Albertsons Companies Inc vs Centene Corp — how do they compare? Albertsons Companies Inc trades at $12.25 (market cap $5.89B), while Centene Corp trades at $65.66 (market cap $32.89B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 5.6× Albertsons Companies Inc's market cap, and Albertsons Companies Inc pays a 5.61% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ACI | CNC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $5.89B | $32.89B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $19.74 | $68.72 |
52-Week Low | $11.03 | $26.17 |
Enterprise Value | $21.29B | $21.93B |
Dividend Yield | 5.61% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Albertsons (ACI) trades at $12.01, down 0.58% with bearish technical signals despite recent insider buying by the CEO and CFO. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 earnings with a miss on EPS expectations but maintains strong revenue growth trends. Valuation metrics show a high P/E ratio of 75.06 but attractive P/S of 0.08, while profitability remains challenged with net margins at just 0.08%.
The outlook remains cautious with analyst consensus at Buy (35%) but significant legal investigations and margin pressure creating headwinds. The $13.20 price target offers 10% upside potential, though execution risks and competitive grocery market dynamics require careful monitoring for sustained recovery.
Centene (CNC) trades at $65.77, up 2.48% with a bullish technical signal. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $2.51 versus $1.09 estimate, driven by margin recovery and cost control. Revenue grew to $194.78B in 2025, though net income was negative at -$6.67B. Valuation ratios are attractive with P/E of 8.06 and P/S of 0.16. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 61.37% buy ratings and a $70.36 price target.
Outlook is positive due to raised 2026 guidance and operational improvements, but risks include Medicaid membership softness and persistent negative margins. The stock offers value potential if profitability rebounds as projected, though investors should monitor medical cost trends and regulatory changes affecting government healthcare programs.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Albertsons is the second-largest traditional grocer in America, operating 2,276 stores under 24 banners in 34 states (as of the end of fiscal 2021). Around 75% of stores have pharmacies, while nearly 20% also sell fuel. Albertsons has a significant private-label operation, accounting for around 20% of sales (excluding fuel). While its own brand assortment is mainly manufactured by third parties, Albertsons operates 20 food production plants (as of the end of fiscal 2021). Albertsons is a top-two grocer in two thirds of its major markets (as of early 2022, according to company data), and virtually all of its sales come from the United States.
Read more on ACI →Centene is a managed-care organization focused on government-sponsored healthcare plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and the individual exchanges. Centene served 22 million medical members as of September 2021, mostly in Medicaid (68% of membership), the individual exchanges (10%), Medicare Advantage (6%), and the balance in Tricare (West region), correctional facility, and international plans. The company also serves 4 million users through the Medicare Part D pharmaceutical program.
Read more on CNC →