Centene (NYSE:CNC) Price Target Raised to $39.00

Centene (NYSE:CNC) had its price objective lifted by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $32.00 to $39.00 in a report issued on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a hold rating on the stock.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on CNC. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Centene from $28.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Oppenheimer reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $45.00 price target on shares of Centene in a report on Thursday, October 30th. UBS Group set a $42.00 price objective on Centene and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Centene from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “sell” rating and set a $38.00 price target (up previously from $33.00) on shares of Centene in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $41.50.

Centene Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CNC opened at $39.17 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $19.25 billion, a P/E ratio of -2.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.48. The company’s fifty day moving average is $42.08 and its two-hundred day moving average is $36.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. Centene has a 12-month low of $25.08 and a 12-month high of $66.03.

Centene (NYSE:CNC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 6th. The company reported ($1.19) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.22) by $0.03. Centene had a positive return on equity of 4.25% and a negative net margin of 3.43%.The business had revenue of $49.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $48.41 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.80 earnings per share. Centene’s revenue for the quarter was up 21.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Centene has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.000-3.000 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Centene will post 6.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Centene

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Baird Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Centene during the 1st quarter worth $236,000. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in Centene by 80.0% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 9,710 shares of the company’s stock valued at $527,000 after acquiring an additional 4,315 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its position in Centene by 198.6% during the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 2,114 shares of the company’s stock worth $115,000 after purchasing an additional 1,406 shares during the period. Aberdeen Group plc increased its stake in shares of Centene by 4.5% in the second quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 356,771 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,366,000 after purchasing an additional 15,309 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised its position in shares of Centene by 44.6% in the second quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 63,679 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,457,000 after purchasing an additional 19,629 shares during the period. 93.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Centene News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Deutsche Bank raised its price target to $39, signaling some support for the stock from the Street. Deutsche Bank Boosts Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: Value-oriented writeups (Zacks and MSN) highlight Centene as a long‑term value pick, which can attract buy‑and‑hold investors looking past near‑term volatility. Zacks Value Stock Article
• Positive Sentiment: Ambetter Health (a Centene brand) completed a new community playground with KABOOM! and the City of Hialeah — a reputation/ESG positive that supports member/community goodwill but is unlikely to move near‑term earnings. Ambetter Playground PR
• Positive Sentiment: Superior HealthPlan and the Centene Foundation expanded the “No One Eats Alone” program in Texas schools — another CSR item that supports brand and member engagement. NOEA Initiative PR
• Neutral Sentiment: TD Cowen raised its price target to $38 but maintained a “hold,” a modestly constructive move that still signals limited upside in the near term. TD Cowen PT Raise
• Neutral Sentiment: Argus moved Centene to a “hold” and Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed “neutral” — multiple firms keeping conservative stances that limit buying pressure. Argus Hold / Zacks Reference
• Neutral Sentiment: Guggenheim issued a “hold” on Centene, reinforcing the Street’s broadly cautious stance. Guggenheim Hold
• Negative Sentiment: A detailed piece on Centene’s 2025 loss and the 2026 outlook raises concerns that recent losses and forward guidance could materially change investor expectations and valuation — this coverage likely pressures the stock. 2025 Loss / 2026 Outlook Article

About Centene

Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) is a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that specializes in providing services to government-sponsored and national health programs. The company primarily acts as a managed care organization, delivering healthcare coverage and administering benefits for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare Advantage, and individual marketplace plans. Centene also contracts with federal and state agencies to manage specialty care programs and community-based services for vulnerable populations.

Centene’s offerings extend beyond traditional insurance to include a range of specialty and support services.