Centene Corp vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.8 (market cap $33.93B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $221.99 (market cap $70.87B). The key difference: Ross Stores, Inc. is far larger — about 2.1× Centene Corp's market cap, and Ross Stores, Inc. pays a 0.81% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $70.87B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $240.13 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $127.59 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $71.46B |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.81% |
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.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $219.46, down 1.53% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and consistent earnings beats. The company demonstrates strong profitability with a 9.74% net margin and 38.98% ROE, while revenue grew to $21.13B in 2025. Recent news highlights robust Q1 2026 performance with 21% sales growth and expanding margins.
The stock offers upside to the $259 consensus price target, driven by operational efficiency and store expansion. Risks include consumer spending sensitivity and competitive pressures. Analyst sentiment is strongly positive with 64% buy ratings, though valuation multiples like the 30.65 P/E warrant monitoring amid market volatility.
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 →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →