pretickt

Is CNC a good stock to buy?

Centene Corp. · end-of-day data as of Nov 13, 2026

Centene
CNC · $35.28B
$71.27+1.4%
Nov 13, 2026 · close
$60$70SepOctNov9:3016:003 months +9.3%Nov 13 · close
▲ 6
  • P/E vs sector-24.2%
  • FCF yield+11.2%
  • News
  • Trendbullish
  • MAs4 of 4
  • Sector▲ +15.9%
Neutral
  • Earnings in84d
  • P/E24.4x
  • RSI55
  • Support-3.7%
  • Off 52w high-8.7%
  • Volume0.7x
  • Bollingerupper half
  • ConsensusHold · 21
  • 52w range$32–$78
  • ATR+4.4%
  • Off ATH-27.7%
▼ 4
  • PT$69.72 -2.2%
  • P/E vs own+14.7%
  • Insiders-$6.89M
  • MACD-0.05

Updates with the 15-min delayed price. Not a forecast or investment advice.

Is Centene a good stock to buy?

Centene is strong on 3 of the 5 questions about the business; weak on advantage and economics. The price is high: 24.4 times its earnings, above its 3-year median of 14.5 (Nov 13, 2026). pretickt does not say whether to buy or sell.

  1. Demand growing
  2. Advantage easy to copy
  3. Economics thin margins
  4. Execution delivers
  5. Fragility sturdy
  6. Price expensive
DemandDo people want more of what it sells?growing

CNC sales growth revenue growth

+10%a year, for the last 3 years

Centene's sales grew 10% a year for 3 years, to $195B in fiscal 2025.

CNC analysts' forecast revenue estimates

+3%the sales they expect next fiscal year, on the last

Analysts expect Centene's sales to grow 3% to $200B in fiscal 2026 (12 analysts).

CNC competitors

pretickt analysis+5%its sales in 12 months, on a year before

Centene's sales grew 5% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, faster than Elevance Health (+4%), slower than Humana (+22%), Cigna (+7%) and CVS Health (+7%).

Advantage moatIs it hard to copy?easy to copy

CNC return on capital ROIC

pretickt analysis7%earned before tax on the money invested in it

Centene earned 7% before tax on the capital invested in it in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; Cigna 14%, Elevance Health 11%, CVS Health 10% and Humana 8%.

EconomicsDoes it make good money?thin margins

CNC margin after costs profit margin

1%of sales left after running the business

Centene's operating margin was 1% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, against 1% in fiscal 2022.

CNC cash generated free cash flow

$3.96Bcash left after investing, last 12 months

Centene generated $3.96B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, more than its reported profit.

CNC profit per share

-318%in its last fiscal year

Centene's earnings per share fell 318% in fiscal 2025, to -$13.62.

ExecutionDoes it deliver what it promises?delivers

CNC earnings vs estimates

4 of 4quarters above the analysts' estimate

Centene beat the analysts' profit estimate in all 4 quarters, the latest on Oct 27, 2026; 4 quarters with one-time gains or charges are left out.

CNC insider selling

-$14.63Msold, net, by its executives in 12 months

Centene's executives and directors sold a net $14.63M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.

CNC number of employees

+1%more people in a year

Centene had 61,100 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, 1% more than a year before.

Fragility risksCould something break it?sturdy

CNC financial health Altman Z-score

3.3Altman Z-score, safe above 3

Centene's Altman Z-score is 3.3 (Nov 13, 2026), above 3, where the safe zone starts.

CNC quality checks Piotroski score

9 of 9checks passed

Centene passes all 9 Piotroski checks in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026.

CNC biggest customers

under 10%of sales from any one customer

No customer made 10% of Centene's sales in fiscal 2025.

CNC in past recessions

pretickt analysis+22%its sales in the worst one

Centene's sales grew through each of the last 2 US recessions (2008–09 and 2020).

Price valuationIs the price reasonable?expensive

CNC price vs profit P/E ratio

24.4×a year's earnings

Centene's P/E ratio is 24.4 (Nov 13, 2026), above its 3-year median of 14.5.

CNC price vs competitors

pretickt analysis24.4×a year's earnings, against its competitors

Investors pay 24.4 times Centene's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for Elevance Health (18.3), Cigna (13.1) and CVS Health (10.4), less than for Humana (43.8).

CNC analysts' target price target

-2%to their average target

Analysts' average price target for Centene is $69.72, 2% below the Nov 13, 2026 close of $71.27.

CNC growth priced in fair value

pretickt analysis-4%a year, for ten years, and still worth the price

At $71.27 a share, Centene's free cash flow could shrink about 4% a year for ten years and still be worth the price (Nov 13, 2026).

What is Centene's P/E ratio?

Centene's P/E ratio is 24.4 (Nov 13, 2026), above its 3-year median of 14.5. Investors pay 24.4 times Centene's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for Elevance Health (18.3), Cigna (13.1) and CVS Health (10.4), less than for Humana (43.8).

Who are Centene's biggest competitors?

pretickt compares Centene with Humana, Cigna, Elevance Health and CVS Health. Centene's sales grew 5% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, faster than Elevance Health (+4%), slower than Humana (+22%), Cigna (+7%) and CVS Health (+7%).

Is Centene profitable?

Centene's operating margin was 1% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, against 1% in fiscal 2022. Centene generated $3.96B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, more than its reported profit.

Are insiders selling Centene stock?

Centene's executives and directors sold a net $14.63M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.

How many employees does Centene have?

Centene had 61,100 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, 1% more than a year before.

Who are Centene's biggest customers?

No customer made 10% of Centene's sales in fiscal 2025.

From the companies' statements (FMP), their filings read by pretickt, the analysts and the insiders, as of Nov 13, 2026. Each card says what a fact means for its question, never what to do with the stock: for information only, not investment advice.