Centene (CNC) vs Illumina (ILMN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Illumina (ILMN) has outperformed Centene (CNC) over the past year, gaining 177.0% versus a gain of 69.2%. Over five years, CNC leads with a -0.5% price change compared with -32.9% for ILMN. Illumina is the larger company by market cap ($40.43 billion vs $32.10 billion), about 1.3 times the size, while Centene is growing revenue faster (+19.4% vs -0.7%).
On valuation, Centene trades at a lower forward P/E (12.2x vs 43.8x for Illumina). Illumina converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 19.6% 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 | ILMN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $64.99 | $267.76 |
| Market cap | $32.10B | $40.43B |
| 1-day change | +0.59% | -2.11% |
| YTD return | +57.93% | +104.15% |
| 1-year return | +69.16% | +176.95% |
| 5-year return | -0.51% | -32.85% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 49.96 |
| Forward P/E | 12.15 | 43.83 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-10.44 | $5.36 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $194.78B | $4.34B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +19.44% | -0.66% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-6.67B | $850.00M |
| Gross margin | 7.30% | 66.08% |
| Operating margin | -3.91% | 18.58% |
| Net margin | -3.43% | 19.57% |
| 52-week high | $69.63 | $309.35 |
| 52-week low | $31.63 | $88.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -6.66% | -13.44% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +10.45% | -16.40% |
| Average volume | 4.55M | 2.66M |
| Shares outstanding | 494.00M | 151.00M |
| Employees | 61,100 | 8,600 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Medical Specialities | Medical Specialities |
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
- ILMN has outperformed CNC by 107.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Illumina is more profitable, keeping 19.6 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -3.4 cents for Centene.
- Centene grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+19.44% vs -0.66%).
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 Illumina
ILMN stock →Illumina, Inc. provides sequencing- and array-based solutions for genetic and genomic analysis in the Americas, Europe, Greater China, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.
Health Care · Medical Specialities · 8,600 employees
CNC vs ILMN FAQ
Which is bigger, Centene or Illumina?
Illumina (ILMN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $40.43B compared with $32.10B for Centene (CNC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CNC or ILMN?
ILMN returned +176.95% over the past 12 months, compared with +69.16% for CNC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Centene and Illumina in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Medical Specialities industry within the Health Care sector.