Centene Corp vs Western Union Co — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.5 (market cap $33.93B), while Western Union Co trades at $7.91 (market cap $2.46B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 13.8× Western Union Co's market cap, and Western Union Co pays a 11.93% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | WU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $2.46B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $10.28 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $7.04 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $2.16B |
Dividend Yield | — | 11.93% |
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.
Western Union (WU) trades at $7.87, up 0.38% with a bullish technical signal. The stock shows attractive valuation with P/E of 5.79 and P/S of 0.63, supported by strong profitability metrics including 47.66% ROE. Recent earnings show mixed performance with Q1 2026 miss but Q3 and Q4 2025 beats. The company maintains strategic partnerships with Total Wireless and digital expansion initiatives, though revenue has declined from $4.5B in 2022 to $4.05B in 2025.
WU presents a value opportunity with deep valuation discounts but faces revenue headwinds and competitive pressures. The 11.5% dividend yield provides income support, though high debt levels and declining net income margins warrant caution. Analyst consensus remains mixed with 58% hold ratings, reflecting balanced risk-reward amid digital transformation efforts.
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 →Western Union provides domestic and international money transfers through its global network of about 500,000 outside agents. It is the largest money transfer company in the world and one of only a few companies with a truly global agent network.
Read more on WU →