Centene Corp vs Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.5 (market cap $33.93B), while Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc trades at $280 (market cap $11.03B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 3.1× Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc's market cap, and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc pays a 1.97% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | HII | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $11.03B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $453.73 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $252.93 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $13.75B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.97% |
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.
HII trades at $284.86, down 0.43% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company shows stable fundamentals with a P/E of 18.19 and net income margin of 4.71%, supported by recent earnings beats. Recent news highlights contract awards and leadership additions, reinforcing its defense sector presence.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $354.50, implying significant upside. Risks include execution on new contracts and defense budget dependencies, but analyst sentiment leans positive with 44% buy ratings. The upcoming Q2 2026 earnings report on July 30 will be a key catalyst for near-term direction.
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 →Huntington Ingalls is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S. and a provider of professional services to government and industry partners, specializing in nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
Read more on HII →