CNCHealthcare · Healthcare PlansThe 21 Wall Street analysts covering Centene Corp. hold a median 12-month price target of $71 — +3.6% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 94 of 100 as at 2 Sept 2026 — among the strongest tenth. Here, the model and the Street point the same way.
Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores Centene Corp. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.
Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested
Revisions (95): Analysts have, on balance, been raising their forecasts.
Quality (33): Profits are thin or unreliable for the size of the business, or they are not turning into cash.
Size (7): Larger than most of the companies we track — more scrutinised, less often mispriced.
Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs quant trader with fourteen years in markets.
The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on CNC, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +3.6% from it.
Of the 20 most recent actions, 9 moved their price target up and 0 moved it down.
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug 2026 | Argus Research | Upgrade | Buy | $80 |
| 4 Aug 2026 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | $60 → $67 |
| 3 Aug 2026 | Bernstein | Maintains | Outperform | $68 → $79 |
| 3 Aug 2026 | Bernstein | Maintains | Outperform | — |
| 29 July 2026 | Baird | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 29 July 2026 | Baird | Maintains | Neutral | $46 → $66 |
| 29 July 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Overweight | — |
| 29 July 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Overweight | $75 → $80 |
| 14 July 2026 | TD Cowen | Maintains | Hold | — |
| 14 July 2026 | TD Cowen | Maintains | Hold | $47 → $65 |
| 14 July 2026 | Truist Securities | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 14 July 2026 | Truist Securities | Maintains | Buy | $71 → $78 |
| 13 July 2026 | Wells Fargo | Maintains | Equal-Weight | $56 → $69 |
| 13 July 2026 | Wells Fargo | Maintains | Equal-Weight | — |
| 9 July 2026 | RBC Capital | Maintains | Sector Perform | — |
| 9 July 2026 | RBC Capital | Maintains | Sector Perform | $70 → $71 |
| 7 July 2026 | Cantor Fitzgerald | Maintains | Overweight | $60 → $75 |
| 7 July 2026 | Cantor Fitzgerald | Maintains | Overweight | — |
| 23 June 2026 | RBC Capital | Initiates | Sector Perform | — |
| 8 June 2026 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | — |
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Computed off the Friday close and sent before the US open.
Market Radar reports the week’s largest rank changes across roughly 4,600 US stocks, the factor behind each one, and where the market went. CNC appears on the weeks it earns a place.
Both lines are total return — dividends reinvested — so the comparison is honest on both sides.
Over the twelve months to 3 Sept 2026, Centene Corp. returned +126.3% against +21.4% for the S&P 500, dividends included.
Download this chart as an image — free to reuse; link this page as the source.
Data provided by Twelve Data
Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.
A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.
Cheaper than 62% of US stocks
Cheaper than 93% of US stocks
Cheaper than 59% of US stocks
Cheaper than 54% of US stocks
Higher than 38% of US stocks
Higher than 48% of US stocks
Higher than 9% of US stocks
Higher than 52% of US stocks
Higher than 27% of US stocks
Higher than 31% of US stocks
Higher than 62% of US stocks
Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.
The headline figures, each with its date. Every row carries its own link — cite it straight from here.
Centene Corp. has a market value of $32.2B and an enterprise value of $20.9B.
Revenue in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $202.9B. The latest quarter grew 4.6% year on year.
Net income over the same four quarters: −$5.1B, a −2.5% net margin.
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months: $−10.44.
Free cash flow in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $9.0B, after $798.0M of capital spending.
Centene Corp. spent $35.0M on share buybacks in the twelve months to 30 June 2026.
Trailing P/E: 8.1×; forward P/E: 12.3× — the forward figure prices analyst consensus estimates, not reported earnings.
Centene Corp. employs 61,100 people — $3.3M of revenue per employee.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.
Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.
The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own Centene Corp. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →
According to a Zacks Investment Research report, rising employer healthcare costs could create growth avenues for UnitedHealth and Centene through cost-control solutions, while also boosting demand for consulting from Marsh.
Why it matters — The report suggests Centene could benefit as an avenue for employers seeking cost-control solutions amid rising healthcare costs.
On September 3rd, 2026, Centene Corp. was added to the Zacks Investment Research Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) growth stocks list, alongside VLO and MNDY.
Why it matters — CNC watchers would note that the company received a Strong Buy ranking from Zacks, signaling positive analyst sentiment on the stock.
Centene Corp.'s stock has rallied 117% over the past year, with the gains supported by improving margins, firmer pricing, and higher earnings expectations, while its valuation remains below key peers, according to Zacks Investment Research.
Why it matters — A CNC watcher would care because the report highlights the fundamental drivers behind the stock's sharp rally and notes its valuation still trails comparable companies.
Zacks Investment Research published an article examining whether Centene (CNC) qualifies as a value stock, applying its Zacks Rank system alongside value, growth, and momentum trends to evaluate the company.
Why it matters — The piece offers CNC watchers an analytical framework assessing the stock's value characteristics based on earnings estimates and revisions.
On September 2nd, 2026, Centene Corp. (CNC) was added to Zacks Investment Research's list of #1 (Strong Buy) growth stocks for September 2nd, alongside VLO and LCUT. The recognition reflects Zacks' strong-buy ranking for the stock.
Why it matters — This signals that an independent research firm has placed CNC on its top-ranked growth stock list, which may attract attention from investors following the stock.
The 21 Wall Street analysts covering Centene Corp. have a median 12-month price target of $71, with estimates ranging from $56 to $85. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Of the 21 analysts covering Centene Corp., 9 rate it a Buy, 11 a Hold and 1 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks Centene Corp. 94 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 2 Sept 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.
As at 2 Sept 2026, Centene Corp. ranks 94 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Revisions (95 of 100).
No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 21 analysts implies +3.6% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks Centene Corp. 94 out of 100 as at 2 Sept 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.
No analyst covering Centene Corp. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for CNC are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $56 to $85 over the next 12 months.
Centene Corp. returned +126.3% over the 12 months to 3 Sept 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.
Centene Corp. is a managed care and healthcare services company that focuses on government-sponsored and commercial health programs across the United States.
The most recent item we track (Zacks Investment Research, 3 Sept 2026): "How Can Healthcare Inflation Fuel Growth for MRSH, UNH & CNC?". According to a Zacks Investment Research report, rising employer healthcare costs could create growth avenues for UnitedHealth and Centene through cost-control solutions, while also boosting demand for consulting from Marsh.
Centene Corp. is a managed care and healthcare services company that focuses on government-sponsored and commercial health programs across the United States. Centene provides affordable, quality-focused coverage and related services primarily through Medicaid, Medicare, and Health Insurance Marketplace plans, serving individuals, families, and underserved populations. The company also offers specialized healthcare solutions that support care coordination, pharmacy benefits, behavioral health, dental, vision, and other managed services. Through a local-market approach, Centene works with health plans, providers, and public programs to help members access coverage and care tailored to community needs. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Centene plays a significant role in the U.S. healthcare market by administering large-scale managed care products and serving as a key intermediary in publicly funded healthcare systems.
CEO Ms. Sarah M. London · 61,100 employees · United States · https://www.centene.com
