Centene Corp vs iShares Core High Dividend ETF — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $67.14 (market cap $33.93B), while iShares Core High Dividend ETF trades at $27.7. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | HDV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | — |
Sector | Health | — |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $28.09 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $23.63 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | — |
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.
HDV (iShares Core High Dividend ETF) trades at $27.93, up 0.83% with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The ETF focuses on high-quality U.S. dividend stocks with a 3.0% yield, emphasizing defensive sectors like healthcare and energy. Recent performance shows strong total returns with lower volatility than the S&P 500, supported by a 1:5 stock split executed in April 2026.
HDV offers attractive income generation with quality screening, though its concentrated energy exposure (21.56%) introduces sector-specific volatility. The ETF's low expense ratio and defensive positioning provide stability, but investors should monitor oil price sensitivity. Long-term dividend growth potential remains favorable amid current market conditions.
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 →