Centene Posts 14-Cent Loss Per Share in Third Quarter
CNC has more than doubled off its 52-week low of $31.63.
Summary
Centene reported a third-quarter loss of $71 million, or 14 cents per share, a swing into the red for the insurer, on revenue of $50.65 billion that topped estimates on Medicare growth. That contrasts sharply with the prior quarter, when Q2 2026 GAAP EPS came in at $2.19 on a much lower medical cost ratio. The miss lands after the company cut its 2026 Medicaid outlook in early August, forecasting an 8-9% membership decline tied to work-rule impacts. The stock trades near $68.50 with a market value around $34 billion, so a quarterly loss is a meaningful hit to the earnings base. Centene now sees FY revenue of $196.5 billion to $200.5 billion, premium and service revenue of $173 billion to $177 billion, and a 2026 health benefits ratio of 90.4%-91.1%, and it raised its 2026 guidance to greater than $3.46 GAAP EPS and greater than $5.20 adjusted EPS, the latter up 40 cents.
At the time of this announcement, CNC was trading at $68.50 on NYSE in the Life Sciences sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $33.6B. The 52-week trading range was $31.63 to $72.50. This news item was assessed with positive market sentiment and an importance score of 8 out of 10. Source: Dow Jones Newswires.