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Last updated 2 minutes ago

CNC·Centene Corporation

$.
-. (-.%)
After Hours
High
$68.01
Open
$67.71
Market Cap
33.51B
52W High
$69.29
Low
$66.63
P. Close
$67.35
P/E
-
52W Low
$25.08
Fwd P/E
15.05
DailyIQ Est.
$63.54
Technical Score (1D)
86
BUY
News Sentiment
80
BULLISH
Recent valuation screens still flag CNC as cheap even after a 114 % YTD rally, suggesting that the market may not yet have fully priced in the company’s growth narrative. Those same screens note that new Medicaid managed‑care contracts are strengthening cash‑flow durability, yet the firm remains vulnerable to state funding changes that could erode earnings. This duality means traders must weigh whether the current premium reflects a risk‑adjusted valuation or a bubble in the Medicaid sector. Earlier this week, CNC was removed from defensive and value indexes and added to growth benchmarks, a shift that could increase volatility as growth‑focused funds reallocate capital. The index reclassification also signals a change in risk profile that may attract new institutional demand but could expose the stock to sharper swings if the growth narrative falters. The Illinois Medicaid contract renewal for four years, secured by Meridian Health Plan, provides a stable revenue stream and supports long‑term growth, reinforcing the company’s core business. However, the renewal locks in current reimbursement rates, so any future state policy shifts could impact margins, making Medicaid margin metrics a key watch item. With the Q2 2026 earnings release scheduled for July 28, traders will have a clear view of how the contract renewal and index shift translate into actual earnings and guidance. In the next 1–10 trading days, watch for the earnings call for updates on Medicaid and marketplace metrics, the potential impact of the growth index reclassification on institutional flows, and any signals of state funding changes that could affect the company’s cash‑flow outlook.
Earnings Summary
Centene Corporation is a diversified health‑benefits provider that manages Medicaid, Medicare, commercial, and other programs across the United States, delivering comprehensive coverage through a network of providers. In the most recent reporting cycle, Centene posted a Q1 2026 revenue of $49.944 billion, up 7.3 % YoY from $46.620 billion in Q1 2025, while Q2 2026 revenue of $48.105 billion fell 1.3 % from $48.742 billion in Q2 2025; EPS in Q1 2026 rose to $3.37 from $2.90 in Q1 2025, but Q2 2026 EPS is not yet disclosed, limiting a full comparison. Across the last six quarters, the company has consistently outperformed consensus, beating estimates in five of six periods, with Q4 2024, Q1 2025, Q3 2025, Q4 2025, and Q1 2026 all reporting EPS above expectations, while only Q2 2025 missed on earnings. Historically, Centene has maintained a steady upward trajectory in revenue growth, with YoY increases in most quarters and EPS growth that has generally outpaced revenue, reflecting effective cost control and premium collection. The recent Illinois Medicaid managed‑care contract, covering 2.4 million residents, introduces a predictable revenue stream that could bolster future earnings, whereas the Arkansas Medicaid exit signals potential revenue contraction and cost‑pressure adjustments; the Cantor Fitzgerald upgrade to $75, citing the Q1 earnings beat and favorable regulatory environment, underscores market optimism around the company’s Medicaid strategy. Going forward, investors should watch how the Illinois contract’s performance metrics are met and how the Arkansas exit is reflected in guidance, monitor regulatory updates that could alter reimbursement rates, and pay close attention to the next earnings call for any revisions to revenue and margin outlooks.

EPS

EstBeatMiss
$-1.93$-0.43$1.07$2.56$4.06Q1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q2'26$1.07 - -
Q1'26$2.13$3.37+57.9%
Q4'25$-1.24$-1.19+3.7%
Q3'25$-0.16$0.50+404.3%
Q2'25$0.21$-0.16-177.3%
Q1'25$2.52$2.90+15.3%

Revenue

EstBeatMiss
$46.1B$47.2B$48.3B$49.4B$50.4BQ1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q2'26$48.1B - -
Q1'26$47.6B$49.9B+5.0%
Q4'25$48.9B$49.7B+1.7%
Q3'25 - $49.7B -
Q2'25 - $48.7B -
Q1'25 - $46.6B -
Full Earnings BreakdownEstimates, actuals, guidance, and historical context
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Market Data

CNC Stock Snapshot

CNC is currently trading at $67.00, giving Centene Corporation a market cap of 33.51B. Today's range spans $66.63–$68.01, with shares opening at $67.71 and moving down $0.35 (0.5%) from the prior close. DailyIQ's technical score sits at 86/100 (BUY) with a news sentiment reading of 80/100.

Over the past year CNC has traded between $25.08 and $69.29 - the current price is +167.1% off the 52-week low and -3.3% from the high. 28 analysts cover the stock with a Hold consensus and a mean 12-month target of $62.72 (range $40.00–$80.00), implying downside of -6.4%.

CNC is scoring 86/100 technically (BUY) and sits at $67.00 - near 52-week highs in its $25.08–$69.29 annual range. Sentiment at 80/100 is bullish. At 33.51B in Healthcare market cap, this is the tier where earnings revision cycles have the most impact on price: upward revisions in a large-cap company with bullish momentum tend to attract analyst upgrades, which in turn attract new institutional mandates.

The combination of a BUY signal (86/100) and bullish news sentiment (80/100) puts CNC on the screens of active managers who run quality-momentum overlays — a cohort that can build meaningful positions at 33.51B in Healthcare market cap without immediately moving the stock. At $67.00 (near 52-week highs in the $25.08–$69.29 range), the entry discipline is clean and the potential re-rating if sentiment continues to improve is meaningful.