Centene Corp vs PepsiCo, Inc. — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.8 (market cap $33.93B), while PepsiCo, Inc. trades at $135.83 (market cap $184.87B). The key difference: PepsiCo, Inc. is far larger — about 5.4× Centene Corp's market cap, and PepsiCo, Inc. pays a 4.37% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | PEP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $184.87B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $170.44 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $133.81 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $227.37B |
Dividend Yield | — | 4.37% |
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.
PepsiCo (PEP) trades at $138.49, up 0.81% with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamentals. The company reported three consecutive quarterly EPS beats and maintains robust profitability with 10.78% net margin and 51.59% ROE. Recent news highlights price adjustments on snack products and sponsorship withdrawals, while analysts maintain a consensus price target of $159.27 with 33% buy ratings.
PEP offers stable dividend income and consistent earnings growth potential, though near-term technical weakness and pricing strategy adjustments present headwinds. The stock trades at reasonable valuation multiples (P/E 17.75) with upside to analyst targets, but investors should monitor North American performance recovery and consumer pricing sensitivity.
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 →PepsiCo is one of the largest food and beverage companies globally. It makes, markets, and sells a slew of brands across the beverage and snack categories, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Doritos, Lays, and Ruffles. The firm uses a largely integrated go-to-market model, though it does leverage third-party bottlers, contract manufacturers, and distributors in certain markets. In addition to company-owned trademarks, Pepsi manufactures and distributes other brands through partnerships and joint ventures with companies such as Starbucks. The firm segments its operations into five primary geographies, with North America (comprising Frito-Lay North America, Quaker Foods North America, and North America beverages) constituting around 60% of consolidated revenue.
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