Centene (NYSE:CNC) Given New $71.00 Price Target at Robert W. Baird

Key Points

• Robert W. Baird raised Centene’s price target to $71 from $66 while maintaining a “neutral” rating, implying roughly 3.2% upside from the prior close.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed: Centene has an average “Hold” rating and a consensus price target of $70.90, with nine Buy, ten Hold, and two Sell ratings.
• Centene’s latest quarterly results exceeded expectations, with earnings of $0.58 per share and revenue of $50.65 billion; however, a general counsel sold 56,500 shares, while institutional investors own 93.63% of the stock.

Centene (NYSE:CNC - Get Free Report) had its target price raised by analysts at Robert W. Baird from $66.00 to $71.00 in a research note issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a "neutral" rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird's price target points to a potential upside of 3.22% from the stock's previous close.

Several other research firms have also commented on CNC. Wells Fargo & Company set a $69.00 price objective on Centene and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Centene from $70.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an "outperform" rating and set a $79.00 price target (up from $68.00) on shares of Centene in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Centene from $60.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, UBS Group set a $79.00 target price on shares of Centene in a research note on Tuesday, August 18th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $70.90.

Centene Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of CNC opened at $68.79 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $33.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.59 and a beta of 1.13. Centene has a 52 week low of $31.63 and a 52 week high of $72.50. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $65.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $54.94.

Centene (NYSE:CNC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 27th. The company reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.10 by $0.48. The company had revenue of $50.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $47.12 billion. The firm's revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.50 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Centene will post 4.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Centene news, General Counsel Christopher Koster sold 56,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.90, for a total transaction of $3,779,850.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 248,854 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,648,332.60. This trade represents a 18.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.37% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Centene

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in Centene in the 2nd quarter valued at about $2,660,422,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in Centene by 423.0% during the 2nd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,301,215 shares of the company's stock worth $853,805,000 after buying an additional 10,757,914 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its holdings in shares of Centene by 12.4% during the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 5,517,580 shares of the company's stock valued at $354,173,000 after acquiring an additional 608,249 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in shares of Centene by 21.6% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 4,518,785 shares of the company's stock valued at $302,818,000 after acquiring an additional 802,756 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new position in shares of Centene in the second quarter valued at approximately $285,713,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.63% of the company's stock.

Centene News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly earnings and revenue exceeded expectations. Centene reported third-quarter adjusted diluted EPS of $0.58 versus consensus estimates near $0.07–$0.10, while revenue reached $50.65 billion versus expectations of $47.12 billion. Adjusted results improved from $0.50 per share a year earlier, and the consolidated medical benefit ratio of 92.7% was better than anticipated. Centene Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised full-year guidance. Centene now expects 2026 adjusted diluted EPS above $5.20, a $0.40 increase, and GAAP diluted EPS above $3.46. Management also said its Medicare business is expected to reach breakeven a year ahead of schedule, supporting the faster earnings-recovery narrative. Centene Forecasts 2026 Adjusted EPS Greater Than $5.20
• Positive Sentiment: Medicare was the key operating bright spot. Medicare revenue reportedly increased 19.9%, and improved cost performance helped offset pressure elsewhere in the business. The results reinforce investor expectations that Centene’s turnaround and cost-control initiatives can lift profitability. Centene Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates on Medicare Strength
• Neutral Sentiment: Heavy put-option buying signals caution but is not proof of worsening fundamentals. Traders purchased 12,127 put options, approximately 72% above typical volume. This may reflect hedging or bearish speculation after the stock’s rally and ahead of earnings. Stock Traders Buy High Volume of Put Options on Centene
• Negative Sentiment: Membership declines remain an overhang. Medicaid membership fell, and Marketplace membership trends require monitoring. These declines could pressure premium growth and partially offset the Medicare turnaround if they persist.

Centene Company Profile

Centene Corporation is a diversified healthcare enterprise that provides government-sponsored and commercial health insurance programs and related healthcare services. The company's offerings are primarily focused on Medicaid, Medicare, and health insurance marketplace plans, with an emphasis on serving individuals and families who may have limited access to traditional healthcare coverage.

Centene operates Medicaid health plans through state-based contracts and offers Medicare Advantage, Medicare prescription drug, and Medicare Supplement products through its Wellcare brand.

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