Centene Corp vs iShares Core High Dividend ETF — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $67.29 (market cap $32.05B), while iShares Core High Dividend ETF trades at $29.23. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | HDV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.05B | — |
Sector | Health | — |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $29.14 |
52-Week Low | $26.93 | $23.64 |
Enterprise Value | $21.10B | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Centene (CNC) trades at $67.35, up 1.19% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong analyst support. The stock has beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, including Q2 2026 EPS of $2.51 versus $1.09 expected, and shows robust cash flow trends with 2025 net cash flow of $3.94 billion. Recent news highlights margin recovery and raised 2026 guidance, reinforcing positive momentum.
The outlook remains favorable given valuation discounts (P/E of 8.06, P/S of 0.16) and analyst consensus price target of $71.00, though risks include negative net income margins and Medicaid membership volatility. Upside potential hinges on execution of cost controls and premium growth in government-sponsored health plans.
HDV (iShares Core High Dividend ETF) trades at $29.07, up 0.28% with strong bullish technical signals from moving averages. The ETF focuses on high-quality US large-cap dividend stocks, delivering a 3.1% yield while outperforming the S&P 500 by 9 percentage points year-to-date. Recent institutional buying activity from firms like Bay Colony Advisors and 180 Wealth Advisors indicates growing confidence in the fund's income-generating strategy.
The outlook remains positive given HDV's defensive sector weighting and quality screening methodology. Key risks include interest rate sensitivity and market volatility affecting dividend sustainability. Wall Street sentiment is constructive as the ETF continues to attract retirement-focused investors seeking reliable income streams in the current economic environment.
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 →The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its underlying index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its underlying index. The underlying index is comprised of qualified income paying securities that are screened for superior company quality and financial health as determined by Morningstar, Inc.'s proprietary index methodology. The fund is non-diversified.
Read more on HDV →