Centene (NYSE:CNC) Updates FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Centene (NYSE:CNC) updated its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 4.800- for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 4.890. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group set a $79.00 price target on shares of Centene in a research report on Tuesday, August 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Centene from $60.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $80.00 price target (up from $75.00) on shares of Centene in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $79.00 price objective (up from $68.00) on shares of Centene in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Centene from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $70.05.

Centene Stock Up 1.6%

Shares of Centene stock opened at $67.09 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. Centene has a 52-week low of $31.63 and a 52-week high of $69.63. The company has a market capitalization of $33.14 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.43, a P/E/G ratio of 0.42 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a 50 day moving average of $65.52 and a 200 day moving average of $55.76.

Centene (NYSE:CNC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 27th. The company reported $2.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.09 by $1.42. The business had revenue of $53.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $47.64 billion. Centene had a negative net margin of 2.51% and a positive return on equity of 12.12%. The company’s revenue was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned ($0.16) EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Centene will post 4.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, General Counsel Christopher Koster sold 56,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.90, for a total value of $3,779,850.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 248,854 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,648,332.60. This represents a 18.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.37% of the company’s stock.

Key Centene News

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Centene reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted earnings outlook at the Deutsche Bank Healthcare Summit, signaling that management remains confident in its turnaround despite industry uncertainty. The company indicated adjusted EPS of at least approximately $4.80, close to the current analyst consensus of $4.89. Centene Reaffirms 2026 Adjusted Earnings Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to view CNC as an attractive value and growth stock, citing its diversified healthcare businesses, cash generation and recent share gains. Zacks also included Centene among its top-rated growth stocks, potentially supporting investor demand. Oscar Health vs. Centene: Which ACA Insurer Is the Better Buy?
• Positive Sentiment: Centene’s latest reported quarter exceeded expectations, with revenue up 9.9% year over year and earnings substantially ahead of consensus. This provides evidence that profitability is recovering and helps explain the stock’s strong recent performance.
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage of Centene’s healthcare summit presentation highlights continued investor focus on execution, cash flow and the company’s 2026 targets. Analysts’ views on healthcare stocks, including CNC, remain mixed rather than uniformly bullish. Analysts’ Opinions Are Mixed on These Healthcare Stocks
• Negative Sentiment: The turnaround faces a significant test as Medicaid enrollment declines following eligibility reviews. Lower membership could pressure revenue and make it harder for Centene to sustain expanding margins. Can Centene Sustain Its Turnaround Amid Membership Pressure?

Centene Company Profile

Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) is a managed-care company that provides health insurance and related healthcare services, primarily through government-sponsored programs. Its offerings include Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug plans, coverage for individuals and families through the health insurance marketplace, and health services for military families and veterans.

The company markets several healthcare brands, including Ambetter, which provides marketplace plans, and Wellcare, which offers Medicare products.