CNP vs PPL: CenterPoint Energy and PPL compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- PPL is the larger company, worth $25.4B, close to CenterPoint Energy's $24.8B.
- PPL grew revenue faster over the last year (+10.8% vs +1.9%).
- PPL keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (23.6% vs 22.5%).
- On earnings, PPL is the cheaper stock (20.7x vs 23.3x).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | CNP | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $24.8B | $25.4B |
| Share price | $38.53 | $34.25 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $9.4B | $9.0B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | -$2.4B | -$1.4B |
| Revenue growth, last year | +1.9% | +10.8% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +2.9% | +11.8% |
| Operating margin | 22.5% | 23.6% |
| Net margin | 11.4% | 13.1% |
| Return on equity | 9.3% | 8.1% |
| P/E (trailing) | 23.3x | 20.7x |
| Price / free cash flow | — | — |
| EV / EBITDA | 12.7x | 11.9x |
| FCF growth the price implies | — | — |
| Dividend yield | 2.3% | 3.3% |
| Debt / equity | 3.18x | 2.08x |
| Fundamental grade | C | D |
| Superinvestors holding it | 5 | 4 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 0 | 2 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
CenterPoint Energy
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $8.4B | -$3.1B | 16.3% |
| 2022 | $9.3B | -$2.6B | 16.8% |
| 2023 | $8.7B | -$524M | 20.2% |
| 2024 | $8.6B | -$2.4B | 23.0% |
| 2025 | $9.4B | -$2.4B | 22.5% |
PPL
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $5.8B | $297M | 24.6% |
| 2022 | $7.9B | -$425M | 17.4% |
| 2023 | $8.3B | -$632M | 19.6% |
| 2024 | $8.5B | -$465M | 20.6% |
| 2025 | $9.0B | -$1.4B | 23.5% |
Where the revenue comes from
CenterPoint Energy · by segments, 2025
Electric$4.8B52%
Natural Gas$4.5B48%
Corporate and Other$5M0%
PPL · by segments, 2025
Kentucky Regulated$3.8B42%
Pennsylvania Regulated$3.1B34%
Rhode Island Regulated$2.2B24%
Corporate And Other$1M0%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open CNP in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, CenterPoint Energy or PPL?
PPL (PPL), at $25.4B against $24.8B.
Is CNP or PPL cheaper?
By trailing P/E, PPL (20.7x) is cheaper than CenterPoint Energy (23.3x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, CNP or PPL?
PPL: revenue grew +10.8% over the last year, against +1.9%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.