Centene (NYSE:CNC) Releases FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Centene (NYSE:CNC) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 4.800- for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 3.490. The company issued revenue guidance of $193.5 billion-$197.5 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $190.5 billion.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CNC has been the topic of a number of research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “sell” rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Centene in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Centene from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, July 18th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Centene from $46.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price objective on Centene from $48.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. Finally, Raymond James Financial set a $75.00 price objective on shares of Centene in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $66.50.

Centene Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:CNC opened at $63.60 on Wednesday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $63.67 and its 200 day moving average is $49.98. The company has a quick ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. Centene has a 12-month low of $25.08 and a 12-month high of $69.36. The stock has a market cap of $31.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.84, a PEG ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.07.

Centene (NYSE:CNC) last released its earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The company reported $2.51 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.09 by $1.42. The company had revenue of $53.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $47.64 billion. Centene had a positive return on equity of 5.57% and a negative net margin of 3.25%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.16) EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Centene will post 3.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Centene News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Strong Q2 results: Centene reported $53.58 billion in revenue, up 9.9% year over year, while adjusted diluted EPS of $2.51 substantially exceeded the $1.09 consensus estimate. GAAP diluted EPS was $2.19, compared with a loss of $0.16 a year earlier. Centene Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Higher full-year guidance: Management raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to above $4.80 and lifted revenue guidance to $193.5 billion-$197.5 billion, above analysts’ expectations. The company attributed the improvement to better cost management and stronger performance across Medicare, Medicaid and Marketplace businesses. Centene Raises Annual Profit Forecast on Better Cost Control
• Positive Sentiment: Improved profitability metrics: The health benefits ratio fell to 89.6% from 93.0% a year earlier, indicating lower medical costs relative to premiums. Commercial HBR improved to 79.2%, while Medicare also showed favorable performance. Centene Back on Track
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst view remains cautious: Robert W. Baird raised its price target from $46 to $66 but maintained a “neutral” rating. The new target implies only modest additional upside, suggesting the earnings recovery is largely reflected in the share price.
• Neutral Sentiment: Board change: Director Kenneth A. Burdick retired from Centene’s board, effective July 28. The company did not indicate that the change would alter its strategy. Centene Announces Board of Directors Changes
• Negative Sentiment: Membership remains a risk: Total at-risk membership declined to 25.885 million, with Medicaid membership softness highlighted by analysts. Continued enrollment losses or higher medical costs could weaken the improved margin trend and pressure future earnings.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Centene

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. DV Equities LLC bought a new position in Centene in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. bought a new stake in Centene in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. McMillan Office Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Centene in the 4th quarter worth approximately $49,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new position in shares of Centene during the second quarter valued at about $79,000. Finally, Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management purchased a new position in Centene in the 4th quarter worth approximately $60,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.63% of the company’s stock.

Centene Company Profile

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.