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Centene Corp(CNC)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CNC
09/16/2026: CNC (5-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Centene Corporation is a managed healthcare firm that primarily serves government-sponsored programs, including Medicaid and Medicare. The company has a leading market position in these areas, bolstered by its Ambetter and Wellcare brands, which provide a stable revenue stream. Its growth strategy centers on operational efficiency and leveraging scale within US government health programs. However, Centene faces ongoing risks related to its sensitivity to government reimbursement policies and intense competition within the healthcare sector. This stock may suit value-oriented investors who can tolerate regulatory uncertainty, while shareholders should monitor developments in profit margins and potential changes in federal healthcare legislation.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | Centene offers exposure to growing healthcare spending but faces margin constraints that limit pure growth characteristics. |
| Momentum investor | Mixed fit | Momentum is conditional on favorable updates in government reimbursement rates and margin improvement. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | The stock often trades at a valuation that reflects the risks inherent in a government-reliant business model. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | Centene does not pay a regular dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios. |
| Low-risk investor | Mixed fit | While the business provides essential services, sensitivity to regulatory policy introduces notable risk. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | Changes in health policy or regulatory news often cause swift stock price movements. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | The market periodically reprices the stock based on perceived risks to Medicaid funding stability. |
| Competition risk (Diversified Health Insurers) | High | Larger competitors with greater scale can bid aggressively for state contracts. |
| Business quality | Medium | Profitability is dependent on complex medical cost management and administrative efficiency. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | The company does not provide dividend income to shareholders. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Integrating acquisitions and managing regional healthcare networks requires high operational precision. |
Price Behavior
Strong Uptrend
The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.
Choppy
The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 30.12% | Avg. Invested days 43 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  3.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/16/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Large-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 32.61B USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 71.78 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 71.78 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 4.0M shares | Beta 1.11 | 52 Weeks Range 31.63 - 69.63 | Updated Date 09/16/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 31.63 - 69.63 | Updated Date 09/16/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -10.11 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Managed Care (Medicaid/Medicare) | Premiums received from state and federal governments to provide managed healthcare services. | Most revenue comes from government contracts; the company earns money by managing costs effectively. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE 12.24 | Enterprise Value 22.47B | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.18 |
Enterprise Value 22.47B | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.18 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.11 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 3.91 | Shares Outstanding 494.00M | Shares Floating 463.69M |
Shares Outstanding 494.00M | Shares Floating 463.69M | ||
Percent Insiders 0.39 | Percent Institutions 101.63 |
Upturn AI Summary
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
About Centene Corp
Exchange NYSE | Headquarters Saint Louis, MO, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2001-12-13 | CEO & Director Ms. Sarah M. London | ||
Sector Healthcare | Industry Healthcare Plans | Full time employees 61100 | Website https://www.centene.com |
Full time employees 61100 | Website https://www.centene.com | ||
Centene Corporation operates as a managed care company that provides programs and services to under-insured families, and commercial organizations in the United States. It operates through four segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other. The Medicaid segment offers the temporary assistance for needy families; medicaid expansion; aged, blind, or disabled; and children's health insurance programs, as well as long-term services and supports; foster care; and medicare-medicaid plans. This segment also provides healthcare products and services. The Medicare segment offers special needs and medicare supplement, and prescription drug plans. The Commercial segment provides health insurance marketplace product for individual and commercial group. The Other segment operates clinical healthcare and pharmacies, as well as offers vision and dental, behavioral health, and centralized services. It provides services through primary and specialty care physicians, hospitals, behavioral health practitioners, and ancillary providers. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri.
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