Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE).  To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP).

Return on Equity or ROE is a test of how effectively a company is growing its value and managing investors' money.  In simpler terms, it measures the profitability of a company in relation to shareholder's equity.

View our latest analysis for CenterPoint Energy

How Is ROE Calculated?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for CenterPoint Energy is:

9.0% = US$859m ÷ US$9.6b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months.  One way to conceptualize this is that for each $1 of shareholders' capital it has, the company made $0.09 in profit.

Does CenterPoint Energy Have A Good ROE?

By comparing a company's ROE with its industry average, we can get a quick measure of how good it is.  However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification.   If you look at the image below, you can see CenterPoint Energy has a similar ROE to the average in the Integrated Utilities industry classification (9.3%).  

NYSE:CNP Return on Equity November 16th 2023

That's neither particularly good, nor bad.    Even if the ROE is respectable when compared to the industry, its worth checking if the firm's ROE is being aided by high debt levels.  If true, then it is more an indication of risk than the potential.   To know the 2 risks we have identified for CenterPoint Energy visit our risks dashboard for free.

Why You Should Consider Debt When Looking At ROE

Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits.  That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt.  In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business.  In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity.  Thus the use of debt can improve ROE, albeit along with extra risk in the case of stormy weather, metaphorically speaking.

CenterPoint Energy's Debt And Its 9.0% ROE

It's worth noting the high use of debt by CenterPoint Energy, leading to its debt to equity ratio of 1.91.   With a fairly low ROE, and significant use of debt, it's hard to get excited about this business at the moment.   Investors should think carefully about how a company might perform if it was unable to borrow so easily, because credit markets do change over time.  

Summary  

Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses.  Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality.  All else being equal, a higher ROE is better.

But ROE is just one piece of a bigger puzzle, since high quality businesses often trade on high multiples of earnings.  Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider.   So you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company.

Of course CenterPoint Energy may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have high ROE and low debt.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.