results.
Analysts are somewhat bullish on CNP, with the stock having a “Moderate Buy” rating overall. Among the 17 analysts covering the stock, eight are recommending a “Strong Buy,” and nine recommend “Hold” for the stock. CNP’s average analyst price target is $45.07, indicating an upside of 4.4% from the current levels.
