What is Zacks Research’s Forecast for Centene Q1 Earnings?

Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC) – Analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q1 2025 EPS estimates for shares of Centene in a report released on Thursday, November 14th. Zacks Research analyst K. Dey now expects that the company will earn $2.62 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $2.69. The consensus estimate for Centene’s current full-year earnings is $6.83 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Centene’s Q3 2025 earnings at $1.82 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $0.96 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $7.24 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $2.91 EPS and Q3 2026 earnings at $2.04 EPS.

Several other analysts have also weighed in on CNC. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and set a $78.00 price target on shares of Centene in a report on Monday, August 5th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Centene from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $83.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $90.00 price target on shares of Centene in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of Centene from $110.00 to $95.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Centene from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Centene has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $83.92.

Centene Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE CNC opened at $57.80 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.03, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.49. Centene has a 1-year low of $57.20 and a 1-year high of $81.42. The business’s 50 day moving average is $67.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is $70.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10.

Insider Activity at Centene

In other Centene news, CFO Andrew Lynn Asher purchased 17,200 shares of Centene stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $58.14 per share, for a total transaction of $1,000,008.00. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer now owns 486,847 shares in the company, valued at $28,305,284.58. This trade represents a 3.66 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Sarah London acquired 4,117 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 8th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $60.80 per share, for a total transaction of $250,313.60. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 667,229 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $40,567,523.20. This represents a 0.62 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Centene

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in CNC. Edgestream Partners L.P. raised its holdings in Centene by 38.3% in the first quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P. now owns 5,636 shares of the company’s stock worth $442,000 after purchasing an additional 1,560 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in Centene by 16.9% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,526 shares of the company’s stock valued at $198,000 after acquiring an additional 365 shares in the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Centene by 61.6% in the first quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 120,570 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,462,000 after purchasing an additional 45,937 shares during the last quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP acquired a new position in shares of Centene during the first quarter worth $350,000. Finally, UniSuper Management Pty Ltd boosted its position in shares of Centene by 275.6% in the 1st quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd now owns 18,785 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,474,000 after purchasing an additional 13,784 shares in the last quarter. 93.63% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Centene Company Profile

Centene Corporation operates as a healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to under-insured and uninsured families, commercial organizations, and military families in the United States. The company operates through Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other segments. The Medicaid segment offers health plan coverage, including medicaid expansion, aged, blind, disabled, children’s health insurance program, foster care, medicare-medicaid plans, long-term services and support.