Centene Corp vs National Beverage Corp. — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.58 (market cap $32.05B), while National Beverage Corp. trades at $30.62 (market cap $2.89B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 11.1× National Beverage Corp.'s market cap, and Centene Corp is trading nearer its 52-week high, National Beverage Corp. nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | FIZZ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.05B | $2.89B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $46.75 |
52-Week Low | $26.17 | $30.53 |
Enterprise Value | $21.10B | $2.60B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Centene (CNC) trades at $66.94, up 0.57% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat estimates with EPS of $2.51 versus $1.09 expected, driven by margin recovery and cost control. The stock shows attractive valuation metrics, including a P/E of 8.06 and P/S of 0.16, while revenue growth remains robust at $194.78B in 2025.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $71.00, though risks include Medicaid membership volatility and net income margin pressure. The company's raised 2026 EPS guidance and operational cash flow strength support upside potential, but investors should weigh competitive and regulatory challenges in the managed care sector.
FIZZ trades at $30.60, down 1.42% on the day, with bearish technical signals dominating. The stock shows mixed fundamentals with strong profitability metrics including 37% gross margins and 34% ROE, but faces growth challenges as revenue has stagnated around $1.2B annually. Recent earnings have missed expectations in three of the last four quarters, while the company maintains dividend payments with a recent $3.25 special dividend declaration.
The outlook remains cautious given stalled revenue growth and bearish analyst sentiment with 50% sell ratings. While valuation appears reasonable at 15.7x P/E, competitive pressures in the sparkling water market and declining LaCroix volumes present significant headwinds. The stock's current technical weakness near support levels suggests continued pressure unless fundamental catalysts emerge.
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 →National Beverage Corp is one of the top 10 non-alcoholic beverage companies in the U.S. Its portfolio skews toward functional drinks (that is those purporting to offer health benefits) and is anchored by the popular LaCroix sparkling water trademark. Other offerings include Rip It energy drinks, Everfresh juices, and soda brands like Shasta and Faygo. The firm controls most of its production and distribution apparatus, with very little outsourcing. In terms of go-to-market, it uses warehouse distribution for big-box retailers, direct-store-delivery for convenience stores and other small outlets, and food-service distributors for the food-service channel (schools, hospitals, restaurants). It is controlled by chairman and CEO Nick Caporella, who owns over 73% of the common stock.
Read more on FIZZ →