Centene Corporation reported second-quarter 2026 results showing a profitability recovery, with premium and service revenues up 4.5% year over year and adjusted EPS of $2.51 versus a loss of 16 cents a year ago. The insurer reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance floor above $4.80 and said its consolidated health benefits ratio improved to 89.6% from 93%. Centene expects its Marketplace business to generate a 4.5%-5% pretax margin in 2026, while its PDP business should deliver a pretax margin above 3% and Medicare Advantage moves closer to breakeven. Membership remains the main pressure point: Medicaid enrollment ended the second quarter of 2026 at 12.1 million, down 5.5% year over year, and the company projects full-year Medicaid membership to decline 8%-9% from year-end 2025. Centene raised its expected 2026 Medicaid rate increase to about 5%, which could cushion some of the impact as medical-cost trends remain in the mid-4% range.
Humana Inc
UnitedHealth Group IncorporatedCentene CorpCentene posted Q2 profit recovery with adjusted EPS of $2.51 vs a year-ago loss and reaffirmed 2026 EPS guidance above $4.80.
