Centene (NYSE:CNC) Releases FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Centene (NYSE:CNC) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 4.800- for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 4.890. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Centene Trading Down 2.7%

Shares of CNC opened at $67.56 on Wednesday. Centene has a fifty-two week low of $31.63 and a fifty-two week high of $69.63. The firm has a market cap of $33.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.47, a PEG ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 1.10. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $65.55 and a 200-day moving average price of $55.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.15.

Centene (NYSE:CNC) last released its earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The company reported $2.51 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.09 by $1.42. The company had revenue of $53.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $47.64 billion. Centene had a negative net margin of 2.51% and a positive return on equity of 12.12%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.16) EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Centene will post 4.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on CNC. Wells Fargo & Company set a $69.00 price objective on Centene and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Centene from $60.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Centene from $71.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Zacks Research raised shares of Centene from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Mizuho set a $63.00 target price on shares of Centene and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, June 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Centene currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $70.05.

Insider Activity at Centene

In other news, General Counsel Christopher Koster sold 56,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.90, for a total value of $3,779,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel directly owned 248,854 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,648,332.60. This trade represents a 18.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.37% of the company’s stock.

Centene News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Centene was included in Zacks’ Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth-stocks list, reflecting favorable estimate revisions, valuation and growth prospects. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for September 16th
• Positive Sentiment: Recent market commentary highlights CNC’s strong price momentum, low price-to-book valuation and potential for additional upside, helping support investor interest while the stock trades close to its 52-week high. 4 Stocks Trading Near 52-Week High With More Upside Potential
• Neutral Sentiment: Centene is scheduled to participate in the Deutsche Bank 2026 Healthcare Summit, where management is expected to discuss its outlook and operating performance. The event could provide further details on the company’s earnings trajectory. Centene Reaffirms 2026 Earnings Guidance at Healthcare Summit
• Negative Sentiment: Centene reaffirmed 2026 EPS guidance at $4.80, below the current analyst consensus of $4.89. While the reaffirmation reduces uncertainty, the gap versus expectations could limit near-term upside or prompt investors to seek evidence of further earnings growth. Centene Reaffirms 2026 Earnings Guidance at Healthcare Summit

Centene Company Profile

Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) is a managed-care company that provides health insurance and related healthcare services, primarily through government-sponsored programs. Its offerings include Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug plans, coverage for individuals and families through the health insurance marketplace, and health services for military families and veterans.

The company markets several healthcare brands, including Ambetter, which provides marketplace plans, and Wellcare, which offers Medicare products.