Stock fact sheet · data as of
CMS Energy Corporation (CMS): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Utilities · Regulated Electric · United States · Defensive
Is CMS undervalued?
CMS closed at 66.94 on 16 Oct 2026, which is 28% above the GLS average fair value of 52.34 from 7 models. 5 of them value the shares below today's price. Our screens read that as "no margin of safety": the stock is not a value candidate at this price, whatever the quality numbers say.
There is a wide gap between Lynch (26.35) and Graham Growth (79.91). When the models are this far apart the "fair value" is really a range, and the margin of safety above should be read with that range in mind.
The nightly engine files CMS under Defensive: a low beta, a dividend and positive earnings.
Nine valuation models for CMS
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 74.50 | +11% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | 49.98 | -25% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 79.91 | +19% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 26.35 | -61% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 64.56 | -4% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | - | - | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10%; no value tonight |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | 33.14 | -50% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | 37.93 | -43% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -86.76 | -230% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 78.09 | +17% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
CMS Energy Corporation scores 5 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score: a middling result that falls one point short of the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. Some of the nine tests on profitability, leverage and efficiency are failed, so the accounts are worth a look before selling a put on the name. A GLS Moat score of 4.6/10 is a weak reading: the ten-year history the score grades (revenue, EPS, book value, margins, cash flow, share count, ROIC) has not been steady, so the Moat part of the Wheel Score contributes little.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC 3.8%, ROE 11.7%, ROA 2.7% - with debt at 2.07 times equity and negative free cash flow. Debt of 2.07 times equity is on the high side for the sector and is worth checking against the cash flow before treating the stock as a long-term hold.
The dividend yield is 3.36% at a payout ratio of 67%; for a wheel trader holding assigned shares the dividend adds to the covered-call premium, and the ex-dividend date is worth knowing before a call is sold. Revenue comes mainly from Residential Utility Services 55%, Commercial Utility Service 33%, Industrial Utility Service 12% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 10/10 on the GLS smart-money scales; the last recorded Congressional buy was on 25 Sep 2026.
| Piotroski F-score | 5 / 9 | ROIC | 3.8% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 4.6 / 10 | ROE | 11.7% |
| Debt / equity | 2.07 | ROA | 2.7% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | -9.1% | Payout ratio | 67% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 10 / 10 |
Wheel Score 55: Fair
A Wheel Score of 55 puts CMS Energy Corporation in the Fair band - below the 70 the Sunday Scan requires. Value 1/25, Health 11/20, Moat 7/15, Premium 16/20 and Stability 20/20; the weakest part is Value (1/25).
Implied volatility is 31% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out: some premium, but under the 35-60% range the Wheel Score pays full marks for (16 of 20 points). Chain open interest is 3,620 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 5.0M shares a day on a market cap of $21.0B, with a beta of 0.32 - a low beta, so day-to-day moves are smaller than the market's; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 20 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 1 / 25 | -28% margin of safety | |
| Health | 11 / 20 | Piotroski 5/9 | |
| Moat | 7 / 15 | moat 4.6/10 | |
| Premium | 16 / 20 | implied volatility 31% | |
| Stability | 20 / 20 | 5.0M shares/day, $21.0B cap, beta 0.32 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
CMS Energy Corporation reports earnings on 27 Oct 2026 (before the open) - inside the 14-day window the Sunday Scan avoids, because a put sold now would carry the report's gap risk.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Regulated Electric
The 12 companies below are the closest to CMS Energy Corporation by market cap within the Regulated Electric industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMSA CMS Energy Corporation 5.6% JRSUB NT 78 | 19.02 | 30.99 | +39% | 39No options | $21.0B |
| EIX Edison International | 55.65 | 228.48 | +76% | 87Prime | $21.4B |
| SOJD Southern Company (The) Series 2 | 17.51 | 34.18 | +49% | 39No options | $20.1B |
| EVRG Evergy, Inc. | 81.57 | 50.00 | -63% | 49Weak | $18.8B |
| SOJC The Southern Company JR 2017B NT 77 | 18.45 | 34.77 | +47% | 39No options | $18.4B |
| ES Eversource Energy | 65.99 | 47.69 | -38% | 48Weak | $24.9B |
| LNT Alliant Energy Corporation | 67.10 | 37.78 | -78% | 51Fair | $17.4B |
| PPL PPL Corporation | 34.75 | 20.88 | -66% | 49Weak | $26.2B |
| CNP CenterPoint Energy, Inc. | 39.80 | 20.41 | -95% | 53Fair | $26.2B |
| FE FirstEnergy Corp. | 45.55 | 43.59 | -5% | 56Fair | $26.4B |
| DTW DTE Energy Company 5.25 % Debentures 2017-01.12.77 Global | 18.35 | 33.95 | +46% | 39No options | $26.6B |
| DTE DTE Energy Company | 128.33 | 77.78 | -65% | 46Weak | $26.7B |
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A free GLS Equity account gets you nightly fair value and the Wheel Score on ~7,400 US stocks, a watchlist, the scanner preview and the Sunday Scan - the same eight-rule screen, emailed every week. Pro adds the full put and call scanners, unlimited watchlists with alerts and the trade journal.
Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about CMS
Is CMS undervalued right now?
No: at 66.94 the stock trades 28% above the GLS average fair value of 52.34 (data as of 16 Oct 2026). The margin of safety is negative.
What is the Wheel Score of CMS and what does it mean?
CMS scores 55 out of 100 (Fair). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for CMS?
52.34 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 7 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does CMS Energy Corporation report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 27 Oct 2026 (before the open), 11 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does CMS have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 146 listed contracts with 3,620 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 31% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.