Zacks Research Analysts Cut Earnings Estimates for Centene

Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research reduced their Q1 2025 EPS estimates for Centene in a research report issued on Thursday, January 2nd. Zacks Research analyst K. Dey now forecasts that the company will post earnings of $2.37 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $2.38. The consensus estimate for Centene’s current full-year earnings is $6.83 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Centene’s Q2 2025 earnings at $2.16 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $1.77 EPS and Q4 2026 earnings at $0.97 EPS.

Several other research firms have also commented on CNC. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their price target on Centene from $96.00 to $88.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Centene from $91.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on shares of Centene from $95.00 to $85.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 13th. UBS Group upgraded Centene from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $79.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Centene from $83.00 to $66.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $80.92.

Centene Stock Down 0.3 %

CNC opened at $62.52 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10. Centene has a one year low of $55.03 and a one year high of $81.42. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $60.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $67.56.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Andrew Lynn Asher purchased 17,200 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $58.14 per share, with a total value of $1,000,008.00. Following the purchase, the chief financial officer now directly owns 486,847 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $28,305,284.58. This represents a 3.66 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Sarah London acquired 4,117 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 8th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $60.80 per share, for a total transaction of $250,313.60. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 667,229 shares in the company, valued at $40,567,523.20. The trade was a 0.62 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have purchased 45,010 shares of company stock worth $2,660,276. 0.33% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Centene

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Harris Associates L P raised its position in shares of Centene by 5.7% in the third quarter. Harris Associates L P now owns 26,314,183 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,980,932,000 after buying an additional 1,420,825 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Centene by 22.9% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 4,461,517 shares of the company’s stock worth $295,799,000 after purchasing an additional 832,318 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc boosted its holdings in shares of Centene by 14.2% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 5,113,759 shares of the company’s stock worth $339,042,000 after purchasing an additional 636,683 shares during the last quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Centene by 15.4% in the third quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC now owns 3,203,049 shares of the company’s stock valued at $241,126,000 after purchasing an additional 428,100 shares during the period. Finally, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lifted its position in Centene by 42.3% during the second quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 1,400,276 shares of the company’s stock worth $92,838,000 after buying an additional 416,003 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.63% of the company’s stock.

Centene Company Profile

Centene Corporation operates as a healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to under-insured and uninsured families, commercial organizations, and military families in the United States. The company operates through Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other segments. The Medicaid segment offers health plan coverage, including medicaid expansion, aged, blind, disabled, children’s health insurance program, foster care, medicare-medicaid plans, long-term services and support.