Centene (CNC) Stock Forecast & Price Target $59.15 +0.01 (+0.02%) Closing price 05/22/2026 03:59 PM EasternExtended Trading$58.84 -0.31 (-0.52%) As of 05/22/2026 07:39 PM Eastern Extended trading is trading that happens on electronic markets outside of regular trading hours. This is a fair market value extended hours price provided by Massive. Learn more. Add Compare Share Share Analyst Forecasts Stock AnalysisAnalyst ForecastsChartCompetitorsEarningsFinancialsHeadlinesInsider TradesOptions ChainOwnershipSEC FilingsShort InterestTrendsBuy This Stock Centene - Analysts' Recommendations and Stock Price Forecast (2026) How MarketBeat Calculates Price Target and Consensus Rating Consensus Rating HoldBased on 19 Analyst RatingsSell2Hold9Buy8 Based on 19 Wall Street analysts who have issued ratings for Centene in the last 12 months, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold." Out of the 19 analysts, 2 have given a sell rating, 9 have given a hold rating, 7 have given a buy rating, and 1 has given a strong buy rating for CNC. Consensus Price Target $56.94-3.73% Downside According to the 19 analysts' twelve-month price targets for Centene, the average price target is $56.94. The highest price target for CNC is $80.00, while the lowest price target for CNC is $37.00. The average price target represents a forecasted downside of -3.73% from the current price of $59.15. MarketBeat calculates consensus analyst ratings for stocks using the most recent rating from each Wall Street analyst that has rated a stock within the last twelve months. Each analyst's rating is normalized to a standardized rating score of 1 (sell), 2 (hold), 3 (buy) or 4 (strong buy). Analyst consensus ratings scores are calculated using the mean average of the number of normalized sell, hold, buy and strong buy ratings from Wall Street analysts. Each stock's consensus analyst rating is derived from its calculated consensus ratings score (0 to .5 = Strong Sell, .5 to 1 = Sell, 1 to 1.5 = Reduce, 1.5 to 2.5 = Hold, 2.5 to 3.0 = Moderate Buy, 3.0 to 3.5 = Buy, >3.5 = Strong Buy). MarketBeat's consensus price targets are a mean average of the most recent available price targets set by each analyst that has set a price target for the stock in the last twelve months. MarketBeat's consensus ratings and consensus price targets may differ from those calculated by other firms due to differences in methodology and available data. Get the Latest News and Ratings for CNC and Related Stocks Enter your email address to receive the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centene and its competitors. Sign Up View SMS TermsSMS is currently available in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. By entering your phone number and clicking the sign-up button, you agree to receive periodic text messages from MarketBeat at the phone number you submitted, including texts that may be sent using an automatic telephone dialing system. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency will vary. Messages will consist of stock alerts, news stories, and partner advertisements/offers. Consent is not a condition of the purchase of any goods or services. Text HELP for help/customer support. Unsubscribe at any time by replying "STOP" to any text message that you receive from MarketBeat or by visiting our mailing preferences page. Read our full terms of service and privacy policy. CNC Analyst Ratings Over TimeTypeCurrent Forecast5/25/25 to 5/25/261 Month Ago4/25/25 to 4/25/263 Months Ago2/24/25 to 2/24/261 Year Ago5/25/24 to 5/25/25Strong Buy1 Strong Buy rating(s)0 Strong Buy rating(s)0 Strong Buy rating(s)0 Strong Buy rating(s)Buy7 Buy rating(s)3 Buy rating(s)3 Buy rating(s)9 Buy rating(s)Hold9 Hold rating(s)14 Hold rating(s)14 Hold rating(s)6 Hold rating(s)Sell2 Sell rating(s)3 Sell rating(s)3 Sell rating(s)0 Sell rating(s)Consensus Price Target$56.94$42.00$41.88$79.77Forecasted Upside-3.73% Downside0.36% Upside-1.11% Downside41.37% UpsideConsensus RatingHoldHoldHoldModerate Buy CNC Analyst Recommendations By MonthAnalyst Ratings Chart DescriptionThe chart below shows how a company's ratings by analysts have changed over time. Each bar represents the previous year of ratings for that month. Within each bar, the sell ratings are shown in red, the hold ratings are shown in yellow, the buy ratings are shown in green, and the strong buy ratings are shown in dark green.Skip Chart & View Analyst Rating History CNC Price Targets by MonthAverage Share Price and Price Target by Month Chart DescriptionThe chart below shows how a company's share price and consensus price target have changed over time. The dark blue line represents the company's actual price. The lighter blue line represents the stock's consensus price target. The even lighter blue range in the background of the two lines represents the low price target and the high price target for each stock.Skip Chart and View Analyst Price Target HistorySkip Chart & View Price History Table Centene Stock vs. The CompetitionTypeCenteneMedical CompaniesBroader MarketConsensus Rating Score 2.37 2.30 2.52Consensus RatingHoldHoldModerate BuyPredicted Upside-3.73% Downside1,718.96% Upside15.09% UpsideNews Sentiment RatingNeutral NewsSee Recent CNC NewsNeutral NewsPositive News Recent Analyst Forecasts and Stock Ratings All Ratings Strong Buy Buy Hold Sell Rating Show All Upside > 100% Upside 50% - 100% Upside 20% - 50% Upside 10% - 20% Upside 0% - 10% Downside 0% - 10% Downside 10% - 20% Downside 20% - 50% Downside 50% - 100% Downside > 100% Upside/Downside All Actions Upgrades Downgrades Initiates Coverage Raises Target Lowers Target Reiterates Rating Action Custom Range 1 Month 3 Months 6 Months Year-to-Date 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years Time Frame Start Date End Date Most Recent from Each Brokerage All Show Export DateBrokerageAnalystActionRatingPrice TargetReport Date Upside/DownsideDetails5/22/2026 UBS Group4 of 5 starsA.J. RiceNot RatedReiterated RatingNeutral$55.00 ➝ $61.00+5.69%5/21/2026 Bank of America4 of 5 starsKevin FischbeckNot RatedBoost TargetBuy$60.00 ➝ $72.00+23.54%5/20/2026 Mizuho4 of 5 starsAnn Hynes2 of 5 starsSet TargetNeutral$50.00 ➝ $58.00-1.98%5/20/2026 Deutsche Bank AktiengesellschaftSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingGeorge HillSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingUpgradeHold ➝ Buy$53.00 ➝ $80.00+35.20%5/6/2026 Zacks ResearchSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating UpgradeHold ➝ Strong-Buy5/5/2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co.Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingJohn StanselSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingBoost TargetNeutral$41.00 ➝ $52.00-2.97%5/5/2026 Sanford C. BernsteinSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating Boost TargetOutperform$48.00 ➝ $68.00+26.88%5/4/2026 TD CowenSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingRyan LangstonSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingReiterated RatingHold$38.00 ➝ $47.00-12.02%5/1/2026 Wells Fargo & CompanySubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingStephen BaxterSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingBoost TargetEqual Weight$44.00 ➝ $56.00+3.94%4/29/2026 OppenheimerSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingMichael WiederhornSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingReiterated RatingOutperform$45.00 ➝ $58.00+17.35% Get the Latest News and Ratings for CNC and Related StocksEnter your email address below to receive the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centene and its competitors with MarketBeat's FREE daily newsletter. 4/29/2026 The Goldman Sachs GroupSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating Reiterated RatingSell$40.00-19.07%4/29/2026 BarclaysSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingAndrew MokSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingReiterated RatingOverweight$54.00 ➝ $63.00+27.47%4/29/2026 Raymond James FinancialSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingSarah JamesSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingSet Target$60.00+21.40%4/29/2026 Morgan StanleySubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating Boost TargetEqual Weight$45.00 ➝ $50.00-7.31%4/29/2026 Jefferies Financial GroupSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingDavid WindleySubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingBoost TargetHold$39.00 ➝ $48.00-2.88%4/29/2026 Truist FinancialSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingDavid MacDonaldSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingBoost TargetBuy$49.00 ➝ $58.00+17.35%4/28/2026 Cantor FitzgeraldSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingSarah JamesSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingUpgradeNeutral ➝ Overweight$41.00 ➝ $60.00+21.40%4/20/2026 Weiss RatingsSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating Reiterated RatingSell (D)4/15/2026 Robert W. BairdSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating Boost TargetNeutral$36.00 ➝ $37.00-1.54%2/9/2026 ArgusSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating UpgradeHold4/29/2025 GuggenheimSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy ratingJason CassorlaSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the analyst's recommendation accuracy ratingReiterated RatingNeutral12/13/2024 StephensSubscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the firm's recommendation accuracy rating Lower TargetEqual Weight$75.00 ➝ $73.00+22.09%Analyst ratings data on MarketBeat is provided by Benzinga and other data providers. This page was last refreshed on Monday at 01:30 PM ET. Should I Buy Centene Stock? CNC Pros and Cons Explained These pros and cons were generated based on recent news and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate insights. They were last updated on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Please send any questions or comments about these Centene pros and cons to contact@marketbeat.com. Centene Bull Case Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Centene Co.: Recent price target increases from analysts, including a significant boost to $68.00, suggest strong potential upside from the current stock price, which is around $54.44. Centene Co. has received multiple "outperform" and "buy" ratings from various brokerages, indicating positive sentiment and confidence in the company's future performance. The company operates in the healthcare sector, which is generally resilient and continues to grow, especially in government-sponsored programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Analysts have noted a blend of upgrades and cautious optimism, reflecting a balanced view that may attract investors looking for stability in a volatile market. Centene Co. has a market capitalization of approximately $26.88 billion, indicating a strong presence in the healthcare industry, which can be appealing for long-term investors. Centene Bear Case Investors should be bearish about investing in Centene Co. for these reasons: Some analysts have expressed concerns about execution, suggesting that the company needs to improve operational performance to realize its growth potential. There is a lower consensus price target of around $42 from some brokerages, which could limit upside potential if this view gains traction among investors. Despite recent price target increases, the overall sentiment remains mixed, with several analysts maintaining "hold" or "neutral" ratings, indicating caution. Recent volatility in the stock price may deter risk-averse investors, as fluctuations can lead to uncertainty in returns. Centene Co. operates in a highly regulated industry, and changes in government policies or reimbursement rates could negatively impact its profitability. CNC Forecast - Frequently Asked Questions What is Centene's forecast for 2026? According to the research reports of 19 Wall Street equities research analysts, the average twelve-month stock price forecast for Centene is $56.94, with a high forecast of $80.00 and a low forecast of $37.00. Should I buy or sell Centene stock right now? 19 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Centene in the last twelve months. There are currently 2 sell ratings, 9 hold ratings, 7 buy ratings and 1 strong buy rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "hold" CNC shares. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in CNC, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. Does Centene's stock price have much downside? According to analysts, Centene's stock has a predicted downside of -3.73% based on their 12-month stock forecasts. Has Centene been upgraded by Wall Street analysts recently? Over the previous 90 days, Centene's stock had 4 upgrades by analysts. What analysts cover Centene? Centene has been rated by research analysts at Bank of America, Barclays, Cantor Fitzgerald, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Jefferies Financial Group, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Mizuho, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer, Raymond James Financial, Robert W. Baird, Sanford C. Bernstein, TD Cowen, The Goldman Sachs Group, Truist Financial, UBS Group, Weiss Ratings, Wells Fargo & Company, and Zacks Research in the past 90 days. Do Wall Street analysts like Centene more than its competitors? Analysts like Centene more than other "medical" companies. The consensus rating score for Centene is 2.37 while the average consensus rating score for "medical" companies is 2.30. Learn more on how CNC compares to other companies. Stock Forecasts and Research Tools Related Companies ELV Stock Forecast MOH Stock Forecast SEM Stock Forecast CI Stock Forecast HUM Stock Forecast UNH Stock Forecast JYNT Stock Forecast AEMD Stock Forecast VRTX Stock Forecast SNY Stock Forecast Today's Analyst Ratings U.S. Ratings U.K. Ratings Canadian Ratings All Upgrades All Downgrades All Initiations All Price Target Changes Top-Rated Stocks Top Rated Stocks Top-Rated Dividend Stocks Top-Rated Small-Cap Stocks Top-Rated Tech Stocks Most-Upgraded Stocks Most-Downgraded Stocks Lowest-Rated Stocks More Ratings Tools Stock Ratings by Issuer Top-Rated Analysts Top-Rated Brokerages Stock Ratings Screener Free Ratings Newsletter Brokerages With Centene RecommendationsUBS GroupBank of AmericaMizuhoDeutsche Bank AktiengesellschaftZacks ResearchJPMorgan Chase & Co.Sanford C. BernsteinTD CowenWall Street ZenWells Fargo & CompanyTruist FinancialMorgan StanleyBarclaysJefferies Financial GroupThe Goldman Sachs Group This page (NYSE:CNC) was last updated on 5/25/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff. From Our PartnersSpaceX eyes a 1.75 trillion valuation - here's what to knowElon Musk's team has quietly filed confidential paperwork with the SEC for what Bloomberg estimates could be a...Brownstone Research | Sponsored$30 stock to buy before Starlink goes public (WATCH NOW!)In the next 3 minutes… James Altucher – legendary investor and venture capitalist… And someone who’s kno...Paradigm Press | SponsoredYour book attachedBill Poulos is giving away his 'Safe Trade Options Formula' book for free - but only for a limited time throug...Profits Run | SponsoredMy feud with Zohran MamdaniEmmy-winning analyst releases his next big story Whitney Tilson shocked the nation on 60 Minutes when he ac...Stansberry Research | SponsoredSpaceX IPO hides a much bigger storyThe SpaceX IPO could be the biggest in history at $1.75 trillion - but the real story isn't the IPO itself. ...Weiss Ratings | SponsoredRead now. Do not delete. You’ve been warned.Three Nobel Prize Winners expose this once-in-a-generation wealth shift: “Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You” P...Porter & Company | SponsoredSatellite Images Spot Potential $10 Trillion Discovery'Dark Energy': Elon Musk's Next Potential $10 Trillion Move A highly secure site in West Texas now houses a...Altimetry | SponsoredSpaceX will mint billionaires. You won't be one of them.By the time a company goes public, 95% of profits have already been made. Insiders bought SpaceX at $20 billio...Behind the Markets | Sponsored Adding Choose a watchlist: Watchlist Adding You have already added ten stocks to your watchlist. Upgrade to MarketBeat All Access to add more stocks to your watchlist. Adding Centene Corporation Please log in to your account or sign up in order to add this asset to your watchlist. Share Centene With A Colleague Link copied to clipboard. Get 30 Days of MarketBeat All Access for Free Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools. Start Your 30-Day Trial MarketBeat All Access Features Best-in-Class Portfolio Monitoring Get personalized stock ideas. Compare portfolio to indices. Check stock news, ratings, SEC filings, and more. Stock Ideas and Recommendations See daily stock ideas from top analysts. Receive short-term trading ideas from MarketBeat. Identify trending stocks on social media. Advanced Stock Screeners and Research Tools Use our seven stock screeners to find suitable stocks. Stay informed with MarketBeat's real-time news. Export data to Excel for personal analysis. Sign in to your free account to enjoy these benefits In-depth profiles and analysis for 20,000 public companies. Real-time analyst ratings, insider transactions, earnings data, and more. Our daily ratings and market update email newsletter. Sign in to your free account to enjoy all that MarketBeat has to offer. Sign In Create Account Your Email Address: Email Address Required Your Password: Password Required Log In Email Me a Login Link or Sign in with Facebook Sign in with Google Forgot your password? Your Email Address: Please enter your email address. Please enter a valid email address Choose a Password: Please enter your password. Your password must be at least 8 characters long and contain at least 1 number, 1 letter, and 1 special character. Create My Account (Free) or Sign in with Facebook Sign in with Google By creating a free account, you agree to our terms of service. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
