Centene (NYSE:CNC) Issues Earnings Results

Centene (NYSE:CNC) issued its earnings results on Monday. The company reported $0.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.10 by $0.48, FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $50.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $47.12 billion. Centene had a positive return on equity of 12.12% and a negative net margin of 2.51%.

Centene Price Performance

CNC stock opened at $67.84 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $65.81 and a two-hundred day moving average of $54.72. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The stock has a market cap of $33.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 1.13. Centene has a 52-week low of $31.63 and a 52-week high of $72.50.

Insider Activity at Centene

In other news, General Counsel Christopher Koster sold 56,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $16,648,332.60. This represents a 18.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Centene News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Centene reported third-quarter adjusted diluted EPS of $0.58, well above the $0.10 analyst consensus, while revenue reached $50.65 billion versus expectations of $47.12 billion. Centene Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance by $0.40 to more than $5.20 and increased GAAP diluted EPS guidance to more than $3.46. The consolidated medical benefit ratio was 92.7%, better than expected, with Medicare driving the improvement while Medicaid and Marketplace remained on track. Centene Lifts 2026 Guidance Amid Medicare Cost Controls
• Neutral Sentiment: The quarter still produced a $71 million GAAP net loss, or $0.14 per share, although this was a substantial improvement from the $6.63 billion loss reported a year earlier. Centene also continued to report a negative net margin, meaning investors may focus on the quality and sustainability of earnings improvements.
• Negative Sentiment: Trading had already become cautious before the report following a significant rally, with investors questioning whether earnings and guidance could justify the stock’s elevated valuation near its 52-week high. Centene Slides Ahead of Third-Quarter Results as Investors Turn Cautious
• Negative Sentiment: Unusually heavy put-option buying indicated increased short-term hedging or bearish speculation: 12,127 puts traded, 72% above typical volume. Recent insider activity also consisted of sales rather than purchases, adding to investor caution.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Centene in a report on Friday, October 9th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $79.00 price objective on shares of Centene in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Centene from $70.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Morgan Stanley set a $66.00 price objective on shares of Centene in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Centene from $60.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $70.05.

Centene Company Profile

Centene Corporation is a diversified healthcare enterprise that provides government-sponsored and commercial health insurance programs and related healthcare services. The company’s offerings are primarily focused on Medicaid, Medicare, and health insurance marketplace plans, with an emphasis on serving individuals and families who may have limited access to traditional healthcare coverage.

Centene operates Medicaid health plans through state-based contracts and offers Medicare Advantage, Medicare prescription drug, and Medicare Supplement products through its Wellcare brand.