Centene (CNC) vs CVS Health (CVS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Centene (CNC) has outperformed CVS Health (CVS) over the past year, gaining 69.2% versus a gain of 14.0%. Over five years, CVS leads with a +2.5% price change compared with -0.5% for CNC. CVS Health is the larger company by market cap ($112.49 billion vs $32.10 billion), about 3.5 times the size, while Centene is growing revenue faster (+19.4% vs +7.8%).
On valuation, CVS Health trades at a lower forward P/E (10.3x vs 12.2x for Centene). CVS Health pays a dividend yielding 3.02%, while Centene does not currently pay one. CVS Health converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 0.4% versus -3.4%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CNC | CVS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $64.99 | $87.95 |
| Market cap | $32.10B | $112.49B |
| 1-day change | +0.59% | +1.76% |
| YTD return | +57.93% | +10.82% |
| 1-year return | +69.16% | +14.04% |
| 5-year return | -0.51% | +2.46% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 23.14 |
| Forward P/E | 12.15 | 10.30 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-10.44 | $3.80 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 3.02% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $2.66 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $194.78B | $402.07B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +19.44% | +7.85% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-6.67B | $1.77B |
| Gross margin | 7.30% | 44.99% |
| Operating margin | -3.91% | 1.16% |
| Net margin | -3.43% | 0.44% |
| 52-week high | $69.63 | $110.68 |
| 52-week low | $31.63 | $69.51 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -6.66% | -20.54% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +10.45% | +31.62% |
| Average volume | 4.55M | 7.91M |
| Shares outstanding | 494.00M | 1.28B |
| Employees | 61,100 | 219,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Medical Specialities | Retail-Drug Stores and Proprietary Stores |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- CVS Health is about 3.5 times larger than Centene by market value ($112.49B vs $32.10B).
- CNC has outperformed CVS by 55.1 percentage points over the past year.
- CVS Health offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.02% vs 0.00%).
- Centene grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+19.44% vs +7.85%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Centene in Health Care and CVS Health in Consumer Staples.
About Centene
CNC stock →Centene Corporation operates as a managed care company that provides programs and services to under-insured families, and commercial organizations in the United States. It operates through four segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other.
Health Care · Medical Specialities · 61,100 employees
About CVS Health
CVS stock →CVS Health Corporation provides health solutions in the United States. The Health Care Benefits segment offers traditional, voluntary, and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, and behavioral health plans; medical management capabilities; Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans; prescription drug plans (PDPs); and Medicaid health care management services.
Consumer Staples · Retail-Drug Stores and Proprietary Stores · 219,000 employees
CNC vs CVS FAQ
Which is bigger, Centene or CVS Health?
CVS Health (CVS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $112.49B compared with $32.10B for Centene (CNC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CNC or CVS?
CNC returned +69.16% over the past 12 months, compared with +14.04% for CVS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Centene or CVS Health?
CVS Health pays a dividend yielding 3.02%, while Centene does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Centene and CVS Health in the same industry?
No. Centene is in the Health Care sector, while CVS Health is in Consumer Staples.