Centene Corp vs Annaly Capital Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.06 (market cap $33.93B), while Annaly Capital Management, Inc. trades at $23 (market cap $16.86B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 2× Annaly Capital Management, Inc.'s market cap, and Annaly Capital Management, Inc. pays a 13.04% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | NLY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $16.86B |
Sector | Health | Financials |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $24.40 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $19.47 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | — |
Dividend Yield | — | 13.04% |
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.
NLY trades at $22.53, down 1.44% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The stock shows a P/E of 7.27 and P/B of 1.14, trading below the consensus price target of $24.40. Recent news highlights earnings growth potential and a dividend of $0.75 payable in July 2026, supported by a net income margin of 91.17% in 2025.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus favoring Buy ratings (57%), though risks include interest rate sensitivity and high leverage. The stock offers value with earnings momentum, but investors should monitor debt levels and Federal Reserve policy impacts on mortgage REITs.
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 →Annaly Capital Management Inc is an American mortgage real estate investment trust. The company segments its operations into Residential and Commercial real estate investments. While Annaly's Residential assets are primarily comprised of agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures, it is primarily invested in commercial mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities in its Commercial unit through its subsidiary, Annaly Commercial Real Estate Group. Agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures make up the majority of the company's overall portfolio. Most of the company's counterparties are located in the U.S. Annaly generates nearly all of its revenue from the spread between interest earned on its assets and interest payments made on its borrowings.
Read more on NLY →