Stock·NYSE·Healthcare
Centene Corp. (CNC)
- Market cap
- $34.16B
- Dividend yield
- 0.00%
- Street target
- $70.50median of 21 analysts
- 52-week range
- $31.63 $71.21
The short version
Where CNC stands today, in four lines, and what CleaRank Financial AI makes of it.
CNC at a glance
Centene Corp. (CNC): Buy, 65/100 on CleaRank's AI score.
- Trend Up: the price is above both its 50- and 200-day moving averages ($65.39 and $54.15).
- Earnings CNC beat estimates in 4 of its last 5 quarters, yet fell the next day after 3 of those beats.
- Insiders Insiders sold $14.6M and bought $739K over the last 18 months.
Figures as of October 17, 2026.
CleaRank Financial AI
CleaRank rates Centene Corp. (CNC) Buy with a model score of 65/100.
The biggest boost comes from trend, with the price 27.73% above its 200-day average and 5.76% above its 50-day average, and the 50-day average 20.77% above the 200-day. Profitability pulls the score down the most, as the net margin of -2.83% and return on equity of -20.36% (below the sector median) show. The 50-day average is $65.39 and the 200-day is $54.15, and over the past year the price rose 94.05%.
Only on CleaRank
Figures we compute ourselves from CNC's own price, earnings and insider-filing history. Tap one to see it in context.
Price and trading
The chart, today's range and how far the price has moved over each period.
Trend checks
4/4Price above its 50-day average ›
The price of $69.16 is 5.8% above the 50-day simple moving average of $65.39.Price above its 200-day average ›
The price is 27.7% above the 200-day simple moving average of $54.15.50-day average above the 200-day ›
The 50-day average ($65.39) is 20.8% above the 200-day average ($54.15), the arrangement of a rising longer-term trend.In the upper half of its 52-week range ›
The price sits at 95% of its 52-week range, between $31.63 and $71.21.
CNC share price
Pick a period: each tab shows how far CNC has moved over it, to the last close.
Today's trading
Where CNC sits inside today's range and its 52-week range.
Fundamentals
Valuation against the sector, and the revenue and earnings behind it.
Valuation and quality checks
2/3P/S below the sector median ›
The price-to-sales ratio of 0.19 is 94.3% below the sector median of 3.4.Profitable over the last 12 months ›
Net income over the last 12 months was $-5.1B on revenue of $180.3B, a net margin of -2.8%.Beat estimates in most recent reports ›
CNC beat the EPS estimate in 4 of its last 5 reports.
Key statistics
The headline figures for CNC.
As of October 17, 2026, CNC trades at $69.16, with a market value of $34.16B and no P/E ratio (its trailing earnings are negative).
What the numbers say
CleaRank Financial AI's reading of CNC's valuation, growth and risks.
CNC does not have a readable P/E, since that figure is not meaningful, because the company lost money over the last 12 months. Against the sector, its price-to-sales ratio of 0.19 is 94.4% below the sector median of 3.4. The company's market capitalisation stands at $34.2B, and its trailing earnings are -$10.64 a share.
CNC is currently unprofitable: its net margin stands at -2.83% and its operating margin at 3.76%. Revenue grew 4.60% in the latest year, a pace that lags the sector median of 8.1%. Return on equity is -20.36%, below the sector median of 7.3%. Debt-to-equity comes in at 0.71.
In the most recent available report in our data, dated October 29, 2025, CNC beat the estimate by 412.50%, earning $0.5 a share where a -$0.16 estimate was expected. Shares moved the opposite way, falling 6.21% in the following session.
CNC has beaten the EPS estimate in 4 of its last 5 reports, yet the share price fell the next session after 3 of those 4 beats. Back in the July 25, 2025 report, the company missed by 176.19%, and the stock dropped 5.39% in the following session. Analysts expect EPS of $4.88 this fiscal year and $5.35 next, with the current-year figure implying growth of 134.8%.
Normal swings for CNC run at about 2.03% a day.
CNC against the Healthcare sector
How CNC compares with the median Healthcare stock CleaRank tracks.
Price to sales vs sector: On price-to-sales, the yardstick used here in place of P/E, CNC trades at 0.1932x, far below the sector average of 3.40x.
Return vs XLV: Since May 6, 2025, CNC has gained 15.9% against a gain of 31.6% for XLV.
Performance against XLV
CNC and the Healthcare sector fund over the same days.
Revenue and earnings
How much CNC sells, and how much of it becomes profit.
Revenue growth: Revenue grew 19.4% in FY2025 to $195B, from $163B a year earlier.
Profit margin: The net margin was -3.4% in FY2025, down from 2.0% the year before.
Loss-making: CNC lost $6.7B in FY2025.
Earnings reality check
Did CNC beat what analysts expected, and how did the stock react?
Earnings record: CNC beat the analyst estimate in 4 of the last 5 quarters.
Market reaction: The stock fell in the first session after 3 of those 4 beats, so a beat has not been enough on its own.
| Report | Estimate | Actual | Surprise | First session | 5 sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2025after close | -$0.16 | $0.50 | +412.50% | -6.21% | -1.34% |
| Jul 25, 2025after close | $0.21 | -$0.16 | -176.19% | -5.39% | -8.74% |
| Apr 25, 2025after close | $2.52 | $2.90 | +15.08% | +3.09% | +4.28% |
| Feb 4, 2025after close | $0.49 | $0.80 | +63.27% | -0.91% | -6.36% |
| Oct 25, 2024after close | $1.41 | $1.62 | +14.89% | -4.00% | -1.09% |
Reports after October 29, 2025 are not yet in our data.
As of October 17, 2026, CNC has beaten the analyst EPS estimate in 4 of its last 5 reported quarters and fell in the first trading session after 3 of those beats; its most recent report in our data, on October 29, 2025, came in 412.50% above the estimate and the stock moved -6.21% in the first session.
The first session is the first full trading day on the news: the report day itself for a report before the open, the next day for one after the close. Surprise is actual EPS against the consensus estimate.
AI analysis and technicals
CleaRank's score and reasoning, the indicators behind it, and what the price moves with.
Momentum checks
3/3RSI not overbought or oversold ›
The 14-day RSI is 62.5, showing bullish momentum without being overbought.RSI above 50 ›
An RSI of 62.5 is above the 50 midpoint, so buyers have had the upper hand over the last 14 days.MACD line above zero ›
The MACD line is positive, so the 12-day average is above the 26-day average.
CleaRank AI analysis of CNC
The score, the reasoning behind it, and what could move the price next.
Centene Corp. (CNC) is in an upward trend, trading at $69.16. The stock is 5.76% above its 50-day average of $65.39 and 27.73% above its 200-day average of $54.15. It also sits close to the top of its 52-week range: the price is 2.88% below the high of $71.21 and 118.65% above the low of $31.63.
The 14-day RSI of 62.5 is in the bullish zone, below the overbought line, and the MACD line is positive. The record is positive across every period shown: the price rose 4.09% over the past three months, rose 81.19% over the past six months and rose 94.05% over the past year.
Analyst upgrade ›
Argus Research upgraded it to Buy from Hold on August 11, 2026.
Source: Analyst action, Argus Research, August 11, 2026
Earnings beat ›
The October 29, 2025 report beat the EPS estimate by 412.50%, and the share price fell 6.21% in the first session after it.
Source: Earnings report, October 29, 2025
- The two closest levels to watch are the 52-week high of $71.21, above the price, and the 20-day EMA of $66.16, below it.
- CNC's 14-day RSI is 62.5, within the bullish zone, and the MACD line is positive. Readings above 70 or below 30 signal stretched momentum.
- Following the October 29, 2025 report, the share price declined 6.21% in the first session. Over the last 5 reports, CNC beat estimates in 4 of them.
The uptrend rests on CNC staying above its 50-day average at $65.39 and its 200-day average at $54.15; a close below the 50-day would be the first crack in it. On a pullback, the first level the price would meet is the 20-day EMA at $66.16.
CNC's next resistance is the 52-week high of $71.21. With the RSI in the bullish zone, momentum is still supporting the advance.
Technical indicators
Momentum and trend for CNC, from its daily closes.
As of October 17, 2026, with CNC at $69.16, its 14-day RSI is 62.5 (showing bullish momentum without being overbought), its 50-day simple moving average is $65.39 and its 200-day is $54.15.
Calculated by CleaRank on daily closes as of October 17, 2026: Wilder's 14-day RSI, 50- and 200-day simple moving averages, MACD line (12, 26).
What CNC moves with
Correlation of daily returns over one year: +1 moves in step, 0 has no link, -1 moves the opposite way.
As of October 17, 2026, CNC's 1-year correlation of daily returns is +0.05 with S&P 500 (SPY), +0.01 with Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), -0.02 with Bitcoin (BTC) and -0.03 with gold (XAU).
What Wall Street expects
The analysts' target range and how their ratings split.
Analysts checks
1/3Most analysts rate it a buy ›
8 of 21 analysts rate it a buy or strong buy, 12 a hold and 1 a sell.Median target above the price ›
The median 12-month target of $70.50 is 1.9% above the price.More buy ratings than three months ago ›
8 of 21 rate it a buy now, against 8 of 21 three months ago.
CNC Wall Street View
12-month price targets
Ratings
Recent rating actions
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2026 | Argus Research | Upgrade | Buy |
| Aug 4, 2026 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral |
| Aug 3, 2026 | Bernstein | Maintains | Outperform |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Overweight |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Baird | Maintains | Neutral |
| Jul 14, 2026 | TD Cowen | Maintains | Hold |
As of October 17, 2026, 21 Wall Street analysts cover CNC: 8 rate it a buy or strong buy, 12 a hold and 1 a sell or strong sell. Their 12-month price targets range from $56.00 to $85.00, with a median of $70.50, 1.9% above the price of $69.16.
Source: TwelveData analyst consensus. Targets and ratings belong to the analysts, not to CleaRank.
A trade plan, if you want one
Entry, stop and target levels from the moving averages and recent volatility. Educational, not advice.
CNC trade plan
Entry, stop and target levels, sized to your account. Change the bias or the risk and every level updates.
Long entry pick an entry style
Risk management
Profit targets (Based on Conservative Entry)
These levels come from CNC's moving averages and recent volatility, not from a forecast. Educational levels, not financial advice; the full disclaimer is at the foot of the page.
Risk profile
How much CNC tends to move, against the market and on its own.
The long record
CNC's worst falls and recoveries, what $10,000 became, and which months have been kind to it.
Track record checks
0/4Average daily move under 2% ›
The price has moved 2.03% on an average day (30-day standard deviation of daily returns).Recovered from its worst fall ›
The worst fall was 74.0%, from August 2022 to August 2025; the price is still 28.6% below that peak.Most 1-year holds ended higher ›
57% of 1-year holding periods in the last 10 years ended with a gain.Beat the S&P 500 since the chart begins ›
$10,000 invested in October 2016 is now worth $23,158, against $42,055 in the S&P 500 (SPY).
CNC Drawdowns & Recovery
As of October 17, 2026, CNC's worst peak-to-trough fall over the last 10 years with dividends reinvested was -74.0% (August 2022 to August 2025); it is still 28.6% below that peak, and 57% of 1-year holding periods ended with a gain.
From weekly closing values with dividends reinvested. A drawdown is the fall from the highest value reached so far to a later low.
Growth of $10,000
What $10,000 put into CNC in October 2016 is worth now, against the same amount in the S&P 500.
Against the market: CNC trailed the S&P 500 over this period: $23,158 against $42,055.
A $10,000 investment in CNC in October 2016 would be worth about $23,158 today with dividends reinvested, compared with about $42,055 for the same investment in the S&P 500 benchmark (also with dividends reinvested).
Seasonal patterns
Which calendar months have been kind to CNC, and which have not.
Strongest month, April: an average of +9.02%, up in 6 of 10 years.
Weakest month, March: an average of -3.38%, up in 4 of 10 years.
This month, October: has averaged +1.09%, up in 4 of 9 years. Past seasonality does not repeat on schedule.
Over the last 10 years, CNC's strongest calendar month has been April (average +9.02%, up in 6 of 10 years) and its weakest March (average -3.38%, up in 4 of 10 years).
Average return for each calendar month over the last 10 years, from weekly closing prices with dividends included.
Long-term scenarios
Thousands of simulated paths from the price history. A range of outcomes, not a forecast.
Monte Carlo projection
Thousands of simulated paths for $10,000 in CNC, from its own past volatility. The shaded area holds 80% of them.
CleaRank's 10-year Monte Carlo simulation projects that a $10,000 investment in CNC today could grow to about $20,223 by 2036 in the base case, with a 90th-percentile outcome near $102,807 and a 10th-percentile outcome around $3,978. Projections are statistical simulations, not guarantees.
CNC Stock Price Prediction: 2030
The same simulation in share prices, year by year.
CleaRank's simulation projects a price near $91.66 for CNC by 2030 in the base case, from $69.16 today (1.3x over 4 years). The 10th-percentile path ends near $32.78. These are outcomes of a Monte Carlo simulation run on CNC's historical return distribution, not price targets, and they assume no dividends are reinvested.
| Year | 10th percentile | Base case | 90th percentile | range base today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | $44.37 | $74.21 | $124 | |
| 2028 | $38.48 | $79.62 | $165 | |
| 2029 | $35.06 | $85.43 | $208 | |
| 2030 | $32.78 | $91.66 | $256 | |
| 2031 | $31.15 | $98.35 | $311 |
Method: a lognormal simulation of CNC's own volatility and capped historical trend, re-run daily; base case is the median path, the outer columns the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Insider trading
What the people running the company have bought and sold.
CNC insider trading
Shares the company's directors and officers bought and sold, from their own filings.
Month by month
Open-market purchases above the line, sales below.
Insider buying: Insiders bought $739K on the open market and sold $14.6M.
As of October 17, 2026, CNC insiders reported 4 open-market sales worth $14.6M and 2 open-market purchases worth $739K over the last 18 months; grants and option exercises are not counted.
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2026 | Christopher J Coughlin
Director
|
Grant | 583 | - |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Frederick H Eppinger
Director
|
Grant | 864 | - |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Theodore R Samuels II
Director
|
Grant | 583 | - |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Kenneth Y. Tanji
Director
|
Grant | 603 | - |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Lauren M. Tyler
Director
|
Grant | 482 | - |
| Aug 26, 2026 | Christopher A. Koster
General Counsel
|
Sell | 56.5K | $3.8M |
| Aug 18, 2026 | Christopher A. Koster
General Counsel
|
Sell | 47.6K | $3.1M |
| Jul 28, 2026 | Paul J Diaz
Director
|
Grant | 2.8K | - |
| Jul 17, 2026 | Lauren M. Tyler
Director
|
Grant | 3.2K | - |
| Jun 30, 2026 | Christopher J Coughlin
Director
|
Grant | 562 | - |
| Jun 30, 2026 | Frederick H Eppinger
Director
|
Grant | 833 | - |
| Jun 30, 2026 | Theodore R Samuels II
Director
|
Grant | 465 | - |
| Jun 30, 2026 | Kenneth Y. Tanji
Director
|
Grant | 581 | - |
| Jun 30, 2026 | Lauren M. Tyler
Director
|
Grant | 61 | - |
| Jun 10, 2026 | Kenneth A Burdick
Director
|
Sell | 80.0K | $5.2M |
| May 12, 2026 | Jessica L Blume
Director
|
Grant | 4.0K | - |
| May 12, 2026 | Kenneth A Burdick
Director
|
Grant | 4.0K | - |
| May 12, 2026 | Christopher J Coughlin
Director
|
Grant | 4.0K | - |
| May 12, 2026 | Hiram James Dallas
Director
|
Grant | 4.0K | - |
| May 12, 2026 | Frederick H Eppinger
Director
|
Grant | 6.7K | - |
| May 12, 2026 | Monte E. Ford
Director
|
Grant | 4.0K | - |
| May 12, 2026 | Theodore R Samuels II
Director
|
Grant | 4.0K | - |
| May 12, 2026 | Kenneth Y. Tanji
Director
|
Grant | 4.0K | - |
| Mar 31, 2026 | Christopher J Coughlin
Director
|
Grant | 1.1K | - |
| Mar 31, 2026 | Frederick H Eppinger
Director
|
Grant | 1.7K | - |
| Mar 31, 2026 | Theodore R Samuels II
Director
|
Grant | 943 | - |
| Mar 31, 2026 | Kenneth Y. Tanji
Director
|
Grant | 1.2K | - |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Andrew Lynn Asher
Chief Financial Officer
|
Grant | 173.6K | - |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Katie Casso
Officer
|
Grant | 26.0K | - |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Christopher A. Koster
General Counsel
|
Grant | 126.9K | - |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Sarah M. London
Chief Executive Officer
|
Grant | 520.7K | - |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Tanya M Mcnally
Officer
|
Grant | 74.3K | - |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Susan Raye Smith
Chief Operating Officer
|
Grant | 112.8K | - |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Kenneth A Burdick
Director
|
Grant | 729 | - |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Christopher J Coughlin
Director
|
Grant | 729 | - |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Frederick H Eppinger
Director
|
Grant | 608 | - |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Theodore R Samuels II
Director
|
Grant | 608 | - |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Kenneth Y. Tanji
Director
|
Grant | 790 | - |
| Dec 4, 2025 | Kenneth A Burdick
Director
|
Sell | 66.0K | $2.6M |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Kenneth A Burdick
Director
|
Grant | 852 | - |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Christopher J Coughlin
Director
|
Grant | 852 | - |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Frederick H Eppinger
Director
|
Grant | 710 | - |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Theodore R Samuels II
Director
|
Grant | 710 | - |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Kenneth Y. Tanji
Director
|
Grant | 803 | - |
| Aug 8, 2025 | Sarah M. London
Chief Executive Officer
|
Buy | 19.2K | $490.4K |
| Jul 28, 2025 | Theodore R Samuels II
Director
|
Buy | 9.0K | $248.6K |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Kenneth A Burdick
Director
|
Grant | 556 | - |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Christopher J Coughlin
Director
|
Grant | 556 | - |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Wayne S Deveydt
Director
|
Grant | 602 | - |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Frederick H Eppinger
Director
|
Grant | 463 | - |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Theodore R Samuels II
Director
|
Grant | 463 | - |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Kenneth Y. Tanji
Director
|
Grant | 463 | - |
| May 13, 2025 | Jessica L Blume
Director
|
Grant | 3.6K | - |
| May 13, 2025 | Kenneth A Burdick
Director
|
Grant | 3.6K | - |
| May 13, 2025 | Christopher J Coughlin
Director
|
Grant | 3.6K | - |
| May 13, 2025 | Hiram James Dallas
Director
|
Grant | 3.6K | - |
| May 13, 2025 | Wayne S Deveydt
Director
|
Grant | 3.6K | - |
| May 13, 2025 | Frederick H Eppinger
Director
|
Grant | 6.0K | - |
| May 13, 2025 | Monte E. Ford
Director
|
Grant | 3.6K | - |
| May 13, 2025 | Thomas R Greco
Director
|
Grant | 3.6K | - |
| May 13, 2025 | Theodore R Samuels II
Director
|
Grant | 3.6K | - |
| May 13, 2025 | Kenneth Y. Tanji
Director
|
Grant | 3.6K | - |
Source: TwelveData, from SEC Form 4 filings
Questions people ask
Answered from the figures on this page, as of October 17, 2026.