Centene Corp vs CVS Health Corp — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $65 (market cap $32.89B), while CVS Health Corp trades at $93.49 (market cap $122.36B). The key difference: CVS Health Corp is far larger — about 3.7× Centene Corp's market cap, and CVS Health Corp pays a 2.78% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | CVS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.89B | $122.36B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $110.60 |
52-Week Low | $25.25 | $64.88 |
Enterprise Value | $21.93B | $184.71B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.78% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
CVS Health trades at $95.70, down 0.54% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and key support at $95. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, beating estimates with EPS of $2.58 versus $1.87 expected, and raised its full-year guidance. Revenue growth remains robust, reaching $402.07 billion in 2025, though net income margin compressed to 1.18%. Analyst sentiment is overwhelmingly positive with a consensus price target of $115.00.
The outlook for CVS is cautiously optimistic, driven by operational improvements in its Aetna segment and raised cash flow guidance. Investment opportunities include potential upside to the consensus target, but risks involve margin pressures, regulatory changes impacting pharmacy benefits in 2027, and high debt levels. The stock's current valuation at a P/E of 25.25 may limit near-term gains if earnings growth slows.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Following its acquisition of Aetna in late 2018, CVS Health now provides an even more integrated healthcare-services offering for its members. Legacy CVS combined both the largest pharmacy benefit manager, processing over 2 billion adjusted claims annually, and a sizable pharmacy operation, including nearly 10,000 retail pharmacy locations primarily in the U.S. Adding a managed-care organization with 24 million medical members gives the company a strong position in the insurance industry and should help CVS better control overall healthcare costs for its clients.
Read more on CVS →