Is CenterPoint Energy (CNP) Stock Outpacing Its Utilities Peers This Year?
Investors interested in Utilities stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. CenterPoint Energy (CNP) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company’s year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Utilities sector should help us answer this question.
CenterPoint Energy is a member of the Utilities sector. This group includes 111 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #16. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.
The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. CenterPoint Energy is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CNP’s full-year earnings has moved 0.1% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company’s earnings outlook is stronger.
Based on the most recent data, CNP has returned 15.4% so far this year. Meanwhile, stocks in the Utilities group have gained about 8.1% on average. As we can see, CenterPoint Energy is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.
Another stock in the Utilities sector, Evergy Inc (EVRG), has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock’s year-to-date return is 19.5%.
For Evergy Inc, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 0% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Breaking things down more, CenterPoint Energy is a member of the Utility – Electric Power industry, which includes 63 individual companies and currently sits at #165 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 9.9% so far this year, so CNP is performing better in this area. Evergy Inc is also part of the same industry.
Investors interested in the Utilities sector may want to keep a close eye on CenterPoint Energy and Evergy Inc as they attempt to continue their solid performance.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).