Centene Corp vs Quest Diagnostics Inc — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $64.66 (market cap $32.05B), while Quest Diagnostics Inc trades at $237.5 (market cap $26.21B). The key difference: Centene Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Quest Diagnostics Inc pays a 1.45% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | DGX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.05B | $26.21B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $238.50 |
52-Week Low | $26.17 | $173.49 |
Enterprise Value | $21.10B | $31.97B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.45% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Centene (CNC) trades at $66.56, up 1.2% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $71.00. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $2.51 per share, beating estimates, and raised its full-year EPS guidance, reflecting margin recovery and cost discipline. Revenue growth remains robust, projected to reach $202.9 billion in 2026, though net income margins are negative due to elevated medical costs.
The stock presents a value opportunity with low P/E (8.06) and P/S (0.16) ratios, but investors face risks from Medicaid membership volatility and regulatory pressures. Analyst sentiment is strongly bullish (61% buy ratings), with institutional interest growing, as seen in recent fund additions. Near-term upside is likely if cost controls sustain profitability improvements.
Quest Diagnostics (DGX) trades at $237.63, down slightly by 0.3% today, but maintains strong momentum with three consecutive quarterly earnings beats and a raised 2026 outlook. The stock shows bullish technical signals with moving averages supporting upward trends, while fundamentals reveal solid revenue growth to $11.04 billion in 2025 and improving profit margins. Recent news highlights surging testing demand and AI implementation driving operational efficiency.
DGX presents a favorable investment case with analyst consensus price target of $249.50 offering 5% upside potential. Strong testing demand, strategic partnerships, and earnings momentum support growth, though elevated debt levels and margin pressures from lower-margin deals pose moderate risks. The stock's current valuation at 25.21 P/E appears reasonable given growth prospects.
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 →Quest Diagnostics is a leading independent provider of diagnostic testing, information, and services in the U.S. The company generates over 95% of its revenue through clinical testing, anatomic pathology, esoteric testing, and substance abuse testing with specimens collected at its national network of roughly 2,300 patient service centers, as well as multiple doctors offices and hospitals. The firm also runs a much smaller diagnostic solutions segment that provides clinical trials testing, risk assessment services, and information technology solutions.
Read more on DGX →