Centene CorpCNC
▲ PositiveCapitalrelevance
Better-than-expected Q1 results and outlook for earnings recovery
Impact on stocks 1
Health Care
Centene CorpCentene Corporation Rallied After Better-Than-Expected First-Quarter Results
Earnings
Centene Corporation shares rallied sharply after the managed care company reported better-than-expected first-quarter results, making it the top contributor to the Oakmark Select Fund in the second quarter of 2026. The fund noted that managed care industry profitability has been under pressure over the last two years due to an unprecedented spike in medical cost trend, but there are signs that the cost trend is now stabilizing or even decelerating in certain utilization categories. Oakmark expects easing medical costs combined with improving reimbursement rates and Centene's own expense initiatives to drive a meaningful earnings recovery in the coming years. Beyond this cyclical recovery, the firm believes Centene remains well positioned for growth as a leader in government-managed care. Centene's stock closed at $68.29 per share on July 13, 2026, with a market capitalization of $33.72 billion, and has gained 127.63% over the past 52 weeks.
Centene CorpBetter-than-expected Q1 results and outlook for earnings recovery