Centene (CNC.US) Price Target and Rating 2026/2027

63,59
-5,08%
Price history for Centene (CNC.US) – stock price at 63.59 $, August 2026
Centene stock price – price development 2026. Updated Aug 6, 2026.
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Centene Price Target 2026: Analysts See 12% Upside

The average price target for Centene is $71.28. This price target represents the analysts' view of the stock price over the next 12 months. The stock may be undervalued, because the price target is higher than the current price. The stock is 12,09% below the target, which can point to potential returns within the next 12 months if the analysts' view proves right. Also consider the stock's valuation ratios such as P/E, P/S and P/B, plus the technical analysis further down the page, for the full picture.

Is Centene overvalued or undervalued?

Centene is currently undervalued with a gap of 12.1% relative to the price target.


The current price is $63.59, which places Centene in the undervalued category. The stock is considered undervalued when the price is below $64.15, and overvalued when the price exceeds $78.41.


The fair value range is defined as ±10% of the price target, because price targets are estimates rather than exact values. For Centene, the fair value range lies between $64.15 and $78.41.


See the full price target analysis for Centene →

Analyst Ratings for Centene stock in 2026: Buy

19 analysts cover Centene. The ratings are mixed, with 52.6% Buy, 47.4% Hold and 0% Sell. The average price target is $71.28, which gives an upside of 12.1% from the current price.

Consensus: Buy (3.89/5)
Strong Buy
7 (36.8%)
Buy
3 (15.8%)
Hold
9 (47.4%)
Strong Sell Sell Hold Buy Strong Buy
3.89 out of 5 based on 19 analysts

About Centene – Healthcare Plans

Centene Corporation er et stort sundhedsselskab, der driver forretning ved at tilbyde sundhedsplaner til folk i USA, som har begrænset forsikring eller ingen forsikring. Deres forretning bygger primært på statsstøttede programmer som Medicaid og programmer for børn. De tjener penge, når de leverer en bred vifte af ydelser til disse grupper. Centene Corporation dækker alt fra almindelige lægebesøg og hospitalsophold til specialistydelser som synspleje, tandpleje og adfærdsbehandling. De tilbyder også recepter og hjælpemidler. Centene Corporation er kendt for at håndtere komplekse dækninger, for eksempel for de borgere, der er berettiget til både Medicare og Medicaid. De driver forretning i alle 50 stater og har over 75.000 ansatte. Read more about the company

Key Figures for Centene

$ 31,7B Market cap
$ 180B Revenue
Healthcare Plans Industry
- P/E
0.18 P/S
1.36 P/B
USA Listed on exchange
Sundhed Sector

What kind of stock is Centene?

Growth stock Momentum stock

Centene is classified as a growth stock and momentum stock. This means the stock combines several attractive traits, and strong price momentum.

Score Overview for Centene

💰 Value Score 52/100 (Neutral)
⭐ Quality Score 44/100 (Neutral)
🚀 Momentum Score 96/100 (Very High)
📊 Total Score 64/100

⚠️ 4 red flags identified 1 critical

Our analysis has identified 4 potential risk factors in Centene that investors should be aware of.

⚠️ High debt: The debt-to-equity ratio is 212% – the company carries considerably more debt than equity, which raises the financial risk.
⚠️ Weak balance sheet (elevated risk): Altman Z2 is 0.98 – the balance sheet is measurably weaker than average. This is a risk signal based on the numbers, not a bankruptcy prediction.
⚠️ Negative profit margin: The profit margin is -2.8% – the company is losing money on its operations.
🚨 Negative return on equity: ROE is -20.4% – the company is generating a negative return for shareholders.

📈 Valuation

The P/S ratio is 0.2 (low — potentially undervalued relative to revenue). The P/B ratio is 1.4. The PEG ratio is 1.20.

💵 Profitability & Growth

Centene and an operating margin of 3.8%. Return on assets (ROA) is 2.5%. The latest quarterly earnings grew 18.3% year over year.

🏦 Financial Health

The Piotroski score is 7 out of 9 — good financial health. Altman Z2 is 0.98 (weak balance sheet — elevated risk). The debt-to-equity ratio (D/E) is 211.8% — high debt, which raises the risk.

🚀 Momentum & Short Interest

Short interest is 3.11%.

Insider Trading in Centene 2026: The Signal Is negative

In 2026, insiders at Centene have made 20 transactions – split into 4 purchases and 16 sales. On a net basis, insiders took 9,963,321 $ out of the stock. Active insiders include Sarah London, LONDON SARAH, Theodore R Samuels II and others. In the short term (last 3 months), the insider signal is negative.

Short-Term Signal (3 months): Negative

Insiders have exclusively sold shares over the last 3 months.

Over the last 3 months: 0 purchases and 2 sales. A net 5,195,487 $ out of the stock.

Long-Term Signal (all transactions): Mostly negative

Insiders have sold considerably more than they have bought. At large companies this can be due to planned sales (10b5-1 plans) and is not necessarily a negative signal.

Across the last 20 transactions: 4 purchases and 16 sales. A net 9,963,321 $ out of the stock.

Latest purchase: Sarah London bought 19,230 shares at 26 $ each on 2025-08-08. The stock has since risen 162.7%.

Latest sale: SMITH SUSAN RAYE sold 483 shares at 65 $ each on 2026-06-15.

Who is buying: Sarah London, LONDON SARAH, Theodore R Samuels II, Samuels Theodore R. II.

Who is selling: SMITH SUSAN RAYE, Burdick Kenneth A, MCNALLY TANYA M, LONDON SARAH, KOSTER CHRISTOPHER and others.

Latest Insider Trades in Centene (2026)

The table shows the last 20 reported insider transactions in Centene. Green rows are purchases, red rows are sales. The data is based on official filings.

Transaction date Name Type Number of shares Price per share ($) Total amount ($)
2026-06-15 SMITH SUSAN RAYE Sell 483 65 31,487
2026-06-10 Burdick Kenneth A Sell 80,000 65 5,164,000
2026-04-15 MCNALLY TANYA M Sell 964 37 35,919
2026-03-15 SMITH SUSAN RAYE Sell 2,918 34 100,525
2026-03-15 MCNALLY TANYA M Sell 2,785 34 95,943
2026-03-15 LONDON SARAH Sell 36,061 34 1,242,301
2026-03-15 KOSTER CHRISTOPHER Sell 9,087 34 313,047
2026-03-15 CASSO KATIE Sell 3,359 34 115,718
2026-03-15 Asher Andrew Lynn Sell 15,241 34 525,052
2026-01-15 MCNALLY TANYA M Sell 725 46 33,473

Who is buying and selling Centene shares in 2026?

The following insiders have bought shares in Centene: Sarah London, LONDON SARAH, Theodore R Samuels II, Samuels Theodore R. II. In total, 1,477,890 $ was bought across 4 transactions. The following insiders have sold shares: SMITH SUSAN RAYE, Burdick Kenneth A, MCNALLY TANYA M, LONDON SARAH, KOSTER CHRISTOPHER and others. In total, 11,441,211 $ was sold across 16 transactions. Insider trades are legal transactions in which executives and board members buy or sell shares of their own company. These transactions are reported to the SEC and are publicly available.

Centene Short Selling 2026: 3.1% Sold Short

Moderate short interest: 3.1% of the free float
Short % of free float
3.1%
Assessment
Moderate short interest
Short squeeze risk
Low
Data source
SEC
Updated daily
The stock has a moderate share of short selling. Between 2-5% of the freely traded shares are sold short, which is within the normal range for most stocks.

Data is updated daily based on official filings with the SEC.
Short Interest Scale
0% 2% 5% 10% 20%+
Low Moderate High Very High Extreme
3.1%

When Does Centene Report Earnings – Next Date: 10/27/2026

The next earnings report from Centene is scheduled for October 27, 2026, before the market opens. This report covers the third quarter (Q3), which ended on September 30, 2026.



Technical Analysis of Centene 2026 – Signal: Hold

Overall Technical Signal: Hold

Based on trend analysis (SMA50/SMA200) and MACD trend (positive/negative on a daily + weekly basis). Updated August 6, 2026.

Technical analysis of Centene (CNC.US) – RSI 58, MACD negative (bearish), daily candlestick chart August 2026
Centene technical analysis – candlestick chart with RSI and MACD. Updated Aug 6, 2026.

Trend Analysis of Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation is in a short-term uptrend. The price of $66.99 is 2.8% above the 20-day average ($65.15). Medium term, the picture is positive: the price is 4.7% above the 50-day average ($64.01). Long term, the stock is 42.4% above the 200-day average ($47.03), which confirms a long-term uptrend.

Golden Cross: The 50-day average (64.01) is above the 200-day average (47.03), which is a classic bullish signal for Centene Corporation.

Is Centene Corporation overbought or oversold?

Centene Corporation has an RSI of 57.8. The stock shows positive momentum in the upper part of the neutral zone.

MACD Analysis for Centene Corporation

Daily MACD: MACD is negative (-0.036), which means the short-term trend is bearish (the 12-day EMA is below the 26-day EMA). MACD is below the signal line (0.091) by 0.127, which confirms growing negative momentum in the downtrend.

Weekly MACD: MACD5 is positive (6.470), which indicates a broader bullish long-term trend. MACD5 is above the signal line (5.793) by 0.677, which confirms rising long-term momentum.

Overall MACD assessment: The daily and weekly MACD give conflicting signals. The long-term trend is bullish, but the short-term trend is bearish. Short-term momentum is still falling – a deeper pullback is possible.

Risk Profile for Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation has an annual standard deviation of 49.1%, which classifies the stock as high risk. Sizeable price swings are normal, and the stock requires a higher risk tolerance.

Overall Technical Conclusion for Centene Corporation

Trend: Neutral/mixed.

MACD trend (zero line): Daily bearish (-0.036). Weekly bullish (6.470).

MACD momentum (signal): Daily falling. Weekly rising.

RSI: 57.8 – neutral.

Technical signal: Hold

The signals are mixed – trend and MACD point in different directions. Wait until MACD crosses the zero line in the direction of the trend before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Centene stock in 2026

Should you buy Centene stock now?
The technical signal for Centene is currently NEUTRAL. Centene trades at $63.59 as of 8/6/2026. The overall technical signal is: Hold. The technical analysis shows the following: MACD is negative (bearish trend) at -0.036 with falling momentum (signal: 0.091); RSI is at 57.8 (neutral zone); the stock is in a short-term downtrend (price below the 20-day average); the analyst price target of $71.28 points to 12.1% upside. This is a technical observation based on current data, not investment advice.
What is the price target for Centene stock?
The average analyst price target for Centene is $71.28. The current price is $63.59, which gives an upside of 12.1%. Based on this, the stock is considered undervalued. The fair value range (±10% of the price target) is between $64.15 and $78.41.
Is Centene a dividend stock?
No, Centene does not currently pay a dividend to shareholders. The company reinvests its profits in growth instead of paying dividends.
What is the risk of Centene stock?
Centene is rated as a stock with high risk. the annual standard deviation is 49.1%, which classifies the stock as high risk.
Is Centene overvalued?
No, Centene is considered undervalued based on the analyst price target (12.1% upside). Centene has the following valuation ratios: a P/S ratio of 0.2, a P/B ratio of 1.4. The analyst price target suggests that the stock is undervalued by 12.1%.
Is Centene overbought?
No, Centene is not overbought. RSI is at 57.8 (neutral zone). The technical indicators show: RSI is at 57.8 (neutral zone between 30-70), which signals neither overbought nor oversold. In addition, the price is 2.4% below the 20-day average (short-term downtrend). In addition, MACD is negative with falling momentum (bearish).
When is the next Centene earnings report?
Centene reports its next earnings on October 27, 2026. The stock currently trades at $63.59.
Is Centene shorted?
Yes, Centene is shorted with 3.1% of the free float sold short. This is a moderate level of short selling, within the normal range for most stocks. Data is updated daily based on official filings with the SEC.
Are insiders buying Centene stock?
No, insiders are not buying Centene shares – they are net sellers. Over the last 3 months, insiders have made 0 purchases and 2 sales. On a net basis, 5,195,487 $ worth of shares were sold. Across the last 20 reported transactions, the split is 4 purchases and 16 sales, with a net 9,963,321 $ sold. Active sellers include SMITH SUSAN RAYE, Burdick Kenneth A, MCNALLY TANYA M and others. Insider selling can have several explanations (e.g. planned 10b5-1 sales, portfolio diversification or taxes), but sustained selling by several insiders is worth watching closely.
Is Centene a good stock?
Based on our total score, Centene is rated as a good stock with a total score of 64 out of 100. The stock scores above average on value, quality and momentum – it is among the top 36% in our database. The score is made up of Value: 52/100, Quality: 44/100, Momentum: 96/100. In addition: analysts see 12.1% upside to the price target; technical signal: Hold. Whether Centene is a good investment depends on your time horizon, risk profile and portfolio. This is a data-driven observation, not investment advice.
What is the outlook for Centene stock?
The outlook for Centene based on current data: the average analyst price target is $71.28 (+12.1%); the next earnings report is due on 10/27/2026, which can move the price. Keep in mind that stock prices are affected by many factors, including earnings reports, the economy and market sentiment. Past returns are no guarantee of future returns.
Why is Centene stock falling?
Centene is falling right now. The technical indicators show: the price is 2.4% below the 20-day average; MACD is negative with falling momentum (bearish signal); insiders have mostly been selling the stock recently. For the latest context, see our technical analysis, insider section and news overview above.
How high can Centene go?
The average analyst price target for Centene is $71.28, which corresponds to a potential gain of 12.1% from the current price of $63.59. Keep in mind that price targets are estimates, not guarantees. Actual price moves depend on earnings, market conditions and unexpected events.
How low can Centene fall?
We lack enough history to give a specific floor for Centene. Remember: past price swings are no guarantee for the future — a stock can fall further than the last 52 weeks suggest, especially on profit warnings, sector crises or a market crash. Use stop-loss orders and spread your portfolio to limit losses in single stocks.
What does Centene do?
Centene Corporation er et stort sundhedsselskab, der driver forretning ved at tilbyde sundhedsplaner til folk i USA, som har begrænset forsikring eller ingen forsikring. Deres forretning bygger primært på statsstøttede programmer som Medicaid og programmer for børn. De tjener... The company belongs to the Sundhed sector, more specifically the Healthcare Plans industry, is headquartered in USA, and is traded on the USA Stocks. See the key figures, earnings history and price development above to evaluate Centene as an investment.
Did Centene raise or lower its guidance?
Over the last 60 days we have not registered a guidance raise or cut from Centene. The company can still adjust its guidance at quarterly reports or between reports — see the earnings history and the news overview above.
Is Centene making money or losing money?
No, Centene is currently not making money — the company is losing money with a negative profit margin of -2.8%, a small loss. That means the business loses money on every dollar of revenue. The operating margin, however, is positive at 3.8% — the core business makes money; the loss comes from financing costs, taxes or one-off items. For growth stocks investing in expansion this is normal — but it raises the risk if the company does not reach break-even before its capital runs out.
Can Centene go bankrupt?
The bankruptcy risk of Centene is rated as elevated. Altman Z2 (a model for assessing financial distress) is 0.98 — that places the company in the weak zone. This is a probability based on the numbers, not a verdict — bankruptcy is not imminent. But the balance sheet is measurably weaker than average, so watch the debt, liquidity and possible capital raises. The Piotroski score (financial health 0-9, higher is better) is 7 — which is strong. Debt relative to equity is 212% (high). Remember: models like Altman Z2 are statistical — unexpected shocks (fraud, a sector collapse, lawsuits) can always happen. Spread your portfolio.
Does Centene have a lot of debt?
Yes, Centene has elevated debt relative to equity. The debt-to-equity ratio (D/E — interest-bearing debt to equity) is 212%. For the sundhed sector, anything above 150% counts as elevated — that raises the financial risk, especially if interest rates rise or earnings fall. Note: D/E levels are highly sector-specific — a bank at 300% debt is normal, a tech stock at 300% is extremely leveraged. Always compare with similar companies in the same sector. Can Centene service its debt? Can service its debt without problems — the interest coverage ratio (how many times earnings can cover interest payments) is 10.7x, and the company has more cash than debt (net cash).