CenterPoint Energy Inc (CNP): Today's Featured Utilities Winner

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) pushed the Utilities sector higher today making it today's featured utilities winner. The sector as a whole closed the day down 0.4%. By the end of trading, CenterPoint Energy rose 11 cents (0.5%) to $20.57 on light volume. Throughout the day, 2.1 million shares of CenterPoint Energy exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.9 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $20.29-$20.59 after having opened the day at $20.35 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $20.46. Other companies within the Utilities sector that increased today were: Niska Gas Storage Partners (NKA), up 2.8% and Consolidated Water Company (CWCO), up 2.4%.

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CenterPoint Energy, Inc. operates as a public utility holding company. CenterPoint Energy has a market cap of $8.82 billion and is part of the utilities industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 11.5, above the average utilities industry P/E ratio of 6.5 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 1.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are four analysts that rate CenterPoint Energy a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and nine rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates CenterPoint Energy as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its notable return on equity and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally poor debt management on most measures that we evaluated.

• You can view the full CenterPoint Energy Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Active Power (ACPW), down 7%, GenOn Energy (GEN), down 4.8%, Ocean Power Technologies (OPTT), down 4.3%, and U.S. Geothermal (HTM), down 3.8%, were all losers within the utilities sector with EQT (EQT) being today's utilities sector loser.

• Use our utilities section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the utilities sector could consider Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) while those bearish on the utilities sector could consider ProShares UltraShort Utilities (SDP).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on CenterPoint Energy Inc click any of the following:

• CenterPoint Energy Inc Stock Price

• CenterPoint Energy Inc Analyst Ratings

• CenterPoint Energy Inc Key Stats & Profile

• CenterPoint Energy Inc Earnings

• CenterPoint Energy Inc Ratio Comparison

• CenterPoint Energy Inc Growth Rates

• CenterPoint Energy Inc Balance Sheet

• CenterPoint Energy Inc Cash Flow

• CenterPoint Energy Inc Income Statement