Centene Corporation (CNC)

Centene Corp.'s stock price has been volatile in the past six months. As of July 18, 2025, the share price was $27.95, a 57.80% decline from July 19, 2024. On July 2, 2025, Centene's stock plunged by approximately 40% after the company withdrew its 2025 earnings guidance due to slower membership growth and higher patient illness in ACA marketplaces, projecting a $1.8 billion negative impact on earnings. Analysts reacted with downgrades, raising concerns about earnings visibility.

Demand for Centene's products and services exhibits some seasonality and is influenced by policy changes. Seasonal employees often shift between Medicaid and the exchanges based on income. Demand for exchange-related plans increased during the pandemic due to government incentives, but these subsidies are set to expire at the end of 2025. Medicaid membership experienced a drop after eligibility redeterminations resumed in April 2023. The company anticipates continued growth opportunities in Medicaid and Medicare segments, with new contracts commencing in 2025.

Centene Corporation is an American for-profit healthcare company operating as an intermediary for government-sponsored and privately insured healthcare programs. It operates in the Healthcare sector and the Managed Healthcare, Health Insurance, and Pharmacy industries. Centene provides managed care services through Medicaid, Medicare, and Commercial segments, offering Medicaid plans for various groups, Medicare plans including special needs and prescription drug plans, Health Insurance Marketplace products, TRICARE program coverage, correctional healthcare services via Centurion, and specialty services like pharmacy benefits management and telehealth.

Centene Corporation operates across all 50 U.S. states and internationally, serving 28.6 million members as of December 31, 2024. It is the largest Medicaid health insurer in 30 states, serves 4.4 million Marketplace members across 29 states, and 1.1 million Medicare Advantage members across 37 states. The company has expanded through strategic acquisitions and market expansion.

Centene has received positive recognition for diversity and workplace practices, being named a Top 50 Company for Diversity by Fair360 for the fifth year and included in Forbes' and Newsweek's diversity lists. It was also listed on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and named one of Fortune's 2024 World's Most Admired Companies. However, Centene has faced past controversies and settlements related to its pharmacy benefit manager operations, including settlements with several states over Medicaid overpayments.

Centene Corporation is a publicly traded company with ownership distributed among shareholders, including institutional and individual investors. Approximately 59.96% of the company's stock is owned by Institutional Investors, 0.61% by Insiders, and 39.43% by Public Companies and Individual Investors. As of July 2025, Centene has 1778 institutional owners and shareholders, including Vanguard Group Inc. and BlackRock, Inc.