Core Insights - Centene reported a quarterly loss of $1.19 per share, which was better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.25, marking an earnings surprise of +4.76% [1] - The company generated revenues of $49.73 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.08% and showing a year-over-year increase from $40.81 billion [2] Financial Performance - Over the last four quarters, Centene has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped revenue estimates four times [2] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.93 on revenues of $48 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $2.89 on revenues of $191.31 billion [7] Market Position - Centene shares have declined about 3% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has only declined by 0.7% [3] - The Zacks Industry Rank for Medical - HMOs, which includes Centene, is currently in the bottom 7% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential underperformance compared to higher-ranked industries [8] Future Outlook - The company's earnings outlook will be crucial for determining the stock's immediate price movement, with management's commentary on the earnings call being particularly important [3][4] - The estimate revisions trend for Centene was unfavorable prior to the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) for the stock, suggesting expected underperformance in the near future [6]

Core Insights - Centene reported a fourth-quarter loss despite an increase in revenue, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving profitability and stabilizing its Medicaid business [1] Financial Performance - The company experienced a loss in the fourth quarter, which contrasts with its higher revenue figures [1] Business Operations - Centene is actively working to restore profitability and stabilize its Medicaid operations, highlighting the focus on improving its core business segment [1]

Core Insights - Centene Corporation reported a GAAP diluted loss per share of $(13.53) for the full year 2025, primarily due to a goodwill impairment of $6.7 billion, while the adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $2.08 [1][19] - For 2026, the company expects adjusted diluted EPS to exceed $3.00, indicating a positive outlook for profitability and margin improvement [1] Financial Performance - Total revenues for Q4 2025 were $49.725 billion, a 23% increase from $36.296 billion in Q4 2024; full-year revenues reached $194.777 billion, up 20% from $145.505 billion in 2024 [1][12] - Premium and service revenues for Q4 2025 were $44.727 billion, compared to $36.296 billion in Q4 2024, driven by growth in the PDP and Marketplace businesses [1][12] - The health benefits ratio (HBR) for Q4 2025 was 94.3%, up from 89.6% in Q4 2024, while the full-year HBR was 91.9%, an increase from 88.3% in 2024 [1][12] Membership Trends - Total at-risk membership as of December 31, 2025, was 27.634 million, a slight decrease from 28.601 million in 2024; traditional Medicaid membership decreased to 10.933 million from 11.408 million [6] - Marketplace membership increased significantly to 5.541 million from 4.382 million in 2024, indicating strong growth in this segment [6] Operational Efficiency - The SG&A expense ratio for Q4 2025 was 7.5%, down from 8.9% in Q4 2024; the full-year SG&A expense ratio was also 7.4%, compared to 8.5% in 2024, reflecting improved expense management [1][12] - Cash flow from operations for the full year 2025 was $5.088 billion, driven by improved timing of pharmacy rebates and higher medical claims liabilities [1][19] Strategic Developments - In December 2025, Centene signed an agreement to divest the remaining Magellan Health businesses, resulting in non-cash impairment charges of $513 million [2][12] - The company has engaged in community support initiatives, including contributions to food banks and partnerships aimed at addressing housing insecurity [5][9]

Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) will release earnings for its first quarter before the opening bell on Friday, Feb. 6.Analysts expect the Saint Louis, Missouri-based company to report quarterly loss of $1.22 per share. That's up from 80 cents per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for Centene's quarterly revenue is $48.35 billion (it reported $40.8 billion last year), according to Benzinga Pro.On Oct. 29, Centene reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results.Shares of Centen ...

Core Viewpoint - Centene Corporation is expected to report a quarterly loss of $1.22 per share for the first quarter, an increase from $0.80 per share in the same period last year [1] Financial Performance - The consensus estimate for Centene's quarterly revenue is $48.35 billion, compared to $40.8 billion reported last year [1] - Centene reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results on October 29 [1] Stock Performance - Shares of Centene fell 2.5% to close at $39.92 on Thursday [2]

Financial Performance - Centene Corporation reported a GAAP diluted loss per share of $(13.53) for the full year 2025, with an adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.08[2]. - Total revenues for 2025 reached $194.8 billion, a 20% increase from $145.5 billion in 2024, driven by premium yield and membership growth[12]. - The company recorded non-cash impairment charges of $513 million related to the divestiture of Magellan Health businesses[4]. - GAAP net earnings attributable to Centene for the three months ended December 31, 2025, were $(1,101) million, compared to $283 million for the same period in 2024[20]. - Adjusted net earnings for the three months ended December 31, 2025, were $(583) million, while for the year ended December 31, 2025, it was $1,028 million[20]. - The company reported a goodwill impairment of $6,723 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, impacting overall financial performance significantly[23]. - The net loss attributable to Centene Corporation for the year was $6.674 billion, compared to a net income of $3.305 billion in 2024[39]. - Net earnings for the year ended December 31, 2025, were $(6,677) million, a decrease from $3,294 million in 2024[41]. Revenue and Membership - Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025, reached $194.777 billion, a 19.5% increase from $163.071 billion in 2024[39]. - Premium revenues for the same period were $171.556 billion, up 20.5% from $142.303 billion in 2024[39]. - Centene's total at-risk membership decreased to 27.6 million in 2025 from 28.6 million in 2024, with a notable decline in traditional Medicaid membership[6]. - Total at-risk membership reached 27,633,500 in Q4 2025, compared to 25,853,600 in Q4 2024, reflecting a growth of approximately 6.9% year-over-year[43]. Cost and Expense Management - The health benefits ratio (HBR) for the full year 2025 was 91.9%, up from 88.3% in 2024, primarily due to increased medical costs in Medicaid and Marketplace[12]. - The SG&A expense ratio improved to 7.4% for the full year 2025, down from 8.5% in 2024, reflecting better expense management[12]. - Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2025, were $3,370 million, an increase from $3,231 million in the same period of 2024[29]. - The SG&A expense ratio improved to 7.5% in Q4 2025 from 8.9% in Q4 2024[43]. - Centene's adjusted SG&A expense ratio is calculated as adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses divided by premium and service revenues, providing insight into cost management[30]. Future Outlook - For 2026, Centene expects adjusted diluted EPS to exceed $3.00, indicating a positive outlook for earnings growth[1]. - Total revenues guidance for 2026 is projected between $186.5 billion and $190.5 billion[14]. - Premium and service revenues for 2026 are expected to be between $170.0 billion and $174.0 billion[14]. - The effective tax rate for 2026 is anticipated to be between 27.0% and 28.0%[14]. - The company anticipates adjusted diluted earnings per share for the year ending December 31, 2026, to be greater than $3.00[24]. Asset and Liability Management - Total assets decreased to $76.747 billion as of December 31, 2025, from $82.445 billion in 2024[37]. - Total liabilities increased to $56.691 billion in 2025, compared to $55.935 billion in 2024[37]. - Cash and cash equivalents rose to $17.888 billion in 2025, up from $14.063 billion in 2024[37]. - The company reported an impairment of $7.311 billion for the year, significantly higher than the $13 million in 2024[39]. - Centene's total stockholders' equity decreased to $20.033 billion in 2025 from $26.500 billion in 2024[37]. Medical Costs and Claims - Medical costs increased to $157.702 billion in 2025, compared to $125.707 billion in 2024, reflecting a 25.4% rise[39]. - The company incurred total medical claims of $157,794 million for the year ended December 31, 2025[44]. - Medical claims liability increased to $20,544 million by December 31, 2025, up from $18,308 million at the end of 2024[44]. - The Health Benefits Ratio (HBR) for Medicaid was 93.0% in Q4 2025, slightly improved from 93.4% in Q4 2024[43].

Core Insights - Centene Corporation (CNC) is expected to report a fourth-quarter 2025 loss of $1.25 per share on revenues of $48.24 billion, indicating a significant year-over-year earnings decline of 256.3% despite revenue growth of 18.2% [1][2] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Centene's total revenues in 2025 is $192.12 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 17.8%, while the EPS estimate for 2025 is $2.01, indicating a 72% decrease year-over-year [3] - Centene has beaten earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 75.2% [3] Earnings Predictions - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for Centene, as it has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [4] Membership and Premiums - Centene's premiums are projected to rise by 22.5% year-over-year, driven by gains in commercial membership, although total membership is expected to decline by 2.4% [7][9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a 29.7% year-over-year increase in total commercial memberships and a 15.6% growth in Medicare PDP memberships [8] Cost and Margin Pressures - The total health benefits ratio is estimated to be 93.7%, up from 89.6% in the previous year, indicating increased medical costs that are expected to pressure earnings [10] Industry Comparisons - UnitedHealth Group reported a fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.11, beating estimates but showing a 69% year-over-year decline due to elevated medical costs [11] - Elevance Health reported an adjusted EPS of $3.33, surpassing estimates and showing a 3.1% year-over-year increase, although it faced challenges from declining overall medical membership [12]

Core Insights - WellCare of Kentucky and Centene Foundation are making a strategic investment to combat food insecurity in Kentucky, where nearly 280,000 people (18.2%) are facing hunger, the highest number recorded [1][2] Group 1: Financial Commitment - A donation of $145,000 will support access to healthy food in various communities across Kentucky, including organizations like Help Office of Owensboro and Family Service Society of Paducah [2] - Centene Foundation has committed $1.5 million to support food banks and community-based groups nationwide, particularly during the winter when demand increases [4] Group 2: Long-term Solutions and Initiatives - WellCare has initiated several programs aimed at addressing food security, emphasizing the urgent health challenges posed by hunger [3] - Centene's broader mission includes transforming community health through locally driven solutions that integrate food access with healthcare services [7] Group 3: Broader Impact and Programs - Centene has invested $77.1 million in food security initiatives across multiple states, implementing programs like Fresh Food Pharmacies and Food is Medicine to address chronic diseases and food insecurity [6] - More than 95% of Centene's Medicaid plans offer food or nutrition intervention programs, highlighting the importance of access to nutritious food in health outcomes [5]

Financial Performance - Adjusted diluted EPS for Q4 was reported at $3.33, with a full-year EPS of $30.29, benefiting from greater tax favorability and non-recurring items contributing $3.75 per share [1] - Q4 operating revenue reached $49.3 billion, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase, driven by premium rate adjustments and acquisitions [4][7] - Operating cash flow for 2025 was $4.3 billion, with a target of at least $5.5 billion for 2026, and the company returned $4.1 billion to shareholders in 2025 [4][9] Guidance and Future Outlook - Elevance Health set a 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance of at least $25.50, with expectations to return to at least 12% adjusted EPS growth in 2027 [2][6][23] - The company anticipates 2026 to be a trough year for Medicaid, expecting an operating margin of approximately -1.75% and a decline of about 750,000 Medicaid members [5][10][12] - Medicare Advantage membership is expected to decline in the high teens percentage range, while targeting at least a 2% margin [5][13] Membership and Market Positioning - The company ended 2025 with 45.2 million members, a decrease of about 500,000 year-over-year, primarily due to lower Medicaid membership [8] - For the individual ACA business, Elevance expects at least 900,000 members by year-end 2026, with a 10% increase in membership coming out of open enrollment [14] - In commercial segments, employer group risk membership is projected to decline in the high single-digit percentage range due to deliberate pricing decisions [15] Operational Strategies - Executives emphasized "execution and repositioning" as key themes for 2026, focusing on portfolio actions across Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and the individual ACA market [3] - Carelon is expected to see strong demand, particularly in high-cost areas, but near-term growth may be moderated by lower health plan membership [16] - The company updated its long-term enterprise margin target to 5%–6%, with mid-single-digit margins targeted for health benefits and Carelon segments [19][20]

分组1 - UnitedHealth's Q4 earnings release triggered a significant sell-off across the healthcare industry, impacting companies like Centene, which has notable exposure to governmental healthcare programs, albeit less than UnitedHealth [1] - The sell-off reflects broader market concerns regarding the performance and outlook of healthcare stocks following UnitedHealth's results [1] 分组2 - The article emphasizes the importance of fundamental analysis in making informed investment decisions, highlighting the author's experience in managing a family portfolio and understanding the balance between risk and reward [1] - The author aims to provide accessible insights for investors of all experience levels, leveraging a background in IT to navigate complexities in technology stocks while also exploring diverse sectors for investment opportunities [1]