CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) Cash Flow Statement
Where CNP’s cash came from and went, 2025
December 31, 2025 · U.S. dollars- Cash from operations
- $2.49B +16.2% vs 2024
- Capital expenditures
- $4.87B 52.0% of revenue
- Free cash flow
- −$2.38B −25.5% margin
- Returned to shareholders
- $574.0M
- Change in cash
- $19.0M cash at year-end $49.0M
Cash from operations
$2.49B
Capital expenditures
−$4.87B
Acquisitions & other
+$854.0M
Dividends
−$574.0M
Net borrowing (repayment)
+$2.13B
Change in cash
$19.0M
Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.
CNP operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow
Operating cash flowCapital expendituresFree cash flowFCF margin (right axis)
CNP cash flow trends, 2016–2025
| Metric | Trend | Then | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow | $1.92B2016 | $2.49B2025 | +2.9%/yr | |
| Capital expenditures | $1.41B2016 | $4.87B2025 | +14.7%/yr | |
| Free cash flow | $514.0M2016 | −$2.38B2025 | — | |
| Free cash flow margin | 6.8%2016 | −25.5%2025 | −32.3 pts | |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 4.452016 | 2.362025 | −2.09 | |
| Stock-based compensation | $19.0M2016 | $65.0M2023 | +19.2%/yr | |
| Dividends paid | $621.0M2016 | $574.0M2025 | −0.9%/yr | |
| Share buybacks (net) | $02016 | $02025 | — | |
| Capex / revenue | 18.8%2016 | 52.0%2025 | +33.3 pts |
Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.
CNP cash flow by activity
OperatingInvestingFinancingChange in cash
CNP net income vs operating cash flow
Net incomeOperating cash flow
Operating cash flow above net income usually means earnings are backed by cash (depreciation and stock-based pay are non-cash expenses).
CNP cash flow statement
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||||
| Net income | $1.05B | $1.02B | $917.0M | $1.06B | $1.49B | −$773.0M | $791.0M | $368.0M | $1.79B | $432.0M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $1.53B | $1.44B | $1.40B | $1.29B | $1.32B | $1.22B | $1.31B | $1.24B | $1.04B | $1.13B |
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | $65.0M | $51.0M | −$62.0M | $1.96B | $93.0M | $26.0M | $21.0M | $19.0M |
| Change in working capital | −$49.0M | −$518.0M | $1.49B | −$198.0M | −$2.27B | $74.0M | −$555.0M | $270.0M | −$320.0M | $207.0M |
| Other non-cash items | −$47.0M | $199.0M | $3.0M | −$388.0M | −$444.0M | −$487.0M | −$2.0M | $229.0M | −$1.11B | $139.0M |
| Cash from operating activities | $2.49B | $2.14B | $3.88B | $1.81B | $22.0M | $2.00B | $1.64B | $2.14B | $1.42B | $1.92B |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$4.87B | −$4.51B | −$4.40B | −$4.42B | −$3.16B | −$2.60B | −$2.51B | −$1.65B | −$1.43B | −$1.41B |
| Investments (net) | — | −$4.49B | −$4.59B | $702.0M | $1.32B | $80.0M | $42.0M | $30.0M | $297.0M | $475.0M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | $854.0M | $4.51B | $4.76B | $2.09B | −$7.0M | $1.25B | −$5.96B | $414.0M | −$128.0M | −$107.0M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$4.02B | −$4.49B | −$4.23B | −$1.63B | −$1.85B | −$1.26B | −$8.42B | −$1.21B | −$1.26B | −$1.05B |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||
| Dividends paid | −$574.0M | −$522.0M | −$535.0M | −$489.0M | −$492.0M | −$529.0M | −$695.0M | −$908.0M | −$461.0M | −$621.0M |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | $0 | $494.0M | −$800.0M | $0 | $0 | $2.57B | $0 | −$11.0M | $0 | $0 |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | $2.13B | $2.36B | $1.79B | $636.0M | $2.45B | −$1.69B | $3.50B | $429.0M | $220.0M | −$185.0M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $494.0M | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1.40B | $0 | $3.58B | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | −$7.0M | −$557.0M | −$80.0M | −$492.0M | −$43.0M | −$2.58B | −$34.0M | −$41.0M | −$4.0M | $1.0M |
| Cash from financing activities | $1.55B | $2.27B | $374.0M | −$345.0M | $1.92B | −$834.0M | $2.78B | $3.05B | −$245.0M | −$805.0M |
| Summary | ||||||||||
| Net change in cash | $19.0M | −$79.0M | $18.0M | −$163.0M | $87.0M | −$104.0M | −$4.01B | $3.98B | −$81.0M | $77.0M |
| Cash at end of period | $49.0M | $30.0M | $109.0M | $91.0M | $254.0M | $167.0M | $271.0M | $4.28B | $260.0M | $341.0M |
| Free cash flow | −$2.38B | −$2.37B | −$524.0M | −$2.61B | −$3.14B | −$601.0M | −$868.0M | $485.0M | −$5.0M | $514.0M |
| Free cash flow margin | −25.5% | −27.5% | −6.0% | −28.0% | −37.6% | −8.1% | −11.5% | 7.7% | −0.1% | 6.8% |
| Capex / revenue | 52.0% | 52.2% | 50.6% | 47.4% | 37.9% | 35.0% | 33.1% | 26.3% | 14.8% | 18.8% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 2.36 | 2.10 | 4.23 | 1.71 | 0.01 | — | 2.07 | 5.80 | 0.79 | 4.45 |
| Jun '26 | Mar '26 | Dec '25 | Sep '25 | Jun '25 | Mar '25 | Dec '24 | Sep '24 | Jun '24 | Mar '24 | Dec '23 | Sep '23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $244.0M | $316.0M | $264.0M | $293.0M | $198.0M | $297.0M | $248.0M | $193.0M | $228.0M | $350.0M | $192.0M | $282.0M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $445.0M | $423.0M | $405.0M | $392.0M | $370.0M | $363.0M | $356.0M | $334.0M | $386.0M | $363.0M | $359.0M | $374.0M |
| Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $65.0M | −$2.0M |
| Change in working capital | −$34.0M | −$520.0M | $112.0M | $71.0M | $44.0M | −$276.0M | $278.0M | −$423.0M | −$29.0M | −$344.0M | $270.0M | −$117.0M |
| Other non-cash items | $123.0M | $63.0M | −$7.0M | −$14.0M | −$52.0M | $26.0M | $7.0M | $32.0M | −$9.0M | $169.0M | −$78.0M | $50.0M |
| Cash from operating activities | $778.0M | $282.0M | $774.0M | $742.0M | $560.0M | $410.0M | $889.0M | $136.0M | $576.0M | $538.0M | $808.0M | $587.0M |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$1.37B | −$1.20B | −$1.48B | −$1.22B | −$1.13B | −$1.04B | −$2.01B | −$844.0M | −$812.0M | −$845.0M | −$1.08B | −$1.06B |
| Investments (net) | — | — | — | −$1.26B | −$1.11B | −$234.0M | −$1.93B | −$959.0M | −$756.0M | −$844.0M | −$1.04B | −$1.04B |
| Acquisitions & other investing | $31.0M | $10.0M | $67.0M | $1.22B | $1.13B | $1.04B | $2.01B | $844.0M | $812.0M | $845.0M | $1.08B | −$1.09B |
| Cash from investing activities | −$1.34B | −$1.19B | −$1.41B | −$1.26B | −$1.11B | −$234.0M | −$1.93B | −$959.0M | −$756.0M | −$844.0M | −$1.04B | −$3.19B |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | −$152.0M | −$150.0M | −$143.0M | −$144.0M | −$144.0M | −$143.0M | −$138.0M | −$130.0M | −$128.0M | −$126.0M | −$127.0M | −$144.0M |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | — | — | — | — | — | $0 | $494.0M | $494.0M | — | — | $800.0M | −$800.0M |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | −$46.0M | $1.71B | $759.0M | $613.0M | −$462.0M | $1.22B | $1.09B | $766.0M | — | — | — | $1.32B |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $247.0M | $244.0M | $3.0M | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | $174.0M | −$51.0M | $28.0M | −$4.0M | −$7.0M | −$24.0M | −$504.0M | −$507.0M | −$33.0M | $499.0M | −$467.0M | −$24.0M |
| Cash from financing activities | −$24.0M | $1.51B | $644.0M | $465.0M | −$613.0M | $1.05B | $942.0M | $870.0M | $83.0M | $376.0M | $206.0M | $355.0M |
| Summary | ||||||||||||
| Net change in cash | −$585.0M | $607.0M | $4.0M | −$54.0M | −$1.16B | $1.23B | −$99.0M | $47.0M | −$97.0M | $70.0M | −$29.0M | −$94.0M |
| Cash at end of period | $71.0M | $656.0M | $49.0M | $45.0M | $99.0M | $1.26B | $30.0M | $129.0M | $82.0M | $179.0M | $109.0M | $138.0M |
| Free cash flow | −$592.0M | −$916.0M | −$707.0M | −$480.0M | −$569.0M | −$628.0M | −$1.12B | −$708.0M | −$236.0M | −$307.0M | −$270.0M | −$477.0M |
| Free cash flow margin | −27.5% | −30.8% | −28.2% | −24.1% | −29.3% | −21.5% | −49.6% | −38.1% | −12.4% | −11.7% | −12.4% | −25.6% |
| Capex / revenue | 63.7% | 40.3% | 59.1% | 61.5% | 58.1% | 35.5% | 88.9% | 45.5% | 42.6% | 32.3% | 49.4% | 57.2% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 3.19 | 0.89 | 2.93 | 2.53 | 2.83 | 1.38 | 3.58 | 0.70 | 2.53 | 1.54 | 4.21 | 2.08 |
Negative numbers are cash paid out. Quarterly columns are labeled by the month the quarter ended. Figures in U.S. dollars as reported; data from EODHD.
CNP cash generation
In fiscal 2025 (ended December 31, 2025), CenterPoint generated $2.5 billion of cash from operations (up 16.2%) and spent $4.9 billion on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of -$2.4 billion, −25.5% of revenue. It returned $574.0 million to shareholders through dividends ($574.0 million) and net share buybacks ($0). Cash and equivalents rose by $19.0 million over the year.
Related: CNP income statement, CNP balance sheet, CNP dividend history. See the CNP stock overview for the latest quote and news.
CNP cash flow FAQ
What is CenterPoint's free cash flow?
CenterPoint's free cash flow was -$2.4 billion in fiscal 2025: $2.5 billion of operating cash flow minus $4.9 billion of capital expenditures It was -$2.4 billion a year earlier..
How much cash does CenterPoint generate from operations?
CenterPoint generated $2.5 billion of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 2.36 times its net income of $1.1 billion.
How much does CenterPoint spend on capital expenditures?
CenterPoint spent $4.9 billion on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 52.0% of revenue, compared with $4.5 billion the year before.
How much does CenterPoint pay in dividends?
CenterPoint paid $574.0 million in dividends in fiscal 2025.
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