Conagra Brands Inc vs Centene Corp — how do they compare? Conagra Brands Inc trades at $13.5 (market cap $6.77B), while Centene Corp trades at $66.8 (market cap $33.93B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 5× Conagra Brands Inc's market cap, and Conagra Brands Inc pays a 9.89% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CAG | CNC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $6.77B | $33.93B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $20.02 | $68.72 |
52-Week Low | $12.58 | $25.21 |
Enterprise Value | $14.05B | $26.56B |
Dividend Yield | 9.89% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Conagra Brands (CAG) trades at $14.33, up 3.62% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The stock shows mixed earnings performance, missing Q2 2025 and Q1 2026 estimates but beating Q3 2025. Valuation ratios appear attractive with P/E of 10.06 and P/B of 0.84, though net income margin is negative at -0.39%. Recent news highlights upcoming Q4 earnings and dividend sustainability concerns under new leadership.
CAG presents a high-yield opportunity with a 10% dividend, but faces risks from potential dividend cuts, high debt, and revenue pressures. Analyst consensus is cautious with a $13.70 price target below current levels. Investors should weigh the defensive staple positioning against fundamental headwinds and earnings volatility for balanced risk-reward assessment.
Centene Corporation (CNC) trades at $68.29, up 1.4% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving average signals. The stock shows impressive 66% YTD gains, supported by recent contract renewals and margin recovery initiatives. Despite negative 2025 net income of -$6.67B, valuation metrics remain attractive with P/E of 8.06 and P/S of 0.17. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 61% buy ratings and $66.07 price target.
Centene presents a compelling value opportunity with low valuation multiples and strong operational cash flow of $5.09B. Key risks include ongoing margin pressure and Medicaid contract dependency. The company's AI-driven cost controls and recent Illinois Medicaid renewal provide catalysts for earnings recovery, though healthcare regulatory changes remain a concern for long-term stability.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Conagra Brands is a packaged food company that operates predominantly in the United States (over 90% of revenue and profits). It has a significant presence in the freezer aisle, with brands such as Marie Callender's, Healthy Choice, Banquet, and Birds Eye. Other popular brands include Duncan Hines, Hunt's, Slim Jim, Vlasic, Orville Redenbacher's, Reddi-wip, Wish-Bone, and Chef Boyardee. While the majority of revenue is sold into the U.S. retail channel, 9% of fiscal 2022 sales were to the food-service channel, down from 11% in fiscal 2019 due to the pandemic.
Read more on CAG →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 →