Church & Dwight Co., Inc. vs Centene Corp — how do they compare? Church & Dwight Co., Inc. trades at $97.03 (market cap $23.02B), while Centene Corp trades at $68.55 (market cap $33.72B). The key difference: Centene Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Church & Dwight Co., Inc. pays a 1.27% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CHD | CNC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $23.02B | $33.72B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $105.26 | $68.72 |
52-Week Low | $81.60 | $25.21 |
Enterprise Value | $24.72B | $26.35B |
Dividend Yield | 1.27% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Church & Dwight (CHD) trades at $97.16, up 0.83% with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The company maintains strong fundamentals with 11.81% net margins and consistent organic growth, supported by strategic acquisitions like Miss Mouth's brand. Analyst consensus remains positive with a $105.60 price target, though cash flow trends show recent negative net flows.
CHD presents a balanced opportunity with solid brand execution and margin expansion potential, offset by cash flow volatility and competitive pressures. The stock's premium valuation requires sustained earnings growth to justify upside, with Q2 2026 earnings on July 31 as a key catalyst.
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
Church & Dwight is the leading producer of baking soda in the world. Beyond baking soda, the products in its portfolio have vast category reach, including laundry products, cat litter, oral care, deodorant, and nasal care, all sold under the Arm & Hammer brand. Its mix also includes Xtra, Trojan, OxiClean, First Response, Nair, L'il Critters/Vitafusion, Orajel, and WaterPik, which together with Arm & Hammer constitute more than 80% of its annual sales and profits. In early 2019, the firm announced the addition of Flawless, which manufactures electric shaving products for women. At the end of 2020, the firm acquired Zicam, a leading brand in the cough/cold-shortening category. Church & Dwight derives more than 80% of its sales from its home market in the U.S.
Read more on CHD →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 →