Centene (NYSE:CNC) Issues FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Key Points

• Centene issued FY 2026 EPS guidance of $4.80, slightly below the analyst consensus estimate of $4.89; no revenue guidance was provided.
• The company’s latest quarter significantly exceeded expectations, with EPS of $2.51 versus $1.09 expected and revenue of $53.58 billion, up 9.9% year over year.
• Shares opened down 2.7% at $67.56, while analysts maintained a consensus “Hold” rating and a $70.05 target price; Centene’s general counsel also sold 56,500 shares.

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Argus raised shares of Centene from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $80.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Raymond James Financial set a $75.00 target price on Centene in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. UBS Group set a $79.00 price target on Centene in a research report on Tuesday, August 18th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Centene from $46.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $70.05.

Centene Trading Down 2.7%

Shares of Centene stock opened at $67.56 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.38 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.47, a P/E/G ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 1.10. Centene has a 52-week low of $31.63 and a 52-week high of $69.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $65.55 and its 200 day simple moving average is $55.44.

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

Insider Transactions at Centene

In other Centene news, General Counsel Christopher Koster sold 56,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.90, for a total transaction of $3,779,850.00. Following the sale, the general counsel owned 248,854 shares in the company, valued at $16,648,332.60. This represents a 18.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.37% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Centene

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Momentum and analyst interest: Centene was identified as one of four stocks trading near 52-week highs with potential for further gains. The company’s recent price strength and favorable outlook could continue to support investor demand. 4 Stocks Trading Near 52-Week High With More Upside Potential
• Positive Sentiment: Attractive valuation: CNC was included among low price-to-book stocks viewed as offering a combination of value and growth potential. Separate coverage also described Centene as an undervalued healthcare stock, which may appeal to value-oriented investors. 5 Low P/B Stocks That Offer Attractive Value and Growth Undervalued Healthcare Stocks With Attractive Valuation Grades
• Positive Sentiment: Favorable ratings and guidance: Zacks highlighted Centene’s strong 2026 guidance, positive estimate revisions and attractive valuation, while also listing CNC as a Rank #1 Strong Buy growth stock. Fresh analyst price targets and the 52-week-high breakout reinforce the bullish narrative. 2 Non-AI Giants to Buy on Solid Guidance and Lucrative Valuation Best Growth Stocks to Buy for September 14th
• Neutral Sentiment: Defensive positioning: CNC was recommended as a defensive healthcare holding amid inflation, oil-price volatility, weak consumer sentiment and expectations for possible additional rate hikes. This could support relative demand for the stock, but it does not represent a new fundamental catalyst. 4 Defensive Stocks to Take Refuge In as Consumer Sentiment Plummets
• Negative Sentiment: Near-term risk: After the rally to a 52-week high, investors may take profits or question how much upside remains. The articles provide supportive commentary but limited new operating data, leaving the stock vulnerable to valuation concerns or a broader market pullback. Centene Corporation Hit a 52 Week High, Can the Run Continue?

About Centene

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.

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