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Centene Corporation (CNC) Stock

Centene Corporation Stock Details, Movements and Public Alerts

Centene Corporation (CNC): The $45B Medicaid Giant Serving 28M Government-Sponsored Members

CEO Sarah London leads Centene serving Medicaid recipients, Medicare dual-eligibles, and marketplace enrollees across all 50 states under Ambetter, WellCare, and Health Net brands. With $150B revenue from government programs and expertise managing complex low-income populations, Centene offers defensive growth tied to demographics rather than economic cycles.

52-Week Range

$66.03 - $25.08

-34.48% from high · +72.49% from low

Avg Daily Volume

7,027,152

20-day average

100-day avg: 8,017,466

Fundamentals

Valuation Metrics

P/E Ratio (TTM)

N/A

Forward P/E

10.47

Price to Book

1.07

EV/EBITDA

7.50

EPS (TTM)

-$13.53

Price to Sales

0.12

Beta

0.49

Less volatile than market

Q:How is CNC valued relative to its earnings and growth?
Valuation data is not available for this stock.
Q:What is CNC's risk profile compared to the market?
With a beta of 0.49, Centene Corporation is less volatile than the overall market. This means when the market moves up or down by 10%, this stock typically moves less than 10% in the same direction. Lower beta stocks are often preferred by conservative investors seeking stability. The price-to-book ratio of 1.07 shows investors value the company above its book value, which often reflects intangible assets or growth prospects.

Performance & Growth

Profit Margin

-3.79%

Operating Margin

-1.88%

EBITDA

$2.56B

Return on Equity

-28.68%

Return on Assets

1.01%

Revenue Growth (YoY)

23.20%

Q:How profitable and efficient is CNC's business model?
Centene Corporation achieves a profit margin of -3.79%, meaning it retains $-3.79 from every $100 in revenue after all expenses. This relatively low margin suggests the company operates in a competitive environment or high-cost industry where profitability is challenging. The operating margin of -1.88% reveals how efficiently the company runs its core business operations before interest and taxes. With ROE at -28.68% and ROA at 1.01%, the company achieves moderate returns on invested capital.
Q:What are CNC's recent growth trends?
Centene Corporation's revenue grew by 23.20% year-over-year, representing robust expansion that significantly outpaces typical market growth rates. This strong top-line performance suggests the company is successfully capturing market share or benefiting from favorable industry trends. These growth metrics should be evaluated against Healthcare Plans industry averages for proper context.

Company Size & Market

Market Cap

$21.3B

Revenue (TTM)

$176.15B

Revenue/Share (TTM)

$357.22

Shares Outstanding

491.76M

Book Value/Share

$40.58

Asset Type

EQUITY

Q:What is CNC's market capitalization and position?
Centene Corporation has a market capitalization of $21.3B, classifying it as a large-cap stock ($10B-$200B). Large-caps are typically industry leaders with established business models, offering a balance of stability and growth potential. They often provide dividend income and are core holdings in institutional portfolios. With 491.76M shares outstanding, the company's ownership is relatively concentrated. As a participant in the Healthcare Plans industry, it competes with other firms in this sector.
Q:How does CNC's price compare to its book value?
Centene Corporation's book value per share is $40.58, while the current stock price is $43.26, resulting in a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 1.07. This reasonable premium to book value suggests the market values the company's earnings power and intangible assets appropriately. Most profitable companies trade between 1-3x book value. As EQUITY, this represents a specific type of security.

Analyst Ratings

Analyst Target Price

$44.24

2.25% upside potential

Analyst Recommendations

Strong Buy

1

Buy

3

Hold

14

Sell

1

Strong Sell

1

Q:How reliable are analyst predictions for CNC?
20 analysts cover CNC with 20% recommending buy/strong buy ratings. Analyst predictions have mixed reliability - studies show consensus rarely beats market returns consistently. The bearish sentiment could create opportunity if analysts are wrong. The consensus target of $44.24 implies 2.3% upside, but targets are often adjusted to follow price moves rather than predict them.
Q:What is the Wall Street consensus on CNC?
Current analyst recommendations:1 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, 14 Hold, 1 Sell, 1 Strong Sell. The neutral stance suggests uncertainty or fair valuation at current levels.Remember that analyst opinions often lag price movements and can be influenced by investment banking relationships.

Fundamentals last updated: Feb 22, 2026, 02:10 AM

Technical Indicators

RSI (14-day)

54.93

Neutral

50-Day Moving Average

$42.27

2.34% above MA-50

200-Day Moving Average

$39.88

8.48% above MA-200

MACD Line

-0.20

MACD Signal

-0.48

MACD Histogram

0.28

Bullish

Q:What does CNC's RSI value tell investors?
The RSI (Relative Strength Index) for CNC is currently 54.93, indicating the stock is in neutral territory (40-60 range). Neither buyers nor sellers have clear control, suggesting consolidation or balanced market forces. Combined with the price being above the 50-day moving average, this confirms bullish conditions.
Q:How should traders interpret CNC's MACD and moving average crossovers?
MACD analysis shows the MACD line at -0.20 above the signal line at -0.48, with histogram at 0.28. This bullish crossover suggests upward momentum is building. The 50-day MA ($42.27) is above the 200-day MA ($39.88), forming a golden cross pattern that typically signals a long-term uptrend. Price is currently above both MAs, confirming strength.

Indicators last updated: Feb 22, 2026, 12:57 AM

Active Alerts

Alert Condition
Price falls below
Threshold
$30.00
Created
Oct 3, 2025, 08:19 AM

Centene Corporation (CNC) Stock Analysis 2025: Complete Investment Guide

Serving Those Others Won't

Sarah London inherited Centene's defensible franchise: insuring populations commercial insurers avoid—Medicaid recipients with chronic conditions requiring intensive coordination. Centene earns capitated fees from states regardless of utilization, creating incentive to manage costs effectively.

Financial Performance

  • •Revenue: $150B with 3-5% growth from membership expansion
  • •EPS: $6.80 growing 5-7% annually
  • •FCF: $4-5B supporting buybacks and debt reduction
  • •Margin: 2-3% operating margin (87-88% MLR + 12% SG&A)

Who Is This Stock Suitable For?

Perfect For

  • ✓Value investors at 11x earnings
  • ✓Defensive portfolios
  • ✓Demographics bulls

Less Suitable For

  • ✗Growth seekers
  • ✗High-yield investors
  • ✗Policy-risk-averse

Conclusion

BUY for value/defensive portfolios.
Bull Case
$92 (31% upside)
Base Case
$80 (14% upside)
Bear Case
$60 (14% downside)

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