Centene (NYSE:CNC) Given New $82.00 Price Target at Barclays

Centene (NYSE:CNC) had its price target hoisted by investment analysts at Barclays from $80.00 to $82.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an “overweight” rating on the stock. Barclays‘s price target would indicate a potential upside of 19.35% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Centene from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, July 18th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating and set a $79.00 price target (up from $68.00) on shares of Centene in a report on Monday, August 3rd. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating and issued a $65.00 price objective (up from $47.00) on shares of Centene in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Centene from $71.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on Centene from $70.00 to $71.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $71.70.

Centene Stock Performance

Shares of Centene stock traded down $0.01 on Wednesday, hitting $68.70. 1,831,301 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,606,548. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.94 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.59 and a beta of 1.13. Centene has a 52 week low of $31.63 and a 52 week high of $72.50. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $65.90 and a 200 day simple moving average of $54.94.

Centene (NYSE:CNC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 27th. The company reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.10 by $0.48. The company had revenue of $50.65 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $47.12 billion. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.50 EPS. Research analysts expect that Centene will post 4.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, General Counsel Christopher Koster sold 56,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.90, for a total transaction of $3,779,850.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 248,854 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $16,648,332.60. The trade was a 18.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.37% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Centene

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in Centene during the second quarter worth $2,660,422,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in shares of Centene by 423.0% in the second quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,301,215 shares of the company’s stock valued at $853,805,000 after acquiring an additional 10,757,914 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new stake in shares of Centene in the second quarter valued at $285,713,000. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new stake in shares of Centene in the 2nd quarter worth about $257,279,000. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc bought a new stake in shares of Centene in the 2nd quarter worth about $244,463,000. 93.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Centene

Here are the key news stories impacting Centene this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings and revenue exceeded expectations. Centene reported adjusted diluted EPS of $0.58, well above the approximately $0.07–$0.10 consensus range, while revenue reached $50.65 billion versus estimates of $47.12 billion. Revenue increased 1.9% year over year. Centene Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised its 2026 profit forecast. Centene increased adjusted diluted EPS guidance by $0.40 to greater than $5.20 and raised GAAP diluted EPS guidance to more than $3.46. The consolidated health benefits ratio was 92.7%, better than expected, led by improved Medicare performance. Centene Forecasts 2026 Adjusted EPS Greater Than $5.20
• Positive Sentiment: Medicare results exceeded expectations. Medicare revenue rose 19.9%, and management indicated the segment’s turnaround is reaching breakeven earlier than planned. The improvement helped offset pressure from declining Medicaid membership. Centene Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates on Medicare Strength
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts lifted their price targets after the report. Cantor Fitzgerald raised its target to $79 from $75 and maintained an overweight rating, while Robert W. Baird increased its target to $71 from $66 but retained a neutral rating. These revisions reinforce improving earnings expectations, although some targets imply limited upside.
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent Zacks articles characterize Centene as a value candidate based on valuation, earnings estimates and estimate revisions. These assessments may support investor interest but do not represent a new company-specific catalyst. Why Centene Is a Top Value Stock for the Long-Term
• Negative Sentiment: Risks remain beneath the headline beat. Centene posted a GAAP loss of $0.14 per share, Medicaid membership declined, and traders purchased put options at unusually high volume. Those factors could limit momentum if investors question the durability of the Medicare recovery or broader enrollment trends. Stock Traders Buy High Volume of Put Options on Centene

Centene Company Profile

Centene Corporation is a diversified healthcare enterprise that provides government-sponsored and commercial health insurance programs and related healthcare services. The company’s offerings are primarily focused on Medicaid, Medicare, and health insurance marketplace plans, with an emphasis on serving individuals and families who may have limited access to traditional healthcare coverage.

Centene operates Medicaid health plans through state-based contracts and offers Medicare Advantage, Medicare prescription drug, and Medicare Supplement products through its Wellcare brand.