Centene Corp vs Yum China Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Centene Corp trades at $66.08 (market cap $33.93B), while Yum China Holdings Inc trades at $44 (market cap $14.89B). The key difference: Centene Corp is far larger — about 2.3× Yum China Holdings Inc's market cap, and Yum China Holdings Inc pays a 2.68% dividend while Centene Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CNC | YUMC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $33.93B | $14.89B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $68.72 | $57.95 |
52-Week Low | $25.21 | $40.18 |
Enterprise Value | $26.56B | $15.78B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.68% |
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.
YUMC trades at $43.9, up 2.05% today, with strong analyst consensus (14 Buy, 5 Hold, 0 Sell). The stock shows bullish technical signals from moving averages, though RSI levels indicate potential overbought conditions. Recent earnings beats and a P/E of 16.82 suggest reasonable valuation. Key developments include the acquisition of Pizza Hut in mainland China and a $1.5 billion capital return plan for 2026, enhancing shareholder value.
The outlook remains positive given consistent revenue growth, expanding profitability, and strategic acquisitions. Risks include execution challenges in integrating Pizza Hut and macroeconomic pressures in China. With robust cash flows and a clear growth trajectory, YUMC presents a compelling opportunity for long-term investors, though near-term volatility may persist.
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 →