Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (Form 4)

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Ryan Jason Michael 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC [CNP] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP, Reg. Svcs. & Gov. Affairs (Last) (First) (Middle) 1111 LOUISIANA 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/11/2026 (Street) HOUSTON, TX 77002 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 02/11/2026 A 13,666(1) A $ 0 175,566(2) D Common Stock 3,842 I By Savings Plan(3)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Ryan Jason Michael 1111 LOUISIANA HOUSTON, TX 77002			EVP, Reg. Svcs. & Gov. Affairs

Signatures

Vincent A. Mercaldi, Attorney-in-Fact		02/13/2026
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Time-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") awarded under the Issuer's Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") and vesting in three equal installments in February 2027, 2028, and 2029. The above award shall vest (i) if the Reporting Person ("R.P.") continues to be an employee of Issuer from the grant date through the respective vesting date, (ii) in the event of his earlier disability or death, or (iii) if he satisfies various conditions, upon his earlier retirement, except that such retirement vesting will be on a pro rata basis if his retirement occurs in the year of grant. All vesting is conditioned upon achievement of positive operating income for the year preceding the applicable vesting date except in the case of death or disability.
(2)	Total includes previous awards under the Plan of (i) 13,425 RSUs vesting in February 2026, (ii) 6,279 RSUs vesting in two equal installments in February 2026 and 2027, and (iii) 9,853 RSUs vesting in three equal installments in February 2026, 2027, and 2028. The above awards shall vest (a) if he continues to be an employee of Issuer from the grant date through the respective vesting date or (b) in the event of his earlier disability or death. The awards will also vest on a full or pro-rata basis upon earlier retirement, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions. All vesting is conditioned upon achievement of positive operating income for the year preceding the applicable vesting date except in the case of death or disability.
(3)	Equivalent shares held in CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Savings Plan.

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