Centene is a managed care organization that focuses on government-sponsored healthcare plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, and the individual exchanges.
It is a $32.5B financial services company. Revenue grew 13.9% over the last year, and it currently loses money.
- Website
- centene.com
- Location
- St Louis, MO
- Employees
- 61 100
- Sector
- Financial Services
- Founded
- 1984
Skills
Six independent scores, 0–100, built from reported numbers and valuation history. Click a row to see how it was scored.
Strong valuation; Growth, Profitability, Health and Moat lag behind.
Valuation100
- P/E vs own history9th pct · 25/25
- FCF yield27.5% · 25/25
- P/S0.2x · 25/25
- EV/EBITDA7.6x · 25/25
Growth45
- Revenue CAGR11.5% · 20/25
- Net income CAGRn/a · 0/25
- EPS CAGR ~5Yn/a · 0/25
- Fwd implied growth162.0% · 25/25
Profitability0
- ROIC-39.3% · 0/25
- ROE-24.0% · 0/25
- Net margin-2.5% · 0/25
- Operating margin-3.7% · 0/25
Health47
- Altman Z1.56 · 10/25
- Current ratio1.12 · 12/25
- Interest coverage-8.9x · 0/25
- Net cash / debtNet cash · 25/25
Quality65
- Piotroski F6/9 · 15/25
- Beneish M-3.19 · 25/25
- FCF conversion-176% · 0/25
- Margin stabilityσ 1.4% · 25/25
Moat48
- ROIC >12% years2/10 yrs · 0/25
- Median gross margin96.4% · 25/25
- FCF-positive years9/10 yrs · 18/25
- Worst-year net marginworst -3.4% · 5/25
Experience
The company's career so far — founding, the IPO, landmark products and acquisitions, plus revenue milestones and insider buying.
- FY2024FinancialBest year on record$3.31B net income
- FY2023FinancialBecame debt-freecash now exceeds total debt
- 2022AcquisitionThe acquisition was completed
- 2021AcquisitionOperose Health, a UK subsidiary of Centene, took over a group of London practices, AT Medics
- FY2020FinancialRevenue crossed $100B$111B for the year
- 2019AcquisitionIt announced plans to acquire WellCare for US$17.3 billion, a deal completed in January 2020
- 2019ProductCentene, through its subsidiary MH Services, took a 40% stake in Circle Health
- FY2018FinancialRevenue crossed $50B$60.1B for the year
- 2018AcquisitionIt acquired MHM Services, including its stake in Centurion
- 2017AcquisitionIn the United Kingdom, Centene began to acquire local healthcare services in 2017
- FY2016FinancialFirst recorded profitable year$562M net income
- FY2016FinancialRevenue already above $10B$40.6B in first reported year
- 2016AcquisitionIt finalized its acquisition
- 2006AcquisitionThe firm acquired US Script, a pharmacy benefits manager
- 2001IPOCentene went public in December 2001
- 1984FoundedCentene was founded by Elizabeth Brinn as Managed Health Services in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1984
Achievements
Verifiable track record, straight from the reported numbers.
Strengths & watch-outs
What a bull and a bear would each point to. Both lists come from the reported numbers, not opinions.
Strengths
- Revenue growing 13.9% year over year
- Net cash position after subtracting debt from cash
Watch-outs
- Not profitable — 2.5% net margin
- Altman Z-Score 1.56 — elevated financial-distress risk
- Thin interest coverage (-8.9×)
- Loss-making in 1 of the recent years
Qualifications
The basics a company should meet before you research it further. Each check uses the reported numbers.
- Revenue growing — the company sells more than a year ago+13.9% YoY
- Profitable — makes more than it spends-$5.10B TTM
- Profit growing — earnings are higher than last year-301.9% YoY
- Generates cash — cash left after running and investing$8.95B TTM
- Debt under control — could handle its obligationsmore cash than debt
- Established company — not a micro-cap — lower blow-up risk$32.5B market cap
- Not printing shares — share count not ballooning — you keep your slice-14.9% shares over ~5y
- Proven track record — years of profitability behind it9/10 profitable years
- Financially stable — balance sheet not near distressAltman Z 1.6 — distress
- Pays a dividend — returns cash to shareholdersno data
- Valuation not extreme — price not wildly above earningsP/E 35.2
Peer comparisonCentene Corporation vs 6 largest financial services peers — cap, P/E, growth and margin side by sideOpen ▾Close ▴
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Revenue growth | Net margin | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNC this company | $32.5B | 35.2 | +13.9% | -2.5% | Mixed |
| BRK.A Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | $1.1T | 11.6 | +3.9% | 22.3% | Mixed |
| BRK.B Berkshire Hathaway | $1.1T | 11.6 | +0.0% | 18.0% | Strong |
| JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $886.2B | 13.6 | +13.5% | 32.6% | Strained |
| V VISA Inc. | $723.9B | 31.9 | +14.4% | 50.8% | Solid |
| MA Mastercard Incorporated | $516.4B | 31.7 | +16.0% | 46.3% | Mixed |
| BAC Bank of America Corporation | $380.4B | 11.3 | +15.9% | 27.8% | Mixed |
Head-to-head: CNC vs BRK.A · CNC vs BRK.B · CNC vs JPM
References
What covering analysts publish about the company — information only, not a recommendation.
Appendix · Financial records
The full statements behind this CV, FY2016–FY2025. For readers who want to check the numbers.
Live data and quarterly detail: stockcv.com/CNC
Want the live picture — intraday moves, valuation history and full analysis?
Deeper analysis of CNC on PreMarketPriceFigures are derived from company filings (quarterly values normalised from as-filed year-to-date data where applicable) and may be delayed, restated or incomplete. This page is information, not investment advice. Latest price $65.80 · market cap $32.5B.