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Upturn AI Summary - About
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
10/01/2026: CNC (4-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Centene Corporation is a leading managed healthcare company primarily focused on government-sponsored programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. The company has historically grown through aggressive acquisitions, building a large, scalable footprint across the United States. Its primary strength lies in its deep expertise in serving complex, publicly insured populations. However, the business faces significant risks, including heavy reliance on government reimbursement rates and intense competition for state contracts. The stock may suit value-oriented investors who are comfortable with regulatory risk and a company that prioritizes capital reinvestment over dividends, requiring close monitoring of healthcare policy and Medicaid membership trends.
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 moderate growth potential through managed care expansion but faces mature market constraints. |
| Momentum investor | Strong fit while signal remains positive | The stock can exhibit momentum based on government contract wins or policy tailwinds. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | Centene often trades at a valuation that appeals to value investors looking for steady, regulated healthcare exposure. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | The company does not pay a dividend, making it unsuitable for income-focused portfolios. |
| Low-risk investor | Mixed fit | While regulated, the stock is subject to political risk and healthcare policy uncertainty. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium | The stock reacts sharply to regulatory news and government healthcare policy changes. |
| Valuation risk | Low | The stock is generally priced modestly relative to its earnings potential. |
| Competition risk (managed care) | High | Intense bidding for state Medicaid contracts puts constant pressure on margins. |
| Business quality | Medium / high | Centene has a strong franchise in government-sponsored programs but faces integration and efficiency hurdles. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | Investors receive zero income via dividends. |
| Execution risk | Medium | The company must consistently deliver on medical loss ratio targets to maintain profitability. |
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 19.37% | Avg. Invested days 32 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  2.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 10/01/2026 |
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 30.69B USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 71.78 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 71.78 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 4.6M shares | Beta 1.11 | 52 Weeks Range 31.63 - 69.63 | Updated Date 10/01/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 31.63 - 69.63 | Updated Date 10/01/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -10.36 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid | Managed care premiums from state contracts for low-income individuals. | This is the company's largest and most stable revenue driver. |
| Medicare | Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans for seniors. | This segment is a major area for growth through the Wellcare brand. |
| Marketplace | Individual insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. | Marketplace performance is highly sensitive to government subsidy levels. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE 11.22 | Enterprise Value 19.72B | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.17 |
Enterprise Value 19.72B | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.17 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.1 | 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 101.68 |
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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