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

Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC) – Analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q1 2025 earnings estimates for Centene in a research report issued to clients and investors 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 forecast 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 equities research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Centene from $83.00 to $66.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Centene from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 4th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Centene from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $83.00 to $69.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of Centene from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price target on Centene from $96.00 to $88.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $83.92.

Centene Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CNC opened at $58.83 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.49. The business has a 50-day moving average of $67.82 and a two-hundred day moving average of $70.88. Centene has a fifty-two week low of $57.20 and a fifty-two week high of $81.42.

Institutional Trading of Centene

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Swedbank AB bought a new stake in Centene during the 1st quarter worth approximately $914,080,000. Capital International Investors grew its holdings in shares of Centene by 60.2% during the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 5,216,486 shares of the company’s stock worth $409,390,000 after purchasing an additional 1,959,460 shares during the last quarter. Harris Associates L P raised its holdings in shares of Centene by 5.7% in the third quarter. Harris Associates L P now owns 26,314,183 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,980,932,000 after buying an additional 1,420,825 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Centene by 22.9% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 4,461,517 shares of the company’s stock worth $295,799,000 after acquiring an additional 832,318 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc increased its position in Centene by 14.2% in the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 5,113,759 shares of the company’s stock valued at $339,042,000 after acquiring an additional 636,683 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.63% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Centene

In other news, CEO Sarah London bought 4,117 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 8th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $60.80 per share, with a total value of $250,313.60. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 667,229 shares in the company, valued at $40,567,523.20. This trade represents a 0.62 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Andrew Lynn Asher purchased 17,200 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 13th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $58.14 per share, with a total value of $1,000,008.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now directly owns 486,847 shares in the company, valued at $28,305,284.58. The trade was a 3.66 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Centene

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.