Centene Corp vs Novartis AG — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $68.55 (market cap $33.93B), while Novartis AG trades at $150.44 (market cap $288.65B). The key difference: Novartis AG is far larger — about 8.5× Centene Corp's market cap, and Novartis AG pays a 3.15% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | NVS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $288.65B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $168.62 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $113.50 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $328.67B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.15% |
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.
Novartis (NVS) trades at $153.37, down 0.44% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported $56.67B revenue in 2025 with strong profitability margins (net income margin 23.92%) and recently expanded its oncology pipeline through acquisitions like Myricx Bio. Earnings have been mixed, with a miss in Q1 2026 but a beat in Q4 2025.
Outlook remains stable with revenue projections near $56.6B for 2026, though debt-to-asset ratio has risen to 30.26%. Risks include pipeline execution and competitive pressures. Analysts show cautious optimism with 68% hold ratings, reflecting balanced growth and 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 →Novartis develops and manufactures healthcare products through two segments: Innovative Medicines and Sandoz. It generates the vast majority of its revenue from Innovative Medicines segment consisting global business franchises in oncology, ophthalmology, neuroscience, immunology, respiratory, cardio-metabolic, and established medicines. The company sells its products globally, with the United States representing close to one third of total revenue.
Read more on NVS →