Centene Corp vs Stryker Corporation — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.95 (market cap $32.05B), while Stryker Corporation trades at $345.54 (market cap $133.54B). The key difference: Stryker Corporation is far larger — about 4.2× Centene Corp's market cap, and Stryker Corporation pays a 1.01% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | SYK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.05B | $133.54B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $394.34 |
52-Week Low | $26.17 | $282.58 |
Enterprise Value | $21.10B | $145.01B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.01% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Centene (CNC) trades at $66.94, up 0.57% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat estimates with EPS of $2.51 versus $1.09 expected, driven by margin recovery and cost control. The stock shows attractive valuation metrics, including a P/E of 8.06 and P/S of 0.16, while revenue growth remains robust at $194.78B in 2025.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $71.00, though risks include Medicaid membership volatility and net income margin pressure. The company's raised 2026 EPS guidance and operational cash flow strength support upside potential, but investors should weigh competitive and regulatory challenges in the managed care sector.
Stryker (SYK) trades at $341.17, down 1.34% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $379.44. The company reported strong Q2 2026 results with a 9% organic sales growth and an EPS beat, recovering from a Q1 cyber incident. Profitability remains robust with a net income margin of 14.43% and a dividend yield supported by recent increases.
The stock offers upside potential driven by earnings momentum and product innovation like Mako RPS, but risks include competitive pressures and past cybersecurity disruptions. Analyst sentiment is strongly bullish with 74% buy ratings, though valuation multiples like a P/E of 36.08 suggest premium pricing relative to historical norms.
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 →Stryker is a global leader in medical technology, specializing in Orthopaedics, MedSurg, and Neurotechnology. It is renowned for its highly decentralized business model, which empowers 22 specialized business units to drive innovation and category leadership. With its market-leading Mako SmartRobotics™ platform and a relentless M&A strategy, Stryker provides a comprehensive ecosystem of connected surgical tools, implants, and digital solutions that improve both clinical and financial outcomes for hospitals worldwide.
Read more on SYK →