Centene Corp vs Microsoft — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.02 (market cap $33.93B), while Microsoft trades at $385.7 (market cap $2.86T). The key difference: Microsoft is far larger — about 84.3× Centene Corp's market cap, and Microsoft pays a 0.95% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | MSFT | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $2.86T |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $542.07 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $352.83 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $2.84T |
Volume | — | 36,654,621 |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.95% |
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.
Microsoft (MSFT) trades at $390.99, up 1.53% today, with a neutral technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The company reported consistent earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 2026 EPS of $4.27 exceeding the $4.06 estimate. Revenue growth remains robust at $281.72B for 2025, supported by 68.31% gross margins and $136.16B in operating cash flow. Analyst consensus is overwhelmingly bullish with 80.49% buy ratings and a $552.81 price target, representing 41% upside potential from current levels.
Microsoft's AI leadership and cloud momentum position it for continued growth, though elevated capital expenditures and competitive pressures present near-term headwinds. The stock's current valuation at 23.29 P/E appears reasonable given the company's strong profitability and growth trajectory. Institutional ownership remains substantial, with recent news highlighting Azure's strength and Copilot adoption as key catalysts.
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 →Microsoft Corporation develops, manufactures, licenses, sells, and supports software products. The Company offers operating system software, server application software, business and consumer applications software, software development tools, and Internet and intranet software. Microsoft also develops video game consoles and digital music entertainment devices.
Read more on MSFT →