Centene (NYSE:CNC) Stock Rating Upgraded by Zacks Research

Posted by Stanley Muller on Jul 31st, 2026

Centene (NYSE:CNC – Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at Zacks Research from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on CNC. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their target price on shares of Centene from $48.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Centene from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $53.00 to $80.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 20th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Centene from $39.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “sell” rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of Centene in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $66.00 price target on shares of Centene in a report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Centene has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $67.00.

Read Our Latest Analysis on CNC

Centene Stock Down 1.6%

Centene stock opened at $60.84 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $63.81 and its 200 day moving average price is $50.19. Centene has a 1-year low of $25.08 and a 1-year high of $69.36. The company has a market cap of $30.05 billion, a PE ratio of -5.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 1.12.

Centene (NYSE:CNC – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported $2.51 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.09 by $1.42. Centene had a positive return on equity of 12.12% and a negative net margin of 2.51%.The company had revenue of $53.58 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $47.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.16) earnings per share. Centene’s quarterly revenue was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Centene has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.800- EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Centene will post 4.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. DV Equities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Centene in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. acquired a new stake in Centene during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Centene by 118.4% in the 4th quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 749 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 406 shares during the period. Bayban acquired a new position in Centene in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, MV Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Centene during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. 93.63% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Centene News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

Positive Sentiment: Centene reported adjusted second-quarter EPS of $2.51, well above the $1.09 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 9.9% year over year to $53.58 billion. Margin recovery, cost discipline and stronger Marketplace performance supported the results. Centene Could Be 3% Undervalued After Strong Q2 Earnings And Higher Outlook
Positive Sentiment: Management raised its 2026 outlook to approximately $4.80 in EPS, citing contained medical costs and continued margin improvement. The guidance increase initially prompted a positive market reaction. Centene Lifts 2026 Outlook as Insurer Contains Medical Costs
Positive Sentiment: Positive momentum and value assessments continue: Zacks included CNC among its Rank #1 Strong Buy momentum stocks, while other coverage described the shares as potentially undervalued following their substantial recovery. Best Momentum Stock to Buy for July 30th
Neutral Sentiment: Robert W. Baird raised its price target from $46 to $66 but maintained a Neutral rating, implying limited upside from the current trading level. Centene also announced plans to redeem $500 million of its 2027 notes, reducing future debt obligations. Centene Announces Partial Redemption of 2027 Notes
Negative Sentiment: The main pressure is concern over declining Medicaid enrollment and the sustainability of the earnings recovery. Investors appear to be treating the improved outlook cautiously because lower membership could weigh on future revenue, while higher medical utilization remains a risk. Oscar Health Flashes Buy Signal As Medicaid Weighs On Centene

Centene Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) is a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that specializes in providing services to government-sponsored and national health programs. The company primarily acts as a managed care organization, delivering healthcare coverage and administering benefits for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare Advantage, and individual marketplace plans. Centene also contracts with federal and state agencies to manage specialty care programs and community-based services for vulnerable populations.

Centene’s offerings extend beyond traditional insurance to include a range of specialty and support services.