Centene Corp vs Lockheed Martin Corporation — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $65.66 (market cap $32.89B), while Lockheed Martin Corporation trades at $597.04 (market cap $139.20B). The key difference: Lockheed Martin Corporation is far larger — about 4.2× Centene Corp's market cap, and Lockheed Martin Corporation pays a 2.29% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | LMT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.89B | $139.20B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $676.70 |
52-Week Low | $26.17 | $431.56 |
Enterprise Value | $21.93B | $155.95B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.29% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Centene (CNC) trades at $65.77, up 2.48% with a bullish technical signal. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $2.51 versus $1.09 estimate, driven by margin recovery and cost control. Revenue grew to $194.78B in 2025, though net income was negative at -$6.67B. Valuation ratios are attractive with P/E of 8.06 and P/S of 0.16. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 61.37% buy ratings and a $70.36 price target.
Outlook is positive due to raised 2026 guidance and operational improvements, but risks include Medicaid membership softness and persistent negative margins. The stock offers value potential if profitability rebounds as projected, though investors should monitor medical cost trends and regulatory changes affecting government healthcare programs.
Lockheed Martin (LMT) trades at $587.95, up 0.9% with bullish technical signals and strong institutional support. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 earnings with a beat on EPS ($7.94 vs. $7.22 expected) but maintains a record $230B backlog. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 21.68 and ROE of 89.16%, though recent quarters saw earnings misses. Technical indicators suggest bullish momentum with key resistance at $592.
Outlook remains positive driven by defense contract wins and production expansion, but risks include execution on massive backlog and debt levels. Analyst consensus is bullish with $608 price target representing 3.4% upside. The stock offers stability through dividends ($3.45 quarterly) amid geopolitical demand for defense systems.
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 →Lockheed Martin is the largest defense contractor globally and has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since the F-35 program was awarded in 2001. Lockheed's largest segment is aeronautics, which is dominated by the massive F-35 program. Lockheed's remaining segments are rotary and mission systems, which is mainly the Sikorsky helicopter business.
Read more on LMT →