Centene Corporation (CNC)
Centene is a major American healthcare company that specialises in providing government-sponsored insurance programmes for lower-income individuals and families.
Is Centene Corporation a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Centene is a major American healthcare company that specialises in providing government-sponsored insurance programmes for lower-income individuals and families.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only; any dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Expansion into new states and broader healthcare services.
Major legislative overhaul of the US healthcare system.
What does Centene Corporation do?
Centene acts as a middleman between the government and patients, managing health insurance plans for those on Medicaid and Medicare. Its profits come from collecting premiums from the government and paying out the costs of medical care for their members. A lot rides on how well they manage these medical costs, since even small changes in what they pay out for treatments can have a big impact on overall profit.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on value and momentum, and weakest on income.
- !Pays no dividend - the whole return rides on the share price
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 5% over the year
- Value screens high (83/100)
- Momentum screens high (79/100)
- Strong position in the government-sponsored insurance market
- Consistent revenue growth over time
- Essential service nature provides a level of stability
- Quality screens low (18/100)
- Growth screens low (28/100)
- Income screens low (16/100)
- Heavy reliance on government funding and policy decisions
- Rising medical costs can quickly erode profitability
What do Centene Corporation's numbers mean?
How much money does Centene Corporation make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Centene Corporation pay a dividend?
No - Centene Corporation doesn't currently pay a dividend, so the whole return would rest on the share price. Plenty of growing companies reinvest their profits instead of paying them out - neither approach is better or worse, they're just different.
When does Centene Corporation report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Centene Corporation is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-27 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-28 | $1.08 | $2.51 | Beat +133% |
| 2026-04-28 | $2.13 | $3.37 | Beat +58% |
| 2026-02-06 | $-1.22 | $-1.19 | Beat +2% |
| 2025-10-29 | $-0.16 | $0.50 | Beat +404% |
| 2025-07-25 | $0.21 | $-0.16 | Missed -177% |
| 2025-04-25 | $2.52 | $2.90 | Beat +15% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Centene Corporation came in ahead of what analysts expected 5 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.What are the scenarios for Centene Corporation?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Centene Corporation?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong position in the government-sponsored insurance market
- Consistent revenue growth over time
- Essential service nature provides a level of stability
- Very thin profit margins make the business sensitive to cost spikes
- Currently reporting negative returns on equity
- No dividend payments for income-focused investors
- Heavy reliance on government funding and policy decisions
- Rising medical costs can quickly erode profitability
- Intense competition from other large insurance providers
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A major change in US healthcare law that removes the need for private insurers
- A sustained period of profitability that turns the negative net margin positive
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.