Centene Corp vs Five Below Inc — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $65.77 (market cap $33.93B), while Five Below Inc trades at $190 (market cap $10.68B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 3.2× Five Below Inc's market cap, and Centene Corp is trading nearer its 52-week high, Five Below Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | FIVE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $10.68B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $247.71 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $131.94 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $11.56B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
Five Below (FIVE) trades at $191.53, up 1.13% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and consistent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with a 21.13% ROE and 8.67% net margin, supported by revenue growth from $3.6B in 2024 to $3.9B in 2025. Recent milestones include opening its 2,000th store and leadership appointments, driving positive media coverage.
The outlook remains positive with a $252.09 analyst price target implying 31% upside, though risks include volatile cash flows and competitive pressures. Earnings momentum and digital marketing investments position FIVE for growth, but investors should monitor execution against 2026's $5.1B revenue target.
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 →Five Below is a value-oriented retailer that operated 1,190 stores in the United States as of the end of fiscal 2021. Catering to teen and preteen consumers, stores feature a wide variety of merchandise, the vast majority of which is priced below $6. The assortment focuses on discretionary items in several categories, particularly leisure (such as sporting goods, toys, and electronics
Read more on FIVE →