Centene Corp vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.09 (market cap $33.93B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $527.07 (market cap $75.09B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is far larger — about 2.2× Centene Corp's market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays a 1.78% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $75.09B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $89.31B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.78% |
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.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $541.82, up 0.41% with neutral technical signals. The company shows strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, a 10.8% net income margin, and a $96 billion backlog supporting growth. Recent news highlights expansion in defense and aerospace sectors, driven by increased government spending and new contracts.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $655, indicating 21% upside. Risks include political budget shifts and execution challenges. Analyst sentiment is bullish (57% buy ratings), but investors should monitor Q2 2026 earnings due July 21 for confirmation of growth trends.
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 →Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor that is diversified across short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. The firm's segments include aeronautics, mission systems, defense services, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces various piloted and autonomous flight systems. Mission systems creates a variety of sensors and processors for defense hardware. The defense systems segment is a long-range missile manufacturer. Finally, the company's space systems segment produces various space structures, sensors, and satellites.
Read more on NOC →