Centene Corp vs Illumina, Inc. — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.8 (market cap $33.93B), while Illumina, Inc. trades at $191.2 (market cap $28.93B). The key difference: Centene Corp is the larger of the two by market cap. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | ILMN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $28.93B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $194.33 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $91.00 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $30.32B |
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.
Illumina (ILMN) trades at $190.05, showing strong momentum with a 43.7% gain year-to-date and recent earnings beats. The stock is technically bullish, trading near resistance at $191 with solid fundamentals including 19.42% net margins and robust cash flow. Recent leadership appointments and product launches like StrataMap Spatial Solution highlight ongoing innovation in genomics sequencing.
Outlook remains positive driven by sequencing demand and margin expansion, but risks include competitive pressure from Roche's new sequencer and China market weakness. Analyst consensus is bullish with 51% buy ratings, though the current price exceeds the $174.44 target, suggesting near-term valuation concerns.
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 →Illumina provides tools and services to analyze genetic material with life science and clinical lab applications. The company generates over 90% of its revenue from sequencing instruments, consumables, and services. Illumina's high-throughput technology enables whole genome sequencing in humans and other large organisms. Its lower throughput tools enable applications that require smaller data outputs, such as viral and cancer tumor screening. Illumina also sells microarrays (less than 10% of sales) that enable lower-cost, focused genetic screening with primarily consumer and agricultural applications.
Read more on ILMN →