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CenterPoint Energy cash flow, quarter by quarter

Latest: Q3 2026 · from the cash-flow statements filed with the SEC

Free cash flow−$611M in Q3 2026 · −$2.8B over twelve months

Operating cash flow$991M
Capital spending−$1.6B
Free cash flow−$611M
Cash / net income3.0×
Cash conversion cycle-106042 days

Analysis

In Q3 2026, CenterPoint Energy generated $991M of operating cash flow and spent $1.6B on capital projects, leaving free cash flow of −$611M. That is $131M less than in Q3 2025 (−$480M).

Over the twelve months to Sep 30, 2026, operating cash flow was $2.8B; the largest uses were capital spending ($5.7B), dividends ($604M); besides operations, cash came from net borrowing (+) / repaid (−) ($2.7B), other investing ($506M); the cash balance rose by $109M.

Operating cash flow was $991M against net income of $331M — 3.0× profit, cash ran ahead of reported earnings. The largest differences: depreciation & amortization +$444M, prepaid and other assets +$200M, receivables −$149M.

Its cash conversion cycle was -106042 days (receivables 34 + inventory 0 − payables 106076): suppliers fund its working capital.

Free cash flow

CenterPoint Energy: free cash flow by quarterCenterPoint Energy: free cash flow by quarter−$1.1BQ4 2024−$628MQ1 2025−$569MQ2 2025−$480MQ3 2025−$707MQ4 2025−$916MQ1 2026−$592MQ2 2026−$611MQ3 2026
Operating cash flow less capital spending.
CenterPoint Energy: operating cash flow against capital spendingCenterPoint Energy: operating cash flow against capital spendingOperating cash flowCapital spending$889M$2.0BQ4 2024$410M$1.0BQ1 2025$560M$1.1BQ2 2025$742M$1.2BQ3 2025$774M$1.5BQ4 2025$282M$1.2BQ1 2026$778M$1.4BQ2 2026$991M$1.6BQ3 2026
Latest (Q3 2026): Operating cash flow $991M, Capital spending $1.6B.

Capital allocation, year by year

CenterPoint Energy: where the cash came from (up) and went (down), by fiscal yearCenterPoint Energy: where the cash came from (up) and went (down), by fiscal yearOperating cash flowNet borrowingShares issuedAsset salesCapital spendingDividendsFY2021: Operating cash flow $22.0MFY2021: Net borrowing $2.4BFY2021: Asset sales $22.0MFY2021: Capital spending −$3.2BFY2021: Dividends −$385M$2.5BFY2021FY2022: Operating cash flow $1.8BFY2022: Net borrowing $639MFY2022: Asset sales $2.1BFY2022: Capital spending −$4.4BFY2022: Dividends −$440M$4.5BFY2022FY2023: Operating cash flow $3.9BFY2023: Net borrowing $1.8BFY2023: Asset sales $144MFY2023: Capital spending −$4.4BFY2023: Dividends −$485M$5.8BFY2023FY2024: Operating cash flow $2.1BFY2024: Net borrowing $2.4BFY2024: Shares issued $494MFY2024: Capital spending −$4.5BFY2024: Dividends −$522M$5.0BFY2024FY2025: Operating cash flow $2.5BFY2025: Net borrowing $2.1BFY2025: Asset sales $1.2BFY2025: Capital spending −$4.9BFY2025: Dividends −$574M$5.8BFY2025
Over these 5 years operating cash flow totalled $10.3B; the largest uses were capital spending ($21.4B) and dividends ($2.4B). Cash-flow statements as filed.

Cash runway and the debt wall

Cash & investments$557M
Debt$20.6B
Net debt$20.0B

CenterPoint Energy's operations bring cash in ($2.8B over twelve months), and it spends more than that on capital projects: a gap of $2.8B funded from its $557M of cash and investments and from borrowing ($20.6B of debt). That is a choice to invest, not a cash runway running down.

Where the cash came from and went

CenterPoint Energy: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, Q3 2026CenterPoint Energy: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, Q3 2026Capital spending−$1.6BOperating cash flow$991MOther investing$398MNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)$279MOther financing$176MDividends−$159MCash drawn (+) / kept (−)−$83.0M
CenterPoint Energy: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, TTM to Q3 2026CenterPoint Energy: sources (+) and uses (−) of cash, TTM to Q3 2026Capital spending−$5.7BOperating cash flow$2.8BNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)$2.7BDividends−$604MOther investing$506MShares issued$165MOther financing$162MCash drawn (+) / kept (−)−$109M

From profit to cash

CenterPoint Energy: net income to operating cash flow, Q3 2026CenterPoint Energy: net income to operating cash flow, Q3 2026Net income$331MDepreciation & amortization$444MDeferred taxes$49.0MReceivables−$149MInventory−$131MPayables$124MPrepaid and other assets$200MOther liabilities$87.0MOperating cash flow$991M
Non-cash charges are added back; money tied up in receivables or inventory is subtracted.
QuarterReceivable daysInventory daysPayable daysCash conversion cycle
Q3 202634—106076-106042
Q1 202625—104535-104510
Q3 202537—86066-86029
Q2 202539—44249-44210
Q1 202524—106290-106266
Q4 202429—138184-138155

Every quarter

QuarterOperating cash flowCapital spendingDividendsNet borrowing (+) / repaid (−)Cash drawn (+) / kept (−)Free cash flow
Q3 2026$991M−$1.6B−$159M$279M−$83.0M−$611M
Q2 2026$778M−$1.4B−$152M−$46.0M$585M−$592M
Q1 2026$282M−$1.2B−$150M$1.7B−$607M−$916M
Q4 2025$774M−$1.5B−$143M$759M−$4.0M−$707M
Q3 2025$742M−$1.2B−$144M$613M$54.0M−$480M
Q2 2025$560M−$1.1B−$144M−$462M$1.2B−$569M
Q1 2025$410M−$1.0B−$143M$1.2B−$1.2B−$628M
Q4 2024$889M−$2.0B−$138M$1.1B$99.0M−$1.1B

CenterPoint Energy: income statement and cash flow

CenterPoint Energy, Q3 2026: revenue $2.2B (+10% year over year), operating margin 30.4%. The chart follows the revenue to costs, profit and cash.

CenterPoint Energy: every quarter, Q/Q and Y/Y → Open in the app

Read automatically from the company’s XBRL cash-flow statements; quarterly figures for the fourth quarter are the year less the first three. Errors are possible. Not investment advice.