CenterPoint Energy (CNP) Dividend Capture: 0.55% per event (2.1% annualized)
CenterPoint Energy (CNP) has touched its pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 95% of the last 20 ex-dividend events, with a median time-to-touch of 1 trading day (limit-order recovery basis). The dividend is below the typical daily price swing (signal-to-noise 0.33), meaning ordinary day-to-day noise can easily exceed the dividend itself.
Versus its sector, CNP sits roughly in line with the Utilities sector benchmark of 95%. The sector median time-to-touch is 1 trading day, matching the peer pace.
Historical base rates are not predictions; transaction costs, slippage, and ordinary-income tax on short holding periods can materially reduce realized profit. The next confirmed ex-dividend date is May 21, 2026, with an expected dividend of $0.23.
- Touch rate (30d)
- 95%in line with sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 1din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise
- 0.33-0.12 vs sector
Recovery engine
TL;DR over the most recent 20 events.
- 30-day touch rate
- 95%in line with sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 1din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise (div / ATR)
- 0.33-0.12 vs sector
- Avg gap on ex-date
- -0.48%+0.23pp vs sector
- Win rate at MOC exit
- 65%
- Median drawdown during hold
- -2.70%+1.07pp vs sector
- Best / worst touch (days)
- 1 / 16
Next ex-dividend
Confirmed by company declaration.
- Dividend
- $0.23
- Per-event yield
- 0.55%
- Annualized yield
- 2.07%
- Previously paid
- Feb 19, 2026 ($0.23)
- Last record date
- Feb 19, 2026
- Last payment date
- Mar 12, 2026
How CNP ranks in Utilities
Compared with other stocks in this sector that pass our capture-quality filter (45 tickers). Lower rank number is better on every metric below.
- 30-day touch rate#12of 45
Beats ~73% of peers on this metric
- Median days to touch#1of 45
Beats ~98% of peers on this metric
- Signal-to-noise#32of 45
Beats ~29% of peers on this metric
CNP Dividend Capture History — Last 20 Ex-Dividend Events
Per-event gap on ex-date, the pre-ex close used as the touch target, trading days to first intraday high at or above that level, plus 5/30-day touch flags, drawdown and 5-day P&L for CenterPoint Energy (CNP). For a stricter close-at-bell exit timeline, use the simulator below (MOC mode). td = trading days from ex-date.
| Recovered 5d | Recovered 30d | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | $0.23 | 0.60% | $41.93 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.19% | +3.12% | |
| Q4 | $0.22 | -0.03% | $39.61 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.89% | +1.49% | |
| Q3 | $0.22 | -0.62% | $38.50 | 16 | no | yes | -4.94% | -2.08% | |
| Q2 | $0.22 | -0.19% | $36.57 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.57% | +2.16% | |
| Q1 | $0.22 | 0.00% | $34.09 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.43% | -0.38% | |
| Q4 | $0.21 | -0.57% | $31.57 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.06% | +3.99% | |
| Q3 | $0.20 | -1.40% | $25.77 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.40% | +5.32% | |
| Q2 | $0.20 | 0.37% | $29.68 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.52% | +1.95% | |
| Q1 | $0.20 | -0.55% | $27.44 | 2 | yes | yes | -1.09% | +2.30% | |
| Q4 | $0.20 | -0.83% | $27.67 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.12% | +1.16% | |
| Q3 | $0.19 | -0.42% | $28.25 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.45% | +0.35% | |
| Q2 | $0.19 | -0.28% | $28.94 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.66% | -0.45% | |
| Q1 | $0.19 | -1.43% | $29.28 | 3 | yes | yes | -6.97% | -1.02% | |
| Q4 | $0.18 | -0.55% | $29.13 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.37% | +6.39% | |
| Q3 | $0.18 | -0.52% | $32.83 | 2 | yes | yes | -4.39% | -1.16% | |
| Q2 | $0.17 | -0.10% | $31.37 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.63% | +2.04% | |
| Q1 | $0.17 | -0.86% | $26.89 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.31% | -0.63% | |
| Q4 | $0.17 | -0.60% | $26.78 | 2 | yes | yes | -3.85% | +0.60% | |
| Q3 | $0.16 | -0.63% | $26.85 | >30 | no | no | -7.49% | -3.61% | |
| Q2 | $0.16 | -1.01% | $24.70 | 2 | yes | yes | -2.96% | +2.31% |
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.23
- Gap %
- 0.60%
- Pre-ex close
- $41.93
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.19%
- P&L 5d %
- +3.12%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.22
- Gap %
- -0.03%
- Pre-ex close
- $39.61
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.89%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.49%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.22
- Gap %
- -0.62%
- Pre-ex close
- $38.50
- High touch (td)
- 16
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -4.94%
- P&L 5d %
- -2.08%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.22
- Gap %
- -0.19%
- Pre-ex close
- $36.57
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.57%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.16%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.22
- Gap %
- 0.00%
- Pre-ex close
- $34.09
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.43%
- P&L 5d %
- -0.38%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.21
- Gap %
- -0.57%
- Pre-ex close
- $31.57
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.06%
- P&L 5d %
- +3.99%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.20
- Gap %
- -1.40%
- Pre-ex close
- $25.77
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.40%
- P&L 5d %
- +5.32%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.20
- Gap %
- 0.37%
- Pre-ex close
- $29.68
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.52%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.95%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.20
- Gap %
- -0.55%
- Pre-ex close
- $27.44
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.09%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.30%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.20
- Gap %
- -0.83%
- Pre-ex close
- $27.67
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.12%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.16%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.19
- Gap %
- -0.42%
- Pre-ex close
- $28.25
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.45%
- P&L 5d %
- +0.35%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.19
- Gap %
- -0.28%
- Pre-ex close
- $28.94
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.66%
- P&L 5d %
- -0.45%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.19
- Gap %
- -1.43%
- Pre-ex close
- $29.28
- High touch (td)
- 3
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -6.97%
- P&L 5d %
- -1.02%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.18
- Gap %
- -0.55%
- Pre-ex close
- $29.13
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.37%
- P&L 5d %
- +6.39%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.18
- Gap %
- -0.52%
- Pre-ex close
- $32.83
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -4.39%
- P&L 5d %
- -1.16%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.17
- Gap %
- -0.10%
- Pre-ex close
- $31.37
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.63%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.04%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.17
- Gap %
- -0.86%
- Pre-ex close
- $26.89
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.31%
- P&L 5d %
- -0.63%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.17
- Gap %
- -0.60%
- Pre-ex close
- $26.78
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.85%
- P&L 5d %
- +0.60%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.16
- Gap %
- -0.63%
- Pre-ex close
- $26.85
- High touch (td)
- >30
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- no
- Drawdown
- -7.49%
- P&L 5d %
- -3.61%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.16
- Gap %
- -1.01%
- Pre-ex close
- $24.70
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.96%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.31%
CNP Pre-Ex Touch Time Distribution
- ≤ 1 day1365%
- 2–3 days525%
- 4–5 days00%
- 6–10 days00%
- 11–30 days15%
- 30+15%
65% within 1d · 90% within 5d · 95% within 30d
CNP Dividend Capture Calculator — After-Tax Yield
Pre-filled with CNP's next expected dividend and recent close. Adjust tax rate, holding period and slippage to estimate after-tax capture yield.
Holding shorter than the IRS 61-day rule disqualifies the dividend from “qualified” status — it is taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate. Adjust Tax % accordingly.
- Gross dividend
- $46.00
- After-tax dividend
- $29.90
- Slippage round-trip
- -$8.39
- Net if price returns to pre-ex
- +$21.51
- Required recovery to break even
- 0.00%
- Per-event after-tax yield
- +0.26%
- Annual if all succeed
- ~12.9%
CNP Dividend Capture Backtest Simulator
Replay every historical CNP ex-dividend with two exit strategies: a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close (limit-order P&L on first intraday touch), or hold for N days and exit at MOC. Pick the window and quarter filter that matches your plan and see realized P&L per event.
Sell back at the pre-ex close on the first intraday touch within the window. If it never touches, exit at MOC after the window expires (stop-loss).
Figures are gross — before tax, commissions, and slippage. Percents are per-event return on capital at entry (pre-ex close).
Cumulative P&L (equity curve)
Vertical axis: cumulative sum of per-event % (same units as the headline cumulative). Hover dots for exact values.
Per-event P&L distribution
20 trades in this sample · bar height ∝ count in each bucket (gross % per event).
Scenario P&L by event · CNP (20)
Scenario P&L — updates with exit mode, window, and quarter. History adds gap, touch, drawdown, and a fixed P&L 5d % (MOC). Same per-row % as that column only for MOC + 5d on the same rows. Oldest → newest, gross pre-ex close basis.
| Ex-date | P&L |
|---|---|
| +0.65% | |
| -3.61% | |
| +0.63% | |
| +0.63% | |
| +0.54% | |
| +0.55% | |
| +0.62% | |
| +0.65% | |
| +0.66% | |
| +0.67% | |
| +0.72% | |
| +0.73% | |
| +0.67% | |
| +0.78% | |
| +0.67% | |
| +0.65% | |
| +0.60% | |
| -2.08% | |
| +0.56% | |
| +0.55% |
Looking for full price seasonality? See CNP seasonality →
Frequently asked questions
What is the dividend capture success rate for CNP?
Across the last 20 ex-dividend events for CenterPoint Energy (CNP), the post-ex intraday high reached the pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 95% of cases, with a median time-to-touch of 1 trading day. We measure recovery via intraday high because that is when a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close would actually fill, ending the trade at break-even with the dividend pocketed.
How long does it take CNP to recover its dividend gap?
Historically, CNP touches its pre-ex close in a median of 1 trading day, with the best case at 1 and the worst case at 16 trading days within our 30-day measurement window. A stricter close-based recovery (mark-to-MOC) is also computed in the database; explore it with the per-ticker simulator’s “Hold N days, exit MOC” mode rather than in the event table.
Is the dividend on CNP large enough to capture?
CNP has a signal-to-noise ratio of 0.33 (dividend / 14-day ATR). Values above 1.0 indicate the dividend is larger than the typical daily price swing, making capture trades more viable; below 0.5 means typical daily noise can easily wipe out the gain.
When is the next ex-dividend date for CNP?
The next ex-dividend date for CenterPoint Energy (CNP) is May 21, 2026, confirmed (declared by the company).
How does CNP compare to its sector for dividend capture?
Within Utilities, the median 30-day pre-ex touch rate is 95%. CNP sits at 95% — at or below the sector benchmark.
Why does CNP dividend capture measure recovery via intraday high, not close?
A realistic capture trade exits via a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close: the moment the post-ex intraday high touches that level, the order fills and the trader pockets the dividend at break-even. Measuring recovery via close is stricter (mark-to-MOC); we expose that path in the per-ticker simulator as the "Hold N days, exit MOC" mode. The high-based primary metric directly answers the trader-facing question "would my limit have filled?" — close-based answers "would I have been flat at the bell?".
How are dividend capture trades taxed in the US?
Holding period matters. Dividends are "qualified" (taxed at the long-term capital gains rate, 0/15/20%) only when the underlying shares are held for more than 60 days during the 121-day window centered on the ex-dividend date. Dividend capture trades typically hold less than 61 days, so the dividend is taxed at your ordinary income bracket. Always consult a qualified tax advisor.
What are the main risks of a dividend capture strategy?
Three structural risks: (1) the share price may not recover the gap within your holding window; (2) ordinary-income tax can consume the after-tax yield; (3) transaction costs and bid/ask slippage can wipe out small dividends. Historical statistics measure base rates; they do not guarantee any single trade will work.