Centene (NYSE:CNC) Price Target Raised to $66.00 at Robert W. Baird

Centene (NYSE:CNC) had its price target raised by stock analysts at Robert W. Baird from $46.00 to $66.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “neutral” rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird’s price target indicates a potential upside of 2.92% from the company’s current price.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Zacks Research cut Centene from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, June 29th. TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating and issued a $65.00 price objective (up from $47.00) on shares of Centene in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Centene from $72.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, June 4th. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on Centene from $58.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price target on Centene from $48.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $66.50.

Centene Price Performance

CNC stock opened at $64.13 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $31.67 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.07. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $63.67 and its 200 day moving average is $49.98. Centene has a 52 week low of $25.08 and a 52 week high of $69.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.12.

Centene (NYSE:CNC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.09 by $1.42. Centene had a negative net margin of 3.25% and a positive return on equity of 5.57%. The business had revenue of $53.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $47.64 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.16) earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. Centene has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.800- EPS. Research analysts predict that Centene will post 3.44 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Centene

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Baird Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Centene in the 1st quarter worth about $236,000. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Centene by 80.0% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 9,710 shares of the company’s stock worth $527,000 after purchasing an additional 4,315 shares in the last quarter. CW Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Centene by 20.3% in the 2nd quarter. CW Advisors LLC now owns 4,863 shares of the company’s stock worth $264,000 after buying an additional 820 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Centene by 6.1% during the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 44,945 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,440,000 after acquiring an additional 2,582 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its position in Centene by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 231,938 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,590,000 after purchasing an additional 967 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.63% of the company’s stock.

Centene News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 results significantly exceeded expectations. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.51, versus the roughly $1.09 consensus estimate, while revenue reached $53.58 billion, up 9.9% year over year and above the $47.64 billion consensus. GAAP diluted EPS was $2.19, compared with a year-ago loss of $0.16. Centene Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Centene raised its full-year guidance. The company now expects 2026 adjusted EPS above $4.80, up from its prior outlook, and revenue of $193.5 billion to $197.5 billion. The guidance increase gives investors greater confidence that the earnings recovery can continue. Centene Raises Annual Profit Forecast on Better Cost Control
• Positive Sentiment: Medical cost trends improved substantially. The health benefits ratio fell to 89.6% from 93.0% a year earlier. Commercial HBR was 79.2%, while Medicare HBR was 89.5%, indicating better profitability in key segments. Centene Spikes on Strong Q2 Beat and Guidance Hike
• Neutral Sentiment: Director Kenneth Burdick retired from Centene’s board, and Paul J. was appointed as a successor. The change is not accompanied by an operational impact in the reported materials. Centene Announces Board of Directors Changes
• Negative Sentiment: Membership, particularly in Medicaid, softened. Total at-risk membership was 25.885 million at June 30, and analysts highlighted Medicaid enrollment pressure. Lower membership could weigh on future premium growth even as pricing and cost management support near-term earnings. Centene Swings to More Than $1 Billion in Profit in Q2

Centene Company Profile

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.