How did CenterPoint perform in Q1 2026?

CenterPoint reported GAAP net income of $316 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, and non-GAAP EPS of $0.56, compared with $0.53 in Q1 2025. Growth and regulatory rate recovery were the main drivers, partially offset by higher interest expense and the loss of earnings from the divested Louisiana and Mississippi gas LDC businesses.

Is CenterPoint on track for its 2026 earnings guidance?

Yes. The company reaffirmed its 2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance range of $1.89 to $1.91 and said it expects results at or above the midpoint. The midpoint implies about 8% growth over 2025 non-GAAP EPS of $1.76. Guidance assumes normal weather and that certain variables, such as customer growth, rate recovery, and interest rates, behave as planned.

What is driving the load growth story at Houston Electric?

CenterPoint reports 12.2 GW of firmly committed industrial load, including about 8 GW of data center load expected to be energized by 2029 and roughly 3.5 GW already under construction. Management believes connecting these customers will spread fixed costs over a larger base and could produce about $4 billion of customer savings over the next decade, supporting rate affordability.

How is CenterPoint funding its capital plan without stressing its balance sheet?

The company plans about $65.5 billion of capital investment through 2035 and expects to fund it through asset recycling, securitization proceeds, and roughly $4 billion of common equity through 2035. In Q1 2026 it had completed nearly 70% of its 2026 financing needs and reported TTM FFO/Debt of 12.5%. Management aims to keep 100 to 150 basis points of cushion above downgrade thresholds through 2035.

What risks should investors watch?

Key risks include the timing and approval of the Ohio LDC sale and regulatory proceedings, execution and cost control on the large capital program, the pace and realization of data center load growth, interest-rate and financing costs, and credit rating actions. Moody's currently carries a negative outlook on CNP and CEHE. The filing also notes Houston Electric's TEEEF units and the Hurricane Beryl and February 2021 winter storm matters as ongoing regulatory and legal issues.

CNP 8-K: Earnings & Results & Regulation FD

01—Abstract

Summary

Summary of the 8-K filed April 23, 2026. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) reported first quarter 2026 results on April 23, 2026, with GAAP net income of $316 million^a, or $0.48 per diluted share, and non-GAAP EPS of $0.56, up from $0.53 in Q1 2025.

The company attributed the year-over-year improvement mainly to growth and regulatory rate recovery (+$0.11^b per share), partially offset by higher interest expense (-$0.04), unfavorable weather and usage (-$0.02), and the effect of the completed Louisiana and Mississippi gas LDC divestiture (-$0.03). CenterPoint reaffirmed its 2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance of $1.89 to $1.91 and said it expects results at or above the midpoint, which would imply about 8% growth over 2025 delivered non-GAAP EPS of $1.76. The headline development is load growth at Houston Electric.

CenterPoint now reports 12.2 GW of firmly committed industrial load, up from roughly 7.5 GW at year-end 2025 by the company's slide-based comparison, and expects 8 GW of data center load to be energized in the Greater Houston area by 2029, with 3.5 GW already under construction. Management estimates these connections could deliver about $4 billion^c of customer savings over the next decade through lower delivery charges. The company also reaffirmed a roughly $65.5 billion 10-year capital plan through 2035, including at least $10 billion of incremental opportunities, and a long-term non-GAAP EPS growth target of 7% to 9% through 2035.

Balance sheet and financing items matter for investors. CenterPoint completed nearly 70% of its planned 2026 financing needs in the first quarter through debt issuances and prior forward equity sales, and it plans about $4 billion^d of common equity through 2035. Trailing-twelve-month FFO/Debt was 12.5% on both Moody's and S&P adjusted-for-one-time-items bases.

Parent-level credit ratings are Baa2, BBB and BBB, and Moody's maintains a negative outlook on CNP and CEHE. The pending Ohio natural gas LDC sale, at a gross price of about $2.62 billion, is still expected to close in Q4 2026 and is subject to regulatory approval in the first half of 2026.

02—Key points

Key Highlights

Q1 2026 GAAP EPS was $0.48 and non-GAAP EPS was $0.56, versus $0.45 GAAP and $0.53 non-GAAP in Q1 2025.
2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance of $1.89 to $1.91 was reaffirmed, with management targeting at least the midpoint, about 8% growth over 2025's $1.76.
Firmly committed industrial load rose to 12.2 GW, and CenterPoint expects 8 GW of data center load to be energized in Greater Houston by 2029.
The 10-year capital plan of about $65.5 billion through 2035 was reaffirmed, with at least $10 billion of incremental opportunities identified.
Long-term non-GAAP EPS growth target of 7% to 9% through 2035, with mid-to-high end expected in 2026 to 2028.
Nearly 70% of 2026 planned financing was completed in Q1 through debt issuances and prior forward equity sales.
The pending Ohio natural gas LDC sale (gross price about $2.62 billion) is expected to close in Q4 2026.

03—Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How did CenterPoint perform in Q1 2026?
CenterPoint reported GAAP net income of $316 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, and non-GAAP EPS of $0.56, compared with $0.53 in Q1 2025. Growth and regulatory rate recovery were the main drivers, partially offset by higher interest expense and the loss of earnings from the divested Louisiana and Mississippi gas LDC businesses.
Is CenterPoint on track for its 2026 earnings guidance?
Yes. The company reaffirmed its 2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance range of $1.89 to $1.91 and said it expects results at or above the midpoint. The midpoint implies about 8% growth over 2025 non-GAAP EPS of $1.76. Guidance assumes normal weather and that certain variables, such as customer growth, rate recovery, and interest rates, behave as planned.
What is driving the load growth story at Houston Electric?
CenterPoint reports 12.2 GW of firmly committed industrial load, including about 8 GW of data center load expected to be energized by 2029 and roughly 3.5 GW already under construction. Management believes connecting these customers will spread fixed costs over a larger base and could produce about $4 billion of customer savings over the next decade, supporting rate affordability.
How is CenterPoint funding its capital plan without stressing its balance sheet?
The company plans about $65.5 billion of capital investment through 2035 and expects to fund it through asset recycling, securitization proceeds, and roughly $4 billion of common equity through 2035. In Q1 2026 it had completed nearly 70% of its 2026 financing needs and reported TTM FFO/Debt of 12.5%. Management aims to keep 100 to 150 basis points of cushion above downgrade thresholds through 2035.
What risks should investors watch?
Key risks include the timing and approval of the Ohio LDC sale and regulatory proceedings, execution and cost control on the large capital program, the pace and realization of data center load growth, interest-rate and financing costs, and credit rating actions. Moody's currently carries a negative outlook on CNP and CEHE. The filing also notes Houston Electric's TEEEF units and the Hurricane Beryl and February 2021 winter storm matters as ongoing regulatory and legal issues.

04—Continue

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