LSV Asset Management Purchases 25,900 Shares of Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC)

LSV Asset Management boosted its holdings in shares of Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC - Free Report) by 1.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,231,300 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 25,900 shares during the period. LSV Asset Management owned 0.42% of Centene worth $165,585,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Harris Associates L P acquired a new stake in shares of Centene in the third quarter valued at approximately $274,274,000. Jennison Associates LLC raised its position in shares of Centene by 535.9% during the fourth quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 1,837,980 shares of the company's stock worth $136,396,000 after acquiring an additional 1,548,961 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Centene by 8.7% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 8,788,485 shares of the company's stock valued at $605,351,000 after acquiring an additional 704,684 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System increased its position in Centene by 42.9% in the fourth quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 2,161,362 shares of the company's stock worth $160,395,000 after purchasing an additional 648,620 shares during the period. Finally, Deerfield Management Company L.P. Series C raised its holdings in Centene by 47.5% during the 3rd quarter. Deerfield Management Company L.P. Series C now owns 1,990,000 shares of the company's stock worth $137,071,000 after purchasing an additional 641,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.63% of the company's stock.

Centene Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of Centene stock traded up $0.48 on Friday, hitting $74.81. The company had a trading volume of 4,706,732 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,598,060. Centene Co. has a twelve month low of $60.83 and a twelve month high of $81.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $75.74 and a 200-day moving average of $74.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.87, a P/E/G ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.41.

Centene (NYSE:CNC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, April 26th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $40.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $36.43 billion. Centene had a return on equity of 14.19% and a net margin of 1.76%. The company's revenue was up 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.11 EPS. Research analysts predict that Centene Co. will post 6.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Centene

In other news, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 10,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.41, for a total transaction of $774,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,455 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $886,731.55. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 10,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.41, for a total value of $774,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 11,455 shares in the company, valued at approximately $886,731.55. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, President Kenneth J. Fasola sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.07, for a total value of $900,840.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 235,365 shares of the company's stock, valued at $17,668,850.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently commented on CNC. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $90.00 price target on shares of Centene in a research report on Thursday, April 4th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Centene from $101.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Centene from $81.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday. StockNews.com raised Centene from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, April 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Centene from $89.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, April 15th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Centene has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $85.23.

Centene Company Profile

Centene Corporation operates as a healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to under-insured and uninsured families, commercial organizations, and military families in the United States. The company operates through Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other segments. The Medicaid segment offers health plan coverage, including medicaid expansion, aged, blind, disabled, children's health insurance program, foster care, medicare-medicaid plans, long-term services and support.