Centene Corp | CNC | Long at $35.00Centene Corp NYSE:CNC is a healthcare enterprise providing programs and services to under-insured and uninsured families, commercial organizations, and military families in the U.S. through Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and other segments. The stock dropped almost 40% this morning due to recent challenges, such as a $1.8B reduction in 2025 risk adjustment revenue and rising Medicaid costs (leading to withdrawal of 2025 earnings guidance). However, the company has a book value near $56, debt-to-equity of 0.7x (healthy), a current P/E of 5x, and a forward P/E of 9x.
It may be a few years before this stock recovers. But the price has entered my "crash" simple moving average area (currently between $32 and $36) and there is a price gap on the daily chart between $32 and $33 that will likely be closed before a move higher. Long-term, and potentially a new political administration, new life may enter this stock once again as the baby boom generation requires more healthcare services. But holding is not for the faint of heart...
Thus, at $35.00, NYSE:CNC is in a personal buy zone with a likely continued dip into the low $30s or high $20s before a slow move higher (where I will be accumulating more shares). Full disclosure: I am also a position holder in the $60s and cost averaging down.
Targets into 2028:
$45.00 (+28.6%)
$54.00 (+54.3%)
