Centene

Centene (CNC) Q1 2026 Earnings

Reported Apr 27, 2026 at 8:08 PM ET · SEC Source

Q1 26 EPS

$3.37

BEAT +57.91%

Est. $2.13

Q1 26 Revenue

$49.94B

BEAT +5.03%

Est. $47.55B

vs S&P Since Q1 26

+42.5%

BEATING MARKET

CNC +51.2% vs S&P +8.7%

Market Reaction

Did CNC Beat Earnings? Q1 2026 Results

Centene Corp delivered a blowout first quarter for 2026, posting adjusted diluted EPS of $3.37 against a Wall Street consensus of $2.13, a beat of 57.90% that reflected broad-based outperformance across its major business segments. Revenue climbed 7.… Read more Centene Corp delivered a blowout first quarter for 2026, posting adjusted diluted EPS of $3.37 against a Wall Street consensus of $2.13, a beat of 57.90% that reflected broad-based outperformance across its major business segments. Revenue climbed 7.1% year-over-year to $49.94 billion, clearing the $47.55 billion consensus estimate by 5.03%, as premium and service revenues grew 5% to $44.66 billion. The single most material driver of the upside was a meaningful improvement in the Medicare segment health benefits ratio, which tightened to 84.9% from 86.3% a year ago, aided by stronger-than-expected results in both Medicare Advantage and PDP and the absence of a premium deficiency reserve charge that had weighed on year-ago results. Medicaid HBR also improved modestly to 93.1%, and SG&A discipline pushed that ratio down to 7.6% from 7.9%. The strong quarter prompted management to raise full-year 2026 guidance, lifting adjusted EPS to greater than $3.40 and increasing total revenue guidance to a range of $187.50 billion to $191.50 billion, even as broader industry headwinds from ACA subsidy uncertainty continue to reshape the competitive landscape.

Key Takeaways

  • Medicaid HBR improvement to 93.1% from 93.6% driven by rate increases, medical cost management, and moderate flu
  • Medicare segment HBR improvement to 84.9% from 86.3% with outperformance in both Medicare Advantage and PDP
  • SG&A expense ratio improved to 7.6% from 7.9% through cost discipline and favorable business mix
  • Premium yield and PDP membership growth driving revenue increases
  • State-directed payments and rate increases to address medical trend in Medicaid
  • No premium deficiency reserve in Q1 2026 vs. PDR charge in Q1 2025 for Medicare Advantage
  • Strong operating cash flow of $4.4 billion
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CNC YoY Financials

Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025, source: SEC Filings

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CNC Revenue by Segment

With YoY comparisons, source: SEC Filings

Q1 25 Q2 26

“We continue to make tangible progress in our margin recovery efforts while strengthening the fundamental operations of each of our businesses.”

— Sarah M. London, Q1 2026 Earnings Press Release