Centene Corp (CNC) stock analysis

On Sep 18, 2026, our model rated Centene Corp (CNC) WEAK BUY with 17% confidence at a price of $66.34. That means the signals lean positive, but they are mixed, so conviction is low.

Technical picture

The 14-day RSI is 54, close to the neutral 50 line, so momentum is balanced.

MACD is above its signal line, a sign that short-term momentum is turning up.

The price is above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, the classic picture of an uptrend.

Volume is only 0.2x its 20-day average; light trading makes the latest move less convincing.

Trend structure and money flow

Market structure shows a bullish break of structure (BOS): price broke a recent swing high in the direction of the trend, which usually signals trend continuation.

The most recent swing high is $47.68 and the swing low is $31.63; traders often treat these as resistance and support.

Price is sitting in a bearish order block, a zone where large sellers stepped in before, so upside may stall here.

Fundamentals

The PEG ratio is 0.80, which looks cheap relative to its expected growth.

The company reports a profit margin of -2.8% and revenue growth of +4.6%.

In its latest quarter it earned $2.51 per share, which beat the $1.08 analysts expected, with revenue +9.9% year over year.

Wall Street's average rating is 2.4 on a 1 (strong buy) to 5 (sell) scale, roughly a "buy", with an average price target of $71.78.

The next earnings report is expected around Oct 27, 2026; prices often move sharply around earnings.

Trade plan from the model

The model's long / bullish plan uses an entry near $65.82, a target of $69.11 (+5.0%) and a stop-loss at $60.75 (-7.7%).

That is a reward-to-risk ratio of about 0.6 to 1: the potential loss is bigger than the gain, a weak setup.

The plan has a time limit: reassess by Sep 28, 2026 whatever the price does.

The model's one-paragraph read

Leans BUY — composite score +0.17 (WEAK BUY). Technicals: RSI 54.35, MACD bullish, price above SMA50. Fundamentals: PEG 0.80, margin -2.8%, revenue growth 4.6%. Financial results: YoY revenue +9.9%, last EPS surprise +132.4%, next earnings 2026-10-27. Smart Money Concepts: BOS bullish (trend continuation), price retesting a bearish order block, sitting inside an unfilled bearish fair value gap, equal lows below (resting liquidity). FinGPT news read: neutral. Memory: 6 prior look(s); 71% of directional calls matched later price. Suggested levels: entry $65.82, target $69.11, stop-loss $60.75, exit by 2026-09-28 (10-calendar-day max hold (time-stop; reassess by this date regardless of P&L)).

Past ratings for CNC

Of the last 6 directional calls on CNC, 4 pointed the right way by the most recent analysis (67%). Past calls do not guarantee future results.

"Move since" compares each call's price with the latest analysed price.

Recent news on CNC

• Oct 13, 2026: PA Health & Wellness Earns National Recognition Among Top Medicaid Health Plans for Second Consecutive Year (PR Newswire)

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Frequently asked questions

Is CNC a buy right now?

As of Sep 18, 2026, our automated model rates Centene Corp (CNC) WEAK BUY with 17% confidence: the signals lean positive, but they are mixed, so conviction is low. This is a model output for education, not personal investment advice.

What is the price target for CNC?

The model's most recent plan targets $69.11 with a stop-loss at $60.75, from an entry near $65.82.

When does Centene Corp report earnings next?

The next earnings report is expected around Oct 27, 2026.

What does a WEAK BUY rating mean?

A WEAK BUY rating means the signals lean positive, but they are mixed, so conviction is low.