Centene Corp vs H2O America — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.5 (market cap $33.93B), while H2O America trades at $63.25 (market cap $2.63B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 12.9× H2O America's market cap, and H2O America pays a 2.8% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | HTO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $2.63B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $62.94 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $44.44 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $4.35B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.8% |
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.
HTO trades at $62.47, up 1.63% with strong technical momentum and bullish analyst sentiment. The stock shows solid fundamentals with 12.87% net margins and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent news highlights institutional buying and upcoming Q2 2026 earnings on July 27, 2026, while the company maintains a $0.44 dividend payout.
Outlook remains positive with 80% analyst buy ratings and a $62 consensus target. Key risks include execution of the $2.7B capex plan and regulatory exposure as a utility. The stock offers stable growth potential through rate base expansion and strategic acquisitions like Quadvest.
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 →H2O America is a utility company that provides essential water and wastewater services, primarily in the United States. The company operates a network of regulated water and wastewater systems, focusing on responsible resource management and high-quality service delivery. HTO aims to expand its operational footprint through acquisitions and internal growth, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Read more on HTO →