Centene Corp vs Upwork Inc — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.38 (market cap $32.05B), while Upwork Inc trades at $8.24 (market cap $1.04B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 30.8× Upwork Inc's market cap, and Centene Corp is trading nearer its 52-week high, Upwork Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | UPWK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.05B | $1.04B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $22.11 |
52-Week Low | $26.17 | $7.84 |
Enterprise Value | $21.10B | $806.15M |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Centene (CNC) trades at $66.56, up 1.2% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $71.00. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $2.51 per share, beating estimates, and raised its full-year EPS guidance, reflecting margin recovery and cost discipline. Revenue growth remains robust, projected to reach $202.9 billion in 2026, though net income margins are negative due to elevated medical costs.
The stock presents a value opportunity with low P/E (8.06) and P/S (0.16) ratios, but investors face risks from Medicaid membership volatility and regulatory pressures. Analyst sentiment is strongly bullish (61% buy ratings), with institutional interest growing, as seen in recent fund additions. Near-term upside is likely if cost controls sustain profitability improvements.
UPWK trades at $9.83, up 1.65% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but mixed oscillators. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.41, beating expectations, but revenue guidance disappointed investors, causing a recent stock decline. Fundamentals show solid profitability with a 12.93% net income margin and attractive valuation ratios, including a P/E of 10.71. Cash flow from operations remains strong at $248.26 million for 2025.
The outlook is mixed: strong fundamentals and analyst buy ratings support upside potential, but weak guidance and active client declines pose near-term risks. Investment opportunity lies in valuation appeal and AI integration, balanced by execution challenges in a competitive freelance market.
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 →Upwork Inc is a United States-based company that operates an online marketplace that enables businesses to find and work with highly-skilled independent professionals. The develops platform for hiring and freelancing purposes. Its products offering include Upwork Basic, Upwork Plus, Upwork Business, Upwork Enterprise, and Upwork Payroll. The business generates revenue from Talent and Clients across the USA, India, the Philippines and the rest of the world. Substantial income is derived from providing services to Clients.
Read more on UPWK →