Centene Corp vs Yum China Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.89 (market cap $32.05B), while Yum China Holdings Inc trades at $47.77 (market cap $16.28B). The key difference: Centene Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Yum China Holdings Inc pays a 2.44% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | YUMC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.05B | $16.28B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $57.95 |
52-Week Low | $26.17 | $40.18 |
Enterprise Value | $21.10B | $17.19B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.44% |
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.
YUMC trades at $48.19, up 0.98% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The company reported revenue of $11.80B in 2025 with a net income margin of 7.84%, and recently completed the acquisition of the Pizza Hut brand in Mainland China, enhancing strategic control. Analyst consensus is strongly positive with 14 buy ratings and a projected 26.21% upside potential.
The outlook for YUMC is favorable due to consistent earnings growth, store expansion, and the Pizza Hut acquisition eliminating royalty fees. Risks include macroeconomic headwinds in China and competitive pressures. Wall Street sentiment remains bullish, supported by institutional confidence and positive earnings momentum.
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 →With almost 10,600 units and USD 9.5 billion in systemwide sales in 2020, Yum China is the largest restaurant chain in China. It generates revenue through its own restaurants and franchise fees. Key concepts include KFC (7,166 units) and Pizza Hut (2,355), but the company's portfolio also includes other brands such as Little Sheep, East Dawning, Taco Bell, Huang Ji Huang, COFFii & Joy, and Lavazza (collectively representing about 985 units). Yum China is a trademark licensee of Yum Brands, paying 3% of total systemwide sales to the company it separated from in October 2016.
Read more on YUMC →