Legal Investigation Initiated: Bragar Eagel & Squire is investigating Centene for potential breaches of fiduciary duties by its board of directors, concerning the period from December 12, 2024, to June 30, 2025.
Guidance Downgrade: On July 1, 2025, Centene withdrew its 2025 guidance, projecting revenues to drop to approximately $1.8 billion with an adjusted EPS of $2.75, indicating market growth was below expectations.
Stock Price Volatility: Following the negative announcement, Centene's stock plummeted from $56.65 on July 1, 2025, to $44.78 on July 2, 2025, a decline exceeding 40%, reflecting investor disappointment in the company's outlook.
Market Share Analysis: Preliminary analysis revealed that Centene's growth across 22 states was lower than anticipated, leading to increased enrollment challenges and higher morbidity rates, which exacerbated investor concerns.
CNC
$39.22+Infinity%1D
Analyst Views on CNC
Wall Street analysts forecast CNC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CNC is 39.23 USD with a low forecast of 32.00 USD and a high forecast of 45.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
15 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast CNC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CNC is 39.23 USD with a low forecast of 32.00 USD and a high forecast of 45.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
4 Buy
9 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 38.870
Low
32.00
Averages
39.23
High
45.00
Current: 38.870
Low
32.00
Averages
39.23
High
45.00
Baird
Outperform
downgrade
$395 -> $392
2025-12-16
New
Reason
Baird
Price Target
$395 -> $392
2025-12-16
New
downgrade
Outperform
Reason
Baird lowered the firm's price target on Cencora to $392 from $395 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm updated its model following its announced acquisition of OneOncology.
Bernstein
Lance Wilkes
Outperform
maintain
$36 -> $45
2025-11-21
Reason
Bernstein
Lance Wilkes
Price Target
$36 -> $45
2025-11-21
maintain
Outperform
Reason
Bernstein analyst Lance Wilkes raised the firm's price target on Centene to $45 from $36 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm notes the company reported Q3 earnings with adjusted EPS of 50c, 65c above consensus of (15c), with 10c of the beat coming from a tax benefit. Management raised FY25 EPS guidance to at least $2.00, Bernstein adds.
Bernstein
Lance Wilkes
Outperform
maintain
$36 -> $45
2025-11-20
Reason
Bernstein
Lance Wilkes
Price Target
$36 -> $45
2025-11-20
maintain
Outperform
Reason
Bernstein analyst Lance Wilkes raised the firm's price target on Centene to $45 from $36 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares after the company reported Q3 results. The firm sees margin recovery in Marketplace and Medicaid as driving outsized EPS growth with pricing largely addressing risk adjustment in Marketplace and risk pool shifts over the 2026/2027 time period. The firm added that it expects Medicaid margins remaining under pressure in 2026 and then normalizing over 2027-2029.
Wells Fargo
Equal Weight
maintain
$41 -> $35
2025-11-12
Reason
Wells Fargo
Price Target
$41 -> $35
2025-11-12
maintain
Equal Weight
Reason
Wells Fargo lowered the firm's price target on Centene to $35 from $41 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm notes results in Q3 were better than it feared and Centene increased EPS guidance modestly. However, the outlook for enhanced subsidy extension has weighed on the stock as visibility to earrings recovery worsens, Wells adds.
About CNC
Centene Corporation is a healthcare company. The Company provides fully integrated services to government-sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Its segments include Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial and Other. Specifically, the Medicaid segment includes the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, Medicaid Expansion programs, the Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD) program, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), Foster Care, Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMP), which cover beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare and other state-based programs. The Medicare segment includes Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. The Commercial segment includes the Health Insurance Marketplace product along with individual, small group, and large group commercial health insurance products.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
