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© 2026 Annolyse.

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CEN · NZX

Contact Energy (CEN)

Energy & Utilities / Integrated gentailer•Covered: HY23 - HY26•7 published briefings

Contact Energy is an NZX-listed energy & utilities / integrated gentailer company with HY23 - HY26 of published result briefings.

Latest briefing

HY26 · Released 16 February 2026

PBT jumped 43.8% on margin expansion despite a 5.3% revenue decline

EBITDAF margin reached 30.9%, above the historical range, while a $525m equity raise lifted total assets 52% and pushed leverage to 5.8x.

Market data

As at close
Close price
NZD 9.57
Market cap
$10.2b
Dividend yield
4.1%

as at close, 16 June 2026. Source: yfinance.

Sections⌄
  1. Snapshot
  2. Valuation
  3. Chat
  4. Longitudinal View
  5. Follow-through
  6. Archive
  7. Related Insights
  1. Snapshot
  2. Valuation
  3. Chat
  4. Longitudinal View
  5. Follow-through
  6. Archive
  7. Related Insights

Snapshot

Latest metrics

HY26, released 16 February 2026

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CEN latest metrics
MetricValueChange
Revenue$1.6b↓ -5.3%
EBITDAF$500m↑ +23.8%
NPAT$204m↑ +43.7%
Operating cash flow$308m↑ +51.7%
OCF / EBITDAF %61.6%↑ +11.4pp
Net debt$2.9b↑ +49.6%
Net debt / EBITDAF5.78xOutside range highOutside range high net debt / ebitda. 5.8x; 3-period range 4.58x to 5.03x. Net debt / EBITDA: 5.80x, above normal range; 3-period mean 4.80x, range 4.58x-5.03x.↑ +20.9%
ROE %4.6%↓ -0.8pp
DPS16.0c— Flat
Payout ratio vs NPAT %76.6%↓ -12.8pp

Source: latest published briefing (HY26, released 16 February 2026). Change compares against the prior equivalent period: HY25, released 17 February 2025.

Valuation

Valuation

A compact read on what the market price implies next to the latest filing data. The numbers are a starting point for comparison, not a recommendation.

Prices as at close, 16 June 2026

Price and market cap

The latest close and share count context for the market price.

Market cap

$10.2b

i

End-of-day close multiplied by current shares on issue.

Profitability multiples

How the market price compares with recent earnings and cash-flow inputs.

P/E

26.07x

i

Recent market cap compared with trailing earnings.

EPS

0.37

i

Recent filing-derived earnings per share.

PEG

0.6x

i

P/E compared with recent earnings growth.

EV/EBITDA

13.57x

i

Enterprise value compared with recent EBITDA.

P/FCF

18.8x

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Market cap compared with recent free cash flow.

P/B

2.31x

i

Market value compared with latest reported equity.

Income and fund shape

Yield and fund-style valuation where the company shape supports it.

Dividend yield

4.1%

i

Trailing dividends compared with the latest close.

Total return

Not available

i

Available once dividend and adjustment data are verified.

Price history

Daily closes use the full available width, with hover and touch readouts against real observations. Expand opens the chart at reading size.

Share price

Five years of daily closes, as at close, 5 June 2026. Weekends, suspensions, and listing gaps stay as natural gaps in the time scale.

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Price vs earnings

Indexed lines compare direction from the first positive comparable filing point. The axis is an index, not dollars or cents.

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Chat

Ask about CEN

Ask follow-up questions about Contact Energy's latest result and company history.

Informational only. No buy, sell, hold, price-target, or personal financial advice.

Ask about CEN

Informational only. No buy, sell, hold, price-target, or personal financial advice.

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What changed in the latest result?What is unusual in the historical context?How has cash conversion changed over time?Compare this company with CNU.

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Longitudinal view

Performance over time

The latest period is shown first.

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CEN metric history
MetricHY266 MONTHS16 February 2026FY2512 MONTHS18 August 2025HY256 MONTHS17 February 2025FY2412 MONTHS19 August 2024HY246 MONTHS19 February 2024FY2312 MONTHS14 August 2023HY236 MONTHS13 February 2023Trend
Revenue$1.6b$3.4b$1.7b$2.9b$1.3b$2.1b$994m
Chart
Revenue growth %-5.3%20.1%30.7%35.2%31.4%Outside range highOutside range high revenue growth. 31.4%; 3-period range -12.7% to 30.7%. Revenue growth: 31.4%, above normal range; 3-period mean 4.2%, range -12.7%-30.7%.-11.3%-12.7%Outside range lowOutside range low revenue growth. -12.7%; 3-period range -5.3% to 31.4%. Revenue growth: -12.7%, below normal range; 3-period mean 18.9%, range -5.3%-31.4%.
Chart
  • HY24 Revenue growth %: Outside range high revenue growth. 31.4%; 3-period range -12.7% to 30.7%. Revenue growth: 31.4%, above normal range; 3-period mean 4.2%, range -12.7%-30.7%.
EBITDAF$500m$872m$404m$675m$354m$460m—
Chart
EBITDAF margin %30.9%Outside range highOutside range high ebitda margin. 30.9%; 3-period range 23.7% to 27.1%. EBITDA margin: 30.9%, above normal range; 3-period mean 25.2%, range 23.7%-27.1%.25.4%23.7%Outside range lowOutside range low ebitda margin. 23.7%; 3-period range 24.7% to 30.9%. EBITDA margin: 23.7%, below normal range; 3-period mean 27.6%, range 24.7%-30.9%.23.6%27.1%21.7%—
Chart
  • HY25 EBITDAF margin %: Outside range low ebitda margin. 23.7%; 3-period range 24.7% to 30.9%. EBITDA margin: 23.7%, below normal range; 3-period mean 27.6%, range 24.7%-30.9%.
  • HY26 EBITDAF margin %: Outside range high ebitda margin. 30.9%; 3-period range 23.7% to 27.1%. EBITDA margin: 30.9%, above normal range; 3-period mean 25.2%, range 23.7%-27.1%.
PBT$289m$463m$201m$338m$213m$177m-$9m
Chart
PBT growth %43.8%37.0%-5.6%91.0%—-30.0%—
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NPAT$204m$331m$142m$235m$153m$0.1m-$7m
Chart
NPAT growth %43.7%40.9%-7.2%n/m—-50.0%—
Chart
Operating cash flow$308m$544m$203m$580m$251m$395m$115m
Chart
OCF / EBITDAF %61.6%62.4%50.2%85.9%70.9%Outside range highOutside range high ocf / ebitda cash conversion. 70.9%; 3-period range 46.7% to 61.6%. OCF / EBITDA cash conversion: 70.9%, above normal range; 3-period mean 52.9%, range 46.7%-61.6%.85.9%—
Chart
  • HY24 OCF / EBITDAF %: Outside range high ocf / ebitda cash conversion. 70.9%; 3-period range 46.7% to 61.6%. OCF / EBITDA cash conversion: 70.9%, above normal range; 3-period mean 52.9%, range 46.7%-61.6%.
FCF pre-lease$249m$434m$138m$471m$187m$298m$63m
Chart
FCF post-lease$249m$434m$138m$471m$187m$298m$63m
Chart
DPS16.0c23.0c16.0c23.0c14.0c21.0c14.0c
Chart
Payout ratio vs NPAT %76.6%93.8%89.4%123.8%71.8%214.7%—
Chart
Annual payout ratio vs EPS %—93.8%—123.7%—214.7%—
Chart
ROE %4.6%12.0%5.4%9.0%5.7%Outside range highOutside range high roe. 5.7%; 3-period range -0.3% to 5.4%. ROE: 5.7%, above normal range; 3-period mean 3.2%, range -0.3%-5.4%.4.5%-0.3%Outside range lowOutside range low roe. -0.3%; 3-period range 4.6% to 5.7%. ROE: -0.3%, below normal range; 3-period mean 5.2%, range 4.6%-5.7%.
Chart
  • HY24 ROE %: Outside range high roe. 5.7%; 3-period range -0.3% to 5.4%. ROE: 5.7%, above normal range; 3-period mean 3.2%, range -0.3%-5.4%.
Net debt$2.9b$1.9b$1.9b$1.7b$1.6b$2.6b$1.2b
Chart
Net debt / EBITDAF5.78xOutside range highOutside range high net debt / ebitda. 5.8x; 3-period range 4.58x to 5.03x. Net debt / EBITDA: 5.80x, above normal range; 3-period mean 4.80x, range 4.58x-5.03x.2.22x4.78x2.49x4.58xOutside range lowOutside range low net debt / ebitda. 4.58x; 3-period range 4.78x to 5.8x. Net debt / EBITDA: 4.58x, below normal range; 3-period mean 5.20x, range 4.78x-5.80x.5.63x—
Chart
  • HY24 Net debt / EBITDAF: Outside range low net debt / ebitda. 4.58x; 3-period range 4.78x to 5.8x. Net debt / EBITDA: 4.58x, below normal range; 3-period mean 5.20x, range 4.78x-5.80x.
  • HY26 Net debt / EBITDAF: Outside range high net debt / ebitda. 5.8x; 3-period range 4.58x to 5.03x. Net debt / EBITDA: 5.80x, above normal range; 3-period mean 4.80x, range 4.58x-5.03x.
Debtor days—28—21—27—
Chart
Inventory days31143010231528
Chart
Total assets$9.7b$6.8b$6.4b$6.2b$6.1b$5.8b$5.4b
Chart

Reference: annolyse.ai/companies/cen

Note: Figures are shown as reported. Half-year and full-year absolute values are not directly comparable. Growth rates and ratios are the meaningful comparison across mixed periods.

Filing-only history charts

These charts use verified published filing periods only. Gaps are not interpolated, and mixed half-year/full-year histories are split into separate series.

Revenue

Reported revenue across covered periods.

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Revenue growth

Like-period revenue growth where comparable.

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  • HY23 CEN HY: Outside range low revenue growth. -12.7%; 3-period range -5.3% to 31.4%. Revenue growth: -12.7%, below normal range; 3-period mean 18.9%, range -5.3%-31.4%.
  • HY24 CEN HY: Outside range high revenue growth. 31.4%; 3-period range -12.7% to 30.7%. Revenue growth: 31.4%, above normal range; 3-period mean 4.2%, range -12.7%-30.7%.

EBITDA-equivalent

Company-specific earnings measure where disclosed.

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EBITDA margin

EBITDA-equivalent margin where revenue and earnings are source-backed.

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  • HY25 CEN HY: Outside range low ebitda margin. 23.7%; 3-period range 24.7% to 30.9%. EBITDA margin: 23.7%, below normal range; 3-period mean 27.6%, range 24.7%-30.9%.
  • HY26 CEN HY: Outside range high ebitda margin. 30.9%; 3-period range 23.7% to 27.1%. EBITDA margin: 30.9%, above normal range; 3-period mean 25.2%, range 23.7%-27.1%.

NPAT

Statutory profit after tax.

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Operating cash flow

Cash generated from operations.

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Full chartable metric set

Additional verified filing metrics for this company. Each point links back to a published briefing period in the source data contract.

OCF / EBITDA

Cash conversion against earnings.

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  • HY24 CEN HY: Outside range high ocf / ebitda cash conversion. 70.9%; 3-period range 46.7% to 61.6%. OCF / EBITDA cash conversion: 70.9%, above normal range; 3-period mean 52.9%, range 46.7%-61.6%.

FCF pre-lease

Operating cash flow less capex before leases.

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FCF post-lease

Free cash flow after lease payments where available.

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ROE

Return on equity.

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  • HY23 CEN HY: Outside range low roe. -0.3%; 3-period range 4.6% to 5.7%. ROE: -0.3%, below normal range; 3-period mean 5.2%, range 4.6%-5.7%.
  • HY24 CEN HY: Outside range high roe. 5.7%; 3-period range -0.3% to 5.4%. ROE: 5.7%, above normal range; 3-period mean 3.2%, range -0.3%-5.4%.

Net debt

Borrowings less cash; negative values indicate net cash.

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Net debt / EBITDA

Leverage ratio, suppressed where earnings are not meaningful.

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  • HY24 CEN HY: Outside range low net debt / ebitda. 4.58x; 3-period range 4.78x to 5.8x. Net debt / EBITDA: 4.58x, below normal range; 3-period mean 5.20x, range 4.78x-5.80x.
  • HY26 CEN HY: Outside range high net debt / ebitda. 5.8x; 3-period range 4.58x to 5.03x. Net debt / EBITDA: 5.80x, above normal range; 3-period mean 4.80x, range 4.58x-5.03x.

DPS

Dividend per share declared for the period.

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Payout ratio

Dividend payout against statutory NPAT.

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Debtor days

Receivables days where the working-capital inputs are source-backed.

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Inventory days

Inventory days where the working-capital inputs are source-backed.

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Operating working-capital movement

Per-period working-capital absorption or release, from the same published history. Positive values are working-capital build; negative values are release.

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The setup & the reality

FY25 → HY26 Follow-through

The latest result is checked against what the prior briefing said to watch.

Current result now available

HY26 · Released 16 February 2026

PBT jumped 43.8% on margin expansion despite a 5.3% revenue decline

EBITDAF margin reached 30.9%, above the historical range, while a $525m equity raise lifted total assets 52% and pushed leverage to 5.8x.

Read latest briefing→

Historical setup

What FY25 said to watch

From NPAT rose 40.9% but cash conversion fell to 62.4% on working capital build

No quantitative full-year targets are disclosed in the supplied material. The shape was second-half weighted on earnings: HY25 delivered 49.6% of revenue but only 42.9% of NPAT, so the second half carried the bulk of profit growth. Repeatability depends on hydrology and wholesale price conditions, neither of which is forecast in the release.

Forward dividend guidance is 40 cents per share against the 39 cents declared for FY25. The full-year payout against pre-lease free cash flow rose to 82.0% from 62.0%, so coverage tightened materially even though the dividend remained covered by FCF on this basis.

Open questions

Open questions from FY25

  • What drove the working-capital absorption of NZD 155m, and is the lift in receivable days to 27.9 and inventory days to 14.0 expected to reverse in FY26?
  • Why did the retail segment loss widen to NZD 49m on growing revenue, and what is the path back to a positive retail result?
  • How will the upcoming step-up in scale shape FY26 capex, leverage, and dividend coverage given the 82.0% FCF payout already reached?
  • What hydrology, hedge, and wholesale price assumptions underpin the 40 cent FY26 dividend guidance?
  • Is the lower 28.5% effective tax rate sustainable, or does it reflect items not disclosed in the supplied commentary?

This briefing cannot assess hydrology conditions, hedge positioning, or the post-period portfolio integration that will shape FY26 cash generation and leverage trajectory.

Archive

Briefing archive

Every published Annolyse briefing for this company appears here in reverse chronological order.

HY26 · Released 16 February 2026

PBT jumped 43.8% on margin expansion despite a 5.3% revenue decline

EBITDAF margin reached 30.9%, above the historical range, while a $525m equity raise lifted total assets 52% and pushed leverage to 5.8x.

Read briefing→

FY25 · Released 18 August 2025

NPAT rose 40.9% but cash conversion fell to 62.4% on working capital build

Reported earnings growth ran well ahead of cash generation as receivables and inventory absorbed NZD 155m of working capital.

Read briefing→

HY25 · Released 17 February 2025

Revenue +30.7% but cash conversion fell to 50.2% from 70.9%

EBITDAF grew 14.1% yet operating cash dropped 19% on a $57m inventory build, lifting the NPAT payout ratio to 89.4%.

Read briefing→

FY24 · Released 19 August 2024

Leverage to 2.5x as prior-year provision flatters reported EBITDAF gain

Underlying EBITDAF grew 16% to $663m once the FY23 base is adjusted for the $113m onerous contract provision booked in the prior period.

Read briefing→

HY24 · Released 19 February 2024

EBITDAF up 38% and cash conversion hit 70.9%, above CEN's normal range

Wholesale earnings drove a strong operating recovery, but net debt rose NZ$384m and leverage remains elevated at 4.58x EBITDAF.

Read briefing→

FY23 · Released 14 August 2023

Net debt tripled to $2.6bn as leverage hit 5.6x EBITDAF

Capex jumped to $541m while EBITDAF fell 14%, lifting leverage from 1.7x to 5.6x and materially tightening financial flexibility.

Read briefing→

HY23 · Released 13 February 2023

EBITDAF fell 24% as capex jumped 80% and pre-lease FCF halved to $63m

Cash conversion dropped to 46.7%, below the historical baseline, leaving the maintained 14.0cps dividend uncovered by free cash flow.

Read briefing→

Related insights

Compare this company

The latest CEN metrics also appear in these cross-company views.

Insight

Leverage and balance-sheet risk

Net debt / EBITDA is 5.80x, +1.30x versus the prior comparable period.

Open insight→

Insight

Cash conversion quality

This result converted 61.6% of EBITDA to operating cash flow, +11.4pp versus the prior comparable period.

Open insight→

Insight

Dividend coverage and payout pressure

Dividend payout versus pre-lease FCF is 62.2%, with NPAT payout at 76.6%.

Open insight→

Insight

Earnings quality and statutory distortions

PBT and NPAT growth diverged by 0.1pp.

Open insight→

Get notified when CEN publishes

Get the next Contact Energy result briefing and five-year history updates by email.