Centene Corp vs SYSCO Corporation — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.5 (market cap $33.93B), while SYSCO Corporation trades at $83.48 (market cap $39.62B). The key difference: SYSCO Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and SYSCO Corporation pays a 2.66% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | SYY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $39.62B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $91.16 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $69.30 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $53.10B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.66% |
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.
Sysco Corporation (SYY) trades at $83.46, down 0.44% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and positive analyst sentiment. The stock shows strong fundamentals with consistent revenue growth reaching $81.37B in 2025 and a net income margin of 2.08%. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q3 and Q4 2025, though Q1 2026 slightly missed. The company maintains solid cash flow generation and recently announced a $0.55 dividend payable in July 2026.
Sysco's outlook remains favorable with 60% analyst buy ratings and a consensus price target of $83.67, slightly above current levels. Key opportunities include sustained revenue growth and operational efficiencies, while risks involve margin pressure and competitive industry dynamics. The stock presents a balanced investment case with moderate upside potential amid stable cash flows.
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 →Sysco is the largest U.S. food-service distributor, boasting 17% market share of the highly fragmented food-service distribution industry. Sysco distributes over 400,000 food and nonfood products to restaurants (63% of revenue), healthcare facilities (8%), education and government buildings (8%), travel and leisure (7%), and other locations (14%) where individuals consume away-from-home meals. In fiscal 2022, 82% of the firm's revenue was U.S.-based, with 7% from Canada, 4% from the U.K., 2% from France, and 4% other.
Read more on SYY →