Ashton Thomas Securities LLC Buys 39,633 Shares of Centene Corporation $CNC

Key Points

• Ashton Thomas Securities LLC raised its stake in Centene by 267.4%, buying 39,633 shares to own 54,455 shares worth about $2.246 million at the end of the quarter.
• Centene beat Q1 expectations (EPS $3.37 vs. $2.23; revenue $49.94B, up 7.1% y/y), prompting several price-target increases and mixed analyst reactions that leave a consensus "Hold" with a $52.12 target.
• The stock has a market cap of $26.36B, a negative P/E (-4.06) and a 52‑week range of $25.08–$64.15, with institutional investors owning 93.63% of the shares.

Ashton Thomas Securities LLC raised its stake in Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC - Free Report) by 267.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 54,455 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 39,633 shares during the quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC's holdings in Centene were worth $2,246,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in CNC. Addison Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Centene by 455.6% during the 3rd quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 739 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 606 shares in the last quarter. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Centene during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. WPG Advisers LLC boosted its position in shares of Centene by 44.5% during the 3rd quarter. WPG Advisers LLC now owns 915 shares of the company's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 282 shares in the last quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Centene by 11,011.1% during the 3rd quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 991 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriflex Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Centene by 152.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 1,010 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 610 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.63% of the company's stock.

Centene Price Performance

CNC stock opened at $53.37 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $38.91 and a 200-day moving average price of $39.45. The company has a market capitalization of $26.36 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.06, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 1.06. Centene Corporation has a 52-week low of $25.08 and a 52-week high of $64.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.12.

Centene (NYSE:CNC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The company reported $3.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.23 by $1.14. Centene had a negative net margin of 3.25% and a positive return on equity of 5.57%. The business had revenue of $49.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $47.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.90 earnings per share. Centene's quarterly revenue was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Centene Corporation will post 3.46 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on CNC shares. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of Centene from $39.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Centene from $41.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Centene from $42.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Centene from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $41.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "sell" rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of Centene in a research note on Wednesday. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $52.12.

More Centene News

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat expectations: Centene reported stronger-than-expected EPS and raised its outlook, which supports margin improvement narratives that helped multiple brokers upgrade or re-assess the name. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Wall Street bullish notes: Truist reiterated a Buy rating and Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded the stock, signaling investor confidence from some major brokers. Read More. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Longer-term recovery thesis boosted: A Seeking Alpha piece highlights promising 2027 turnaround prospects and potential momentum reversal—supportive for investors focused on multi‑year recovery. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target to $56 while keeping an Equal Weight view, indicating some upside in the broker community even as conviction is measured. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Broker PTs raised but ratings cautious: Deutsche Bank, Mizuho and Morgan Stanley all lifted targets (to $53, $50 and $50 respectively) but maintained Hold/Neutral/Equal Weight stances — a modest vote of confidence that stops short of strong endorsement. Read More. Read More. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts’ opinions remain mixed overall — coverage notes a blend of upgrades and cautious takes, keeping sentiment balanced rather than uniformly positive. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Lower consensus price target: A brokerage consensus report shows a $42 average target — well below current levels — which could cap upside if that view gains traction. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Execution concerns flagged: A Seeking Alpha commentary warns that further upside will require better operational execution, a caution investors may lean on after recent volatility. Read More.

About Centene

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.

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