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CNC's Q3 earnings may face pressure from declining memberships and rising costs, even as improving margins and a 70.7% stock rally offer reasons for optimism.

Ambetter Health Introduces New Heart Failure Coverage and Expands Chronic Care Solutions in Nine States

, /PRNewswire/ -- Ambetter Health, the Health Insurance Marketplace product of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), today announced its 2027 Marketplace offerings, including new and enhanced condition-specific plans. Ambetter Health currently serves more than 3.5 million members across 27 states and more than 1,700 counties, and will expand into 55 additional counties for 2027.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/ambetter_health/9420451-en-ambetter-health-open-enrollment-2027-marketplace-offerings 

Ambetter Health is on a mission to expand access to quality, affordable health insurance, helping more people connect to the care and support they deserve.

Ambetter Health Announces 2027 Marketplace Offerings, Including Enhanced Condition-Specific Coverage Options

Ambetter Health Announces 2027 Marketplace Offerings, Including Enhanced Condition-Specific Coverage Options

Ambetter Health combines deep experience, innovative solutions, and strong local partnerships to help individuals and families take control of their health with confidence.

"We are committed to delivering coverage options that reflect the diverse healthcare needs of the communities we serve," said Katherine Kirby, President of Ambetter Health. "Our condition-specific plans have delivered strong member satisfaction and primary care engagement, demonstrating the value of more personalized approaches to coverage."

Designed Around Members' Needs
In 2027, Ambetter Health will introduce and expand a range of condition-specific Ambetter Health Premier plans designed to support better health, enhance the member experience, and help reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs for individuals managing chronic conditions.

New Enhanced Congestive Heart Failure Care plans in North Carolina and Ohio. These plans offer eligible members $0 copays for certain heart failure medications, $0 select mental health medications, $0 nicotine replacement therapy, $0 cardiologist visits (up to four per year), plus covered cholesterol labs, EKGs, cardiac education and nutritional counseling visits.
Expanding Enhanced Diabetes Care plans in Louisiana, Mississippi and Indiana. These plans, already available in Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma, offer eligible members $0 preferred insulin, $0 select medications used to manage diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and mental health conditions, as well as $0 select diabetic supplies and $0 routine A1C lab services.
Enhanced Asthma and COPD Care plans in Georgia. Joining North Carolina, Oklahoma and Kentucky, these plans offer $0 copays for preferred Asthma/COPD medications, including controller and rescue inhalers and mental health medications, $0 pulmonologist visits, $0 allergy testing and $0 pulmonary rehabilitation services.
Coverage that Supports Whole-Person Health
In addition to expanded plan options, Ambetter Health will continue offering a range of programs and benefits designed to help members access care and manage their health more effectively.

Virtual 24/7 Care. Members in all markets can reach an Ambetter-designated licensed provider by telehealth for conditions such as flu, fever, ear infections, skin conditions and respiratory infections, without leaving home. 
My Health Pays®. Available in participating states, the My Health Pays program lets members earn rewards for completing health activities and challenges, with up to $500 in annual rewards that can be applied to copays, deductibles, and other health related expenses. Amounts and eligibility vary by state.
Walgreens Smart Savings. In Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Nebraska and Tennessee, members receive 20% off Walgreens brand over the counter health and wellness products. *
YMCA membership. In Arizona, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina and Oklahoma, members receive in-person YMCA access and YMCA360 virtual programming at no additional cost.
Open Enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage begins Nov. 1, 2026. Consumers can explore coverage options, compare plans, and learn more about available benefits by visiting AmbetterHealth.com.

About Ambetter Health
Ambetter Health is a health insurance offering that is available on the Health Insurance Marketplace, or exchange, established by the Affordable Care Act. It is one of the healthcare programs provided by Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives. Ambetter Health is made available through local health plans and covers a wide variety of healthcare services, including preventive and wellness services, maternity and newborn care, pediatric services, mental health and substance misuse services, prescription drug coverage and more.

*Walgreens discount valid until 12/31/27. Some restrictions apply. Discount valid only for in-store purchases of eligible Walgreens brand health and wellness products by current members eligible for the discount program. Discount cannot be used online. Walgreens can discontinue program at its discretion. For full list of Walgreens brand health and wellness products, please visit www.walgreens.com/smartsavings. Offer not valid on the following items: alcohol, charitable donations, dairy, prescription medication, durable medical equipment or supplies or services submitted by the pharmacy to insurance for reimbursement or where otherwise limited by law, liquor department items, lottery tickets, magazines, money orders/transfers, newspapers, phone/prepaid/gift cards, photo orders, prescriptions, pseudoephedrine or ephedrine products, stamps, tobacco and transportation passes.

SOURCE Centene Corporation

The individual health insurance market is shrinking at a pace not seen in a decade, and the insurers left standing are already pricing in the next wave of people walking out the door.

More than 4.6 million Americans left the individual health insurance market in a single year. New research from KFF shows enrollment fell 18%, from 25.2 million in June 2025 to 20.5 million in June 2026. Reuters reports this is the steepest annual decline since 2015. The cause: enhanced premium tax credits ran out, and costs doubled or even tripled for some people.

For those who stayed, Marketplace insurers have proposed a median premium increase of 15% for 2027, the second consecutive year of double-digit increases. About four percentage points of that hike reflects insurers expecting more departures and a sicker risk pool. Insurers are now charging for an exit that hasn’t finished yet. We are seeing the early shape of a death spiral.

Insurers Are Already Pricing In the Next Wave of Departures Many who left found other coverage. Among 2025 Marketplace enrollees, 22% moved to another coverage source and 9% said they were now uninsured. The people who do drop coverage, though, tend to be the healthier customers who can most easily do without it. When they go, average claims rise. Insurers then raise premiums, and the next level of relatively healthy customers decides coverage is no longer worth the price.

The insurers are reporting exactly that pressure. Centene (NYSE:CNC | CNC Price Prediction) and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) have flagged rising medical costs in their Obamacare businesses. This year’s requested median hike of 14% was the second-highest increase in nearly a decade. The enrollment decline is now closing in on the Congressional Budget Office’s projection of roughly a 25% drop through 2026.

Household Budgets Have Little Room Left to Absorb It A 17% share of returning enrollees told KFF they were not confident they could afford premiums for all of 2026. And they have little margin. The personal savings rate fell to 4.4% in the second quarter, down from 6.9% in early 2024. The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index stood at 51.7 in August.

At the same time, Americans keep spending more on care. Healthcare services spending hit an annualized $3,861.3 billion in August, up from $3,616.9 billion a year earlier. People without coverage tend to put off treatment until conditions get worse, and those costs land later on hospitals as uncompensated care and come back to everyone else through higher prices.

Open Enrollment Will Show Whether the Spiral Takes Hold KFF warns that more people could become uninsured during the fall Open Enrollment Period, and its figures don’t yet reflect recent plan cancellations. The key signal is the age and health mix of whoever signs up for 2027. If younger enrollees keep leaving faster than older ones, the four-point margin insurers built into their rates will look too small, and 2028 filings will bring a third straight year of double-digit increases. Centene’s and UnitedHealth’s fourth-quarter comments on medical costs in their exchange plans will be the first hard evidence of which way the pool is moving.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways Centene will launch its Gold Card program nationwide in November 2026, initially covering 160,000 providers.Qualifying providers can bypass prior authorization for eligible outpatient care, reducing routine reviews.Centene trades at 13.13 times forward earnings, while 2026 EPS is estimated to grow 135.1% to $4.89. Centene Corporation (CNC - Free Report) is set to launch its National Performance-Based Gold Card Program nationwide in November 2026, aiming to simplify prior authorization for healthcare providers. The program will initially cover more than 160,000 qualifying providers for select outpatient services. The nationwide rollout also provides CNC with a broader framework to standardize authorization practices across its health plans.

Providers that consistently meet clinical review requirements can gain Gold Card status, allowing them to submit pre-notifications and proceed with eligible outpatient services without waiting for prior authorization decisions. Eligibility will depend on approval history, documentation quality, compliance with medical policy and applicable regulatory requirements.

The move matters because prior authorization can create administrative work for both healthcare providers and insurers. Offering qualifying providers a faster approval pathway could reduce routine review requirements while preserving clinical oversight. Streamlined interactions with providers could also enhance the experience for members and healthcare partners while simplifying authorization workflows.

Fewer administrative reviews could help Centene lower processing costs and improve operating efficiency over time. The initiative could strengthen provider relationships and enhance the member experience. However, the financial benefits will depend on provider adoption, realized administrative savings and the company's ability to maintain effective medical utilization controls. Successful implementation may support Centene's long-term cost structure and operating performance, although the extent of any earnings contribution remains uncertain.

How Are Competitors Faring?Some of CNC’s major competitors in the managed-care space are UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) and Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV - Free Report) .

UnitedHealth is simplifying provider workflows through UnitedHealthcare's move to eliminate 30% of prior authorization requirements, with the changes set to take effect in October 2026. UNH’s national Gold Card program also reduces authorization requirements for qualifying provider groups, supporting administrative efficiency.

Elevance Health is using its Health OS platform and electronic prior authorization tools to streamline clinical reviews. Through April 2026, more than 250,000 electronic medical prior authorization requests were processed, with more than 42% of decisions completed in one minute or less, helping ELV reduce administrative delays.

Centene’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of CNC have gained 67.4% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s growth of 18.7%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Centene trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.13, below the industry average of 15.41. CNC carries a Value Score of A.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Centene’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $4.89 per share, implying 135.1% growth from the year-ago period’s level.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CNC stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today announced it will launch its National Performance-Based Gold Card Program in November 2026. The program, which will initially be available to more than 160,000 qualifying providers nationwide for select outpatient services, is designed to streamline the prior authorization review process while maintaining appropriate clinical and quality standards.

The Gold Card Program recognizes providers with a demonstrated track record of following evidence-based clinical guidelines and consistently meeting clinical review requirements. Eligibility is based on objective performance measures, including approval history, documentation quality, compliance with medical policy, and adherence to applicable regulatory requirements. The program is designed to help reduce administrative burden while ensuring that accountability and program integrity remain - all in support of high-quality care for our members. Centene intends to expand the program to other service types and additional providers over time.

The program was developed based on feedback gathered anonymously from providers across 24 states and represents the latest step in Centene's ongoing efforts to simplify the healthcare experience for providers and members.

"At Centene, we're committed to making it easier for providers to deliver access to high-quality, evidence-based care," said Susan Smith, Chief Operating Officer. "The Gold Card Program was shaped through deep collaboration with providers, ensuring its review process is grounded in the real-world needs of those delivering care every day."

Key features of the program include:

Gold Card status for qualifying providers, enabling a pre-notification process for eligible services. Reduced administrative touchpoints for providers with a demonstrated history of ordering evidence-based services with high rates of approval for evidence-based care. Objective eligibility criteria based on provider performance, including approval history, documentation quality, compliance with medical policy, and applicable regulatory requirements. Eligible providers will be contacted regarding program requirements, eligibility, and next steps. Program operation may vary based on applicable state and federal requirements. Providers who do not initially qualify will continue to use the standard review process and will have future opportunities to become eligible for the program.

To learn more, please visit www.centene.com/provider-gold-card-program.

About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives. The Company takes a local approach with local teams to provide fully integrated, high-quality, and cost-effective services to government-sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured individuals. Centene offers affordable and high-quality products to more than 1 in 15 individuals across the nation, including Medicaid and Medicare members (including Medicare Prescription Drug Plans) as well as individuals and families served by the Health Insurance Marketplace. 

Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, http://investors.centene.com/. 

SOURCE Centene Corporation

Key Takeaways Centene's turnaround gains traction as Medicaid margins improve and Marketplace profitability strengthens.CNC raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance above $4.80, though about 50 cents per share will not recur in 2027.Centene trades at 12.34X forward earnings, below the 15.20X industry average but above its five-year median. Centene Corporation (CNC - Free Report) currently trades at 12.34X forward earnings, above its five-year median of 11.33X, but below the industry average of 15.20X. The stock carries a Value Score of A, suggesting its valuation remains reasonable relative to its earnings outlook. CNC trades at a discount to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) , at 17.17X, and Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV - Free Report) , at 13.84X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What’s Driving CNC’s Rally?Centene shares have jumped 57% year to date, far ahead of the industry’s 16.5% gain, reflecting stronger confidence in the company’s recovery. Investors entered 2026 expecting only a modest rebound after a difficult 2025, but operating results have improved much faster than anticipated. The S&P 500 has gained 14.7% over the same period, while peers UnitedHealth and Elevance Health have returned 14% and 14.2%, respectively.

YTD Price Performance: CNC, UNH, ELV, Industry & S&P 500 Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

After such a sharp rerating, further upside will likely depend less on recovery expectations and more on evidence that recent margin gains can be sustained into 2027.

Can Medicaid Margins Keep Moving Higher?Centene’s Medicaid business is showing progress. The health benefits ratio, or HBR, was 93.9% in the second quarter, improving 100 basis points from a year earlier. For the first half, Medicaid HBR improved to 93.5% from 94.2%. Management expects full-year Medicaid HBR of about 93.5%, slightly better than its original 93.7% outlook.

The rate-cost setup has improved, with rate increases running slightly ahead of Centene’s fundamental cost trend, while medical-cost management initiatives are helping contain utilization. The path is unlikely to be smooth. Membership losses, changes in member acuity and utilization remain key risks. The main test will be whether Centene can push Medicaid HBR lower even as enrollment continues to shrink.

Can Marketplace Profitability Hold Into 2027?Marketplace has become a stronger part of the turnaround story. Centene raised its 2026 pretax-margin outlook for the business to 4.5-5%, helped by repricing, moderating medical trends and stronger risk-adjustment positioning.

Second-quarter results benefited from roughly $180 million of favorable development tied to 2025 Marketplace risk adjustment relative to prior expectations. That benefit is unlikely to repeat. With 2027 products already being priced and policy and enrollment conditions still shifting, investors will be watching whether Centene can protect margins without giving up too much membership.

Can the Earnings Recovery Carry Into 2027?Centene raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to more than $4.80, but management explicitly said roughly 50 cents per share of 2026 earnings will not recur in 2027, largely reflecting prior-year Marketplace and Medicare settlements. The challenge is whether Medicaid margin improvement, Marketplace profitability, cost savings and Medicare recovery can more than offset that headwind.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate calls for 2026 earnings of $4.89 per share, up 135.1% from a year ago. Over the past 60 days, the estimate has seen one upward revision and no cuts. For 2027, analysts expect EPS to rise another 9.2% to $5.34, with two upward revisions and one downward revision over the same period.

Revenue growth is much less compelling. The consensus estimate points to revenues of $196.29 billion in 2026, up 0.8%, followed by a slight decline to $192.58 billion in 2027. The numbers make clear that the recovery depends more on margins and execution than on faster top-line growth.

Centene has topped earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, producing an average surprise of 151.3%.

Risks Have Eased, but Still RemainCentene remains heavily exposed to government-sponsored healthcare programs, leaving results sensitive to changes in funding, reimbursement and regulation across Medicaid, Medicare and ACA Marketplace plans.

Costs also remain a concern. Total operating expenses rose 5.5% in 2023, 5.8% in 2024 and 26.6% in 2025, then increased another 6.6% year over year in the first half of 2026. Pricing actions and tighter cost controls should help, but medical expenses and continued investment could limit margin expansion.

Capital efficiency also has room to improve. Centene’s trailing 12-month return on capital stands at 6.8%, below the industry average of 9.9%.

Final WordsCentene’s operating recovery has gained traction, with better medical-cost performance and improving profitability driving a much stronger earnings outlook. Its earnings beats and improving estimates provide additional support.

However, the strong year-to-date rally leaves less room for execution missteps. Membership losses, nonrecurring 2026 benefits, policy exposure and below-industry capital efficiency remain key risks. At 12.34X forward earnings, CNC still trades below peers and the industry, but the discount is not compelling enough to outweigh those uncertainties, particularly with the stock already trading above its five-year median. Investors may therefore prefer to wait for clearer evidence that margin and earnings gains can extend into 2027. CNC currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Takeaways Quanta Services' backlog hit $53.4 billion, driven by AI, grid modernization and infrastructure spending. FormFactor's HBM growth and advanced packaging demand are fueling semiconductor test opportunities.Semtech's data center sales surged, with 1.6T FiberEdge and CopperEdge broadening its growth opportunity. Third-quarter 2026 was mixed for U.S. stocks. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 2% and 2.5%, respectively, while, the Dow fell 2.7%. Wall Street witnessed strong July and August partially offset by a volatile September.

However, the fourth-quarter of 2026 is likely to remain strong supported by a softer-than-expected inflation, reductions in U.S. government bond yields and crude oil prices. The Fed, too, may not be as aggressive with respect to interest rate hikes as expected.

At this stage, we have identified five growth stocks that investors should purchase to strengthen their portfolios in September. Growth investors are primarily focused on stocks with aggressive earnings or revenue growth, which should propel prices higher in the future.

The stocks are: Quanta Services Inc. (PWR - Free Report) , FormFactor Inc. (FORM - Free Report) , Semtech Corp. (SMTC - Free Report) , Centene Corp. (CNC - Free Report) and Roku Inc. (ROKU - Free Report) . Each of our picks sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and has a Growth Score of A. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The chart below shows the price performance of our five picks in the past three months.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Quanta Services Inc.Quanta Services is well-positioned to capitalize on robust infrastructure spending across utility, power generation, technology and load center markets. The ongoing expansion of AI data centers, grid modernization, renewable generation and advanced manufacturing is driving customers to undertake larger, multi-year infrastructure programs.

Surging AI-related power demand and expanding utility investments are driving data center project opportunities, making data centers a central pillar of PWR’s long-term growth strategy. The company is heavily investing in deepening its vertical supply chain to offset the ongoing global uncertainties and rising inflation. 

These favorable trends helped drive total backlog to a record $53.4 billion as of June 30, 2026, up 49% year over year from $35.8 billion in June 2025. The increase was broad-based, with Electric Infrastructure Solutions backlog rising year over year to $43.8 billion from $30.3 billion, while Underground and Infrastructure Solutions backlog climbed to $9.7 billion from $5.6 billion.

Solid Estimate RevisionsQuanta has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 38.4% and 55.4%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.2% over the last seven days. 

FormFactor Inc.FormFactor is benefiting from robust growth in HBM driven by the rapid adoption of generative AI and high-performance computing. FORM’s strong market position in DRAM, particularly with HBM, is driven by robust demand and the ramp-up of new chip designs like HBM4, expected to further fuel growth in 2026 and beyond. 

FormFactor benefits as advanced packaging and high-performance compute increase the number and complexity of semiconductor test insertions. Advanced packaging continues to increase test complexity in DRAM, especially as HBM moves to higher speeds. In second-quarter 2026, DRAM revenues reached a record $85 million, with HBM contributing about two-thirds of the total. Management expects third-quarter 2026 DRAM revenues to remain comparable sequentially despite a mix shift toward DDR.

FORM’s Foundry and logic revenues increased to $121.8 million in the second quarter from $111.2 million in the first quarter, led primarily by data-center CPU demand on top of networking, custom ASIC, PC and mobile activity. Management expects continued growth in Q3 across its served applications. 

Co-packaged optics is moving from development toward higher-volume production and is supporting Systems growth. The opportunity is tied to growing CPO chip volumes and FORM’s position at the first wafer-level test insertion for photonic integrated circuits.

Solid Estimate RevisionsFormFactor has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 31.2% and more than 100%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 3.1% over the last 60 days.

Semtech Corp.Semtech is benefiting from rising AI data center networking demand as 800G remains active and 1.6T FiberEdge and CopperEdge ramps broaden its content opportunity. LoRa is extending across industrial, smart-home and mass-market consumer applications, while premium-device protection and sensing add another growth avenue. 

Portfolio optimization and photonics expansion should support a higher-margin mix, and cash generation is funding capacity and product investment. SMTC’s data center business is scaling as 800G demand is complemented by 1.6T FiberEdge and CopperEdge ramps.

 In second-quarter fiscal 2027, data center net sales reached a record $100 million, up 39% sequentially and 91% year over year. FiberEdge TIA and driver solutions are designed into every major module provider in the company’s target markets, with some sole-source positions. 

SMTC expects 1.6T FiberEdge market share to exceed 50% by fiscal 2027-end, while CopperEdge is already capturing the majority of the linear equalizer market. For third-quarter fiscal 2027, management projects data center sales growth of 45% sequentially and 160% year over year, with momentum expected to continue through fiscal 2028.

Solid Estimate RevisionsSemtech has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 41.5% and more than 100%, respectively, for the current year (ending January 2027). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 30.8% in the last 60 days.

Centene Corp.Centene has established itself as a national leader in healthcare services. It is a well-diversified healthcare company that primarily provides a set of services to government-sponsored healthcare programs, while serving underinsured and uninsured individuals through member-focused services.

CNC continues to benefit from disciplined pricing, portfolio optimization, favorable Medicaid rate actions, and strong Medicare Prescription Drug Plan momentum. Strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and ongoing enterprise optimization initiatives are strengthening care delivery, improving operational efficiency, and supporting long-term margin restoration. 

Solid Estimate RevisionsCentene has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 0.8% and more than 100%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 7% over the last 60 days. 

Roku Inc.Roku continues to benefit from the shift of viewing and advertising budgets from linear television to streaming, with Platform revenue growth supported by Advertising and Subscriptions. ROKU’s scale of more than 100 million streaming households, broader programmatic reach and expanding subscription offering support continued monetization of the Roku Experience. 

The new Home Screen and AI-powered search could further improve content discovery, retention and advertising opportunities as the rollout expands. ROKU is broadening its advertising model across programmatic demand, enterprise campaigns and self-service tools. Advertising revenues increased 24.8% year over year in the second quarter of 2026 to $672.8 million, while advertising gross margin rose to 62.4%.

Solid Estimate RevisionsROKU has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 18.5% and more than 100%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 2.2% over the last 30 days. 

Centene Corporation Logo

Wellcare logo 2027 Wellcare portfolio brings together affordable Medicare coverage and innovative supplemental benefits combined with the nation's largest standalone Medicare Part D platform Provides coordinated Medicare-Medicaid solutions for dual-eligible members , /PRNewswire/ -- Wellcare, the Medicare brand of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), today announced its 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) offerings ahead of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which begins Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7.

Wellcare's 2027 portfolio is designed to help members navigate healthcare with greater confidence by combining affordable prescription drug coverage, personalized support and benefits that address both medical and everyday needs. For members with more complex health needs, including those eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, Wellcare offers coordinated solutions designed to simplify the healthcare experience. Wellcare continues to offer affordable prescription drug coverage nationwide through its industry-leading standalone Medicare Part D platform.

"Centene's 2027 Medicare offerings bring together deep Medicare and Medicaid expertise to create a more coordinated and seamless experience for members who rely on both programs, while continuing to provide the nation's leading standalone prescription drug plan," said Michael Carson, Group President, Medicare and Specialty at Centene. "By combining thoughtful benefit design, coordinated care capabilities and innovative programs that support overall health, we are helping members — often with complex health needs — obtain affordable access to the care, prescription medications and support services they need to achieve better health."

As states continue advancing Medicare-Medicaid alignment efforts, Wellcare's Medicare Dual offerings are designed to support a more integrated member experience while maintaining affordable coverage options. This focus is reflected across the portfolio, with dual-eligible members representing approximately 40% of Wellcare's Medicare Advantage membership and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) products accounting for nearly half of the company's 2027 MA plan offerings.

The company continues to take a data-informed approach to benefit design, evaluating how supplemental benefits can best support members' health needs and overall well-being. Members who meet the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) criteria for Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI), and enroll in plans offering them, may use the Wellcare Spendables® card to access approved healthy foods and other eligible health-related care designed to address individual health and social needs.

Results from the company's study, published earlier this year, demonstrate the meaningful role that access to healthy food and other supportive resources can play in improving outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

Additionally, affordable prescription drug coverage remains a cornerstone of Wellcare's Medicare strategy, particularly for beneficiaries managing chronic conditions.

National Leadership in Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage  
As the nation's leading standalone Medicare Part D provider, Wellcare will continue offering reasonably priced prescription drug coverage nationwide in 2027.

2027 PDP highlights include:

Two PDP options (Wellcare Classic and Wellcare Value Script) designed to meet the needs of a broad range of Medicare beneficiaries. Nearly 10 million members across all 50 states Affordable prescription drug coverage, including a low-premium option through Wellcare Value Script. Comprehensive formulary designs offered across both plans. A robust pharmacy network with more than 60,000 pharmacies.* 2027 Medicare Advantage Highlights
Wellcare's 2027 Medicare Advantage portfolio is designed to deliver holistic, coordinated, affordable coverage and competitive benefits that support the member's overall health.

2027 Wellcare MA highlights include:

The Wellcare Spendables® card to provide members with a simplified way to access and manage covered benefits, including over-the-counter items and qualified dental, vision and hearing expenses. New Brass and Amber dental options to help bridge coverage gaps between existing benefit packages, providing members with greater flexibility and access to additional oral health services. Non-emergency transportation to medical appointments, pharmacies and other health-related destinations. Access to fitness programs and wellness activities that encourage healthy lifestyles and preventive care. For more details about Wellcare's MA plans, visit WellcareNow.com and Medicare PDPs, visit pdpwellcare.com.

Benefits and allowance amounts vary by plan. Please call for more details. Allowance amounts cannot be combined with other benefit allowances which may be on the prepaid card. Limitations and restrictions may apply.

Wellcare is the Medicare brand for Centene Corporation, an HMO, PPO, PDP plan with a Medicare contract and is an approved Part D Sponsor. Our D-SNP plans have a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. Wellcare is a DSNP with a Florida Medicaid Contract. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the DSNP. Limitations, copayments, and/or restrictions may apply. Benefits, preferred drug list, pharmacy network, premium and/or copayments/coinsurance may change. Washington residents: "Wellcare" is issued by Coordinated Care of Washington, Inc. Washington residents: Health Net Life Insurance Company is contracted with Medicare for PPO plans. "Wellcare" is issued by Health Net Life Insurance Company. "Wellcare" is issued by WellCare Prescription Insurance, Inc. Benefits mentioned are a part of Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill. Not all members will qualify. In addition to being high-risk, you must have one or more of the following chronic conditions: cancer, cardiovascular disorders, chronic and disabling mental health conditions, chronic lung disorders, diabetes. There are other eligible conditions not listed. Eligibility for this benefit cannot be guaranteed based solely on your condition. All applicable eligibility requirements must be met before the benefit is provided. For details, please contact us or see the plan's Evidence of Coverage/Member Handbook. Wellcare's pharmacy network includes limited lower-cost, preferred pharmacies in rural areas of Nebraska. The lower costs advertised in our plan materials for these pharmacies may not be available at the pharmacy you use. For up-to-date information about our network pharmacies, including whether there are any lower-cost preferred pharmacies in your area, please call 1-844-796-6811 (TTY: 711) for Wellcare Nebraska Total Care Dual Liberty Sync (HMO-POS D-SNP); or call 1-800-977-7522 (TTY: 711) for Wellcare Giveback (HMO-POS) and Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS); or consult the online pharmacy directory at go.wellcare.com/NE. For Wellcare With Superior HealthPlan: For Wellcare Superior HealthPlan Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP): Wellcare's pharmacy network includes limited lower-cost, preferred pharmacies in rural areas of Texas. The lower costs advertised in our plan materials for these pharmacies may not be available at the pharmacy you use. For up-to-date information about our network pharmacies, including whether there are any lower-cost preferred pharmacies in your area, please call 1-833-444-9089 (TTY: 711) or consult the online pharmacy directory at go.wellcare.com/Medicare. Wellcare's pharmacy network includes limited lower-cost, preferred pharmacies in rural areas of Texas. The lower costs advertised in our plan materials for these pharmacies may not be available at the pharmacy you use. For up-to-date information about our network pharmacies, including whether there are any lower-cost preferred pharmacies in your area, please call 1-800-977-7522 (TTY: 711) for Wellcare Simple (HMO) or call 1-855-445-3556 (TTY: 711) for Wellcare Superior HealthPlan Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP), or consult the online pharmacy directory at go.wellcare.com/TX. Arizona D-SNP plans: Contract services are funded in part under contract with the State of Arizona. Louisiana D-SNP prospective enrollees: For detailed information about Louisiana Medicaid benefits, please visit the Medicaid website at https://ldh.la.gov/medicaid or https://www.louisianahealthconnect.com. To request a written copy of our Medicaid Provider Directory, please contact us. Wellcare By Allwell (HMO and HMO SNP) includes products that are underwritten by Superior HealthPlan, Inc. Wellcare (HMO and HMO SNP) includes products that are underwritten by WellCare of Texas, Inc., Superior HealthPlan, Inc., and SelectCare of Texas, Inc. *Other Pharmacies/Physicians/Providers are available in our network.

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SOURCE Centene Corporation

Here are three stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, September 24:

National Energy Services Reunited Corp. (NESR - Free Report) : This oilfield services company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 4.6% over the last 60 days.

NESR has a PEG ratio of 0.31 compared with 0.52 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

KE Holdings Inc. (BEKE - Free Report) : This housing transactions and services company from China carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 10.2% over the last 60 days.

KE Holdings has a PEG ratio of 0.51 compared with 1.79 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of B.

Centene Corporation (CNC - Free Report) : This managed care company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 40.9% over the last 60 days.

Centene has a PEG ratio of 0.40 compared with 1.38 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Learn more about the Growth score and how it is calculated here.

Mutual Housing California's Fairview Terrace will help income-qualified older adults in San Joaquin County find stable, affordable housing and remain connected to the community they call home STOCKTON, Calif., Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net, one of California's most experienced Medi-Cal managed care health plans and company of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), announced a $3 million grant to Mutual Housing California to support the development of Fairview Terrace, a new affordable housing community for income-qualified seniors in Stockton.

For those looking to find strong Medical stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Centene (CNC - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Centene is one of 916 individual stocks in the Medical sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #10 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.

The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. Centene is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for CNC's full-year earnings has moved 42.2% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

According to our latest data, CNC has moved about 57.9% on a year-to-date basis. Meanwhile, the Medical sector has returned an average of 2.3% on a year-to-date basis. As we can see, Centene is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

Another Medical stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is Alzamend Neuro, Inc. (ALZN - Free Report) . The stock has returned 6.6% year-to-date.

Over the past three months, Alzamend Neuro, Inc.'s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 59.6%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Centene belongs to the Medical - HMOs industry, a group that includes 7 individual stocks and currently sits at #32 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has gained an average of 16.3% so far this year, meaning that CNC is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

On the other hand, Alzamend Neuro, Inc. belongs to the Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry. This 437-stock industry is currently ranked #165. The industry has moved +7% year to date.

Centene and Alzamend Neuro, Inc. could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Medical stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

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Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Centene (CNC - Free Report) Founded as a single health plan in Wisconsin in 1984, Centene Corporation has established itself as a national leader in healthcare services. It is today a well-diversified healthcare company that primarily provides a set of services to government-sponsored healthcare programs, while also serving under-insured and uninsured individuals through member-focused services. It is also engaged in providing education and outreach programs to inform and assist members in accessing quality, appropriate healthcare services.

CNC is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. CNC has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 0.1% over the past four weeks.

Nine analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.42 to $4.89 per share. CNC boasts an average earnings surprise of +151.3%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, CNC should be on investors' short list.

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.

Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being undervalued by the market at large.

In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.

One stock to keep an eye on is Centene (CNC - Free Report) . CNC is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), as well as a Value grade of A. The stock holds a P/E ratio of 12.35, while its industry has an average P/E of 15.27. CNC's Forward P/E has been as high as 13.40 and as low as 4.41, with a median of 8.43, all within the past year.

Investors will also notice that CNC has a PEG ratio of 0.82. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. CNC's PEG compares to its industry's average PEG of 0.85. Over the last 12 months, CNC's PEG has been as high as 0.98 and as low as 0.38, with a median of 0.77.

Value investors also love the P/S ratio, which is calculated by simply dividing a stock's price with the company's sales. This is a preferred metric because revenue can't really be manipulated, so sales are often a truer performance indicator. CNC has a P/S ratio of 0.16. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.29.

These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that Centene is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, CNC feels like a great value stock at the moment.

Key Takeaways Centene's Q2 EPS reached $2.51 as better medical cost trends drove a profitability recovery.Centene expects Medicaid membership to decline 8%-9% in 2026, keeping enrollment under pressure.Marketplace and Medicare profitability, higher Medicaid rates and cost initiatives support recovery. Centene Corporation (CNC - Free Report) is showing tangible signs of a profitability recovery, with second-quarter 2026 results reflecting better medical cost trends and stronger execution. Premium and service revenues increased 4.5% year over year, while adjusted EPS rose to $2.51 from a loss of 16 cents a year ago. CNC reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance floor to above $4.80. Its consolidated health benefits ratio improved to 89.6% from 93% a year ago.

Marketplace profitability has supported the recovery. Centene expects the business to generate a 4.5%-5% pretax margin in 2026, helped by better risk adjustment and moderating medical costs. Medicare is also progressing, with the PDP business expected to deliver a pretax margin above 3% and Medicare Advantage moving closer to breakeven.

Membership remains the main pressure point. Medicaid enrollment ended the second quarter of 2026 at 12.1 million, down 5.5% year over year, while Marketplace membership stood at roughly 3.5 million. Centene expects further attrition as eligibility reviews continue, with full-year Medicaid membership projected to decline 8%-9% from year-end 2025.

Improving Medicaid rates could cushion some of the impact. CNC raised its expected 2026 Medicaid rate increase to about 5%, while medical-cost trends remain in the mid-4% range. Continued progress in behavioral health, payment integrity and affordability initiatives could also support gradual margin recovery.

Centene is simultaneously simplifying its operating model and expanding technology and AI use to reduce costs. These efforts, combined with stronger Marketplace and Medicare profitability, provide a foundation for further recovery, though sustained improvement will depend on managing membership losses.

How Are Competitors Faring?Some of CNC’s major competitors in the healthcare service provider space are UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH - Free Report) and Humana Inc. (HUM - Free Report) .

UnitedHealth is navigating similar membership and medical-cost pressures, particularly in Medicare Advantage and Medicaid. Still, its diversified Optum operations and cost-management efforts are supporting recovery. UNH raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $19.50-$20 following second-quarter results.

Humana is seeing strong Medicare Advantage membership growth while working to improve the profitability of its expanded member base. HUM’s CenterWell is adding another growth driver, with senior primary care patients up 27% through June 2026, supporting broader earnings diversification.

Centene’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of CNC have surged 60.4% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s growth of 17.8%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Centene trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 12.67, below the industry average of 15.44. CNC carries a Value Score of A.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Centene’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $4.89 per share, implying 135.1% growth from the year-ago period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CNC stock currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Centene Corporation (CNC) Deutsche Bank 2026 Healthcare Summit September 16, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

Sarah London - CEO & Director
Andrew Asher - Executive VP & CFO

Conference Call Participants

George Hill - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Presentation

George Hill
Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division

Good morning, everybody, and welcome to the DB Healthcare Summit. I'm George Hill. I'm the Health Care Technology and Services Analyst at DB. I cover the MCOs and a bunch of the health care technology stuff. I call it the stuff. I'm very happy to have with us this morning Centene CEO, Sarah London; and CFO, Drew Asher. Good morning, guys.

Thanks for coming back. Sarah, you guys reiterated your 2026 guidance this morning of at least $4.80. I thought I would kick it to you to start. I guess just talk to us about the reiterated guidance. Any other introductory comments that you want to make? And then for Sarah, Drew, if there's anything that you want to say as it relates to utilization or the moving pieces or if there's anything different, would love to hear what you guys have to say to kick it off.

Sarah London
CEO & Director

Happy to provide a couple of updates on the quarter and then go deeper into any of it. Obviously, reiterated our full year adjusted diluted EPS guidance of greater than $4.80 this morning. I'm pleased with the trajectory of the business through 2 months of the quarter. We are in line with expectations. Trends that we're seeing in Q3 broadly across lines of business consistent with trends that we saw in Q2.

Some of the highlights per business line. So Medicaid rates are coming in, in line with expectations and consistent with that 5% composite full year outlook for rates overall. In addition

Here are three stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, September 16:

Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC - Free Report) : This diversified healthcare services company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 20.2% over the last 60 days.

Tenet Healthcare has a PEG ratio of 1.01 compared with 1.07 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of B.

National Energy Services Reunited Corp. (NESR - Free Report) : This oilfield services company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 4.6% over the last 60 days.

NESR has a PEG ratio of 0.31 compared with 0.55 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

Centene Corporation (CNC - Free Report) : This managed care company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 40.9% over the last 60 days.

Centene has a PEG ratio of 0.44 compared with 1.49 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Learn more about the Growth score and how it is calculated here.

Key Takeaways ADM, COCO, AMGN and CNC are highlighted as defensive stocks amid falling consumer sentiment.ADM's earnings growth is expected at 52.2%, with estimates up 8.5% over 60 days.CNC's earnings growth tops 100%, while current-year estimates have risen 40.9% in 60 days. Inflation surged again in August, making it almost inevitable for the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates next week in its policy meeting. Higher prices of goods and services and renewed tensions in the Middle East have led consumers to worry that inflation could rise over the next year.

Surging oil prices owing to the war between the United States and Iran have been a major factor behind high inflation. Markets have remained volatile for the past three months, and the overall situation has been denting consumer sentiment.

Given this situation, it would be wise to invest in defensive stocks from the consumer staples and healthcare sectors. Four such stocks are: Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM - Free Report) , The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO - Free Report) , Amgen Inc. (AMGN - Free Report) , and Centene Corporation (CNC - Free Report) .

Consumer Sentiment Hits a LowThe University of Michigan reported that its Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 47.8 in September from 51.7 in the previous month. This was also sharply lower than the economists’ forecast of 51.

Persistent high inflation has been weighing on consumers’ sentiment. The survey’s measure of consumers’ expectations for inflation over the next 12 months rose to 4.6% in September from 4% in the month earlier. The long-term, or consumers’ five-year, inflation expectation rose to 3.4% in September from 3.3% in August. This is also sharply higher than the 2024 range of 3.8% to 3.2%.

Most importantly, the short-term inflation expectation was 3.4% in February before the U.S.-Iran war broke out. Oil prices have risen over the past several months, easing slightly in June and July.

However, as tensions have escalated again in the Middle East, energy costs have resumed their upward trend. Higher oil prices have impacted almost every sector, pushing prices of goods and services higher, resulting once again in rising inflation.

The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.4% month over month in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said last week. The annual CPI rate came in at 3.4%.  Core CPI, which strips out the volatile food and energy, climbed 0.3% month over month in August, taking the annual rate to 2.4%.

The Federal Reserve, which held interest rates steady this year, has no options left but to hike interest rates at its policy meeting next week. This could keep markets volatile for a longer period as higher borrowing costs would make things more difficult for consumers.

4 Defensive Stocks With UpsideArcher-Daniels-Midland CompanyArcher-Daniels-Midland Company is one of the leading producers of food and beverage ingredients as well as goods made from various agricultural products. ADM processes oilseeds, corn, wheat, cocoa and other feedstuffs. It also engages in the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of products like natural flavor ingredients, flavor systems, natural colors, proteins, emulsifiers, soluble fiber, polyols, hydrocolloids, natural health and nutrition products, as well as other specialty food and feed ingredients.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has an expected earnings growth rate of 52.2% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 8.5% over the last 60 days. ADM currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Vita Coco CompanyThe Vita Coco Company, Inc. provides a beverage platform. COCO’s brands include coconut water, Vita Coco; clean energy drink Runa; sustainable enhanced water, Ever & Ever, and protein-infused water, PWR LIFT.

The Vita Coco Company’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 63.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 10.2% over the past 60 days. COCO currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.

AmgenAmgen Inc. is one of the biggest biotech companies in the world, with a strong presence in the oncology, general medicine, inflammation and rare diseases markets. AMGN used advances in cellular and molecular biology to develop two of the biotech industry’s earliest and most successful drugs, Epogen (anemia) and Neupogen (white blood cell stimulant). Amgen successfully launched two next-generation products — Aranesp and Neulasta.  

Amgen has an expected earnings growth rate of 5% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 3% over the past 60 days. AMGN currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Centene CorporationCentene Corporation is a well-diversified healthcare company that primarily provides a set of services to government-sponsored healthcare programs, while serving underinsured and uninsured individuals through member-focused services. CNC is also engaged in providing education and outreach programs to inform and assist members in accessing quality, appropriate healthcare services. Centene operates a capitated managed-care model. Under this model, it receives a fixed payment per member per month from government programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and ACA Marketplace plans.

Centene Corporation has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 40.9% over the past 60 days. CNC currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.

Here are three stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, September 14:

BP p.l.c. (BP - Free Report) : This company that engages in the energy business worldwide carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 32.4% over the last 60 days.

BP has a PEG ratio of 0.54 compared with 0.71 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of B.

National Energy Services Reunited Corp. (NESR - Free Report) : This oilfield services company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 6.4% over the last 60 days.

NESR has a PEG ratio of 0.32 compared with 0.58 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

Centene Corporation (CNC - Free Report) : This managed care company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 40.9% over the last 60 days.

Centene has a PEG ratio of 0.42 compared with 1.45 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Learn more about the Growth score and how it is calculated here.

The investment will help advance shovel-ready housing projects, bringing safe, stable housing within reach for more local families.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net, one of California's most experienced Medi-Cal managed care health plans and company of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), today announced a $2 million investment in Stanislaus Equity Partners, Inc. (STEP) to help more residents access safe, stable, affordable housing. The multi-year grant will provide flexible gap financing for 50 affordable housing projects already in the local pipeline, helping move shovel-ready developments closer to completion.

STEP will use the grant to support affordable housing projects across Stanislaus County, prioritizing developments that are ready to move forward but face funding shortfalls. By filling these gaps, the investment aims to unlock additional public and private resources, helping bring more affordable units online faster and strengthen housing stability in the region.

"Stable housing is inseparable from good health," said Dorothy Seleski, Medi-Cal Plan President at Health Net.  "When families have a safe and affordable place to call home, they have a stronger foundation for their health, their future and their ability to thrive. By partnering with Stanislaus Equity Partners, we're helping to fill the funding gap, create pathways to safe, affordable housing—so individuals and families can thrive, not just survive."

Recognizing that access to safe, affordable housing is foundational to long-term health and well-being. Stanislaus Equity Partners will deploy the funding through grants, forgivable loans and low-interest loans. These flexible financing tools will accelerate affordable housing development and help reduce displacement risks for Stanislaus County residents.

"Stanislaus County has experienced the real and lasting impacts of California's housing crisis," said Jessica Filbrun, CEO of Stanislaus Equity Partners. "This investment from Health Net is a powerful example of how the health care sector can be a partner in building healthier communities. By supporting affordable housing, we're investing in the well-being of working families, seniors, and vulnerable neighbors throughout our county."

According to the California Housing Partnership, more than 12,700 low-income households in Stanislaus County do not have access to an affordable home, and 81% of extremely low-income households spend more than half of their income on housing costs, placing them at severe risk of housing instability and homelessness.

"Stanislaus County has experienced the real and lasting impacts of California's housing crisis," said Assemblymember Juan Alanis. "This investment from Health Net is a powerful example of how the health care sector can be a partner in building healthier communities. By supporting affordable housing, we're investing in the well-being of working families, seniors, and vulnerable neighbors throughout our county."

This investment builds on Health Net's broader commitment to supporting the conditions people need to live healthier lives, including access to stable housing and essential community resources. Through strategic investments and trusted local partnerships, Health Net continues working to help California communities become stronger, healthier and more resilient.

About Health Net
Founded in California more than 45 years ago, Health Net, LLC ("Health Net"), a company of Centene Corporation, believes that every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of age, income, employment status or current state of health. Today, we provide health plans for individuals, families, businesses of every size and people who qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare. With more than 117,000 of our network providers, Health Net serves more than three million members across the state. We also offer access to substance abuse programs, behavioral health services and managed healthcare products related to prescription drugs. We make these health plans and services available through Health Net and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a leading healthcare enterprise committed to transforming the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time. Health Net and Centene Corporation employ more than 5,700 people in California who work at one of five regional Talent Hub offices. For more information, visit www.HealthNet.com.

SOURCE Health Net, LLC

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Centene (CNC - Free Report) Founded as a single health plan in Wisconsin in 1984, Centene Corporation has established itself as a national leader in healthcare services. It is today a well-diversified healthcare company that primarily provides a set of services to government-sponsored healthcare programs, while also serving under-insured and uninsured individuals through member-focused services. It is also engaged in providing education and outreach programs to inform and assist members in accessing quality, appropriate healthcare services.

CNC is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 13.9; value investors should take notice.

Nine analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.42 to $4.89 per share. CNC boasts an average earnings surprise of +151.3%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, CNC should be on investors' short list.

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.

Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.

One company to watch right now is Centene (CNC - Free Report) . CNC is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and an A for Value. The stock is trading with a P/E ratio of 12.35, which compares to its industry's average of 15.68. Over the past 52 weeks, CNC's Forward P/E has been as high as 13.40 and as low as 4.41, with a median of 8.43.

We also note that CNC holds a PEG ratio of 0.82. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. CNC's PEG compares to its industry's average PEG of 0.87. CNC's PEG has been as high as 0.98 and as low as 0.38, with a median of 0.77, all within the past year.

Value investors also use the P/S ratio. The P/S ratio is calculated as price divided by sales. This is a popular metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement, so they are often considered a better performance indicator. CNC has a P/S ratio of 0.16. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.3.

Value investors will likely look at more than just these metrics, but the above data helps show that Centene is likely undervalued currently. And when considering the strength of its earnings outlook, CNC sticks out as one of the market's strongest value stocks.

Centene Foundation

Home State Health Funding supports community-based programs addressing food security, housing stability, workforce development, foster care and rural health across Missouri

, /PRNewswire/ -- Home State Health, a leading health insurer providing quality, affordable coverage to Missourians, and the Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), today announced a combined $750,000 investment in nearly two dozen organizations working to address drivers of health to improve health outcomes for individuals and families across the state.

The funding supports community-based programs focused on food security, housing stability, workforce development, foster care, healthcare access and the unique needs of rural communities.

"Across Missouri, community organizations are helping families overcome challenges that directly influence their health and well-being," said Shawn Furey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Home State Health. "Whether it's expanding access to healthy food, stable housing, workforce opportunities, healthcare services or support for children and families, these organizations are changing the communities they serve. We are proud to partner with them and invest in programs that strengthen communities and build healthier futures."

2026 Grant Recipients

Organizations receiving funding include:

AGAPE Community Outreach Care to Learn Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, Inc. Community Council of St. Charles Covenant House Missouri Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries Every Child's Hope Faith Bridge Foster Adopt Connect, Inc. Foster Care Coalition Hannibal Regional Healthcare System KVC Behavioral Healthcare Missouri, Inc. Ozarks Resource Group d/b/a Ozarks Community Health Center Pediatric Place, Family First Initiative Phelps County Regional Medical Center (d/b/a Phelps Health) Rung Foundation Inc. (d/b/a Rung for Women) Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center Seed St. Louis Southeast Missouri Health Network St. Francis Hospital Foundation, supporting the needs of Mosaic Medical Center – Maryville Swope Health Services West Central Community Development Corporation Grant recipients include those providing critical services for children, youth and families involved in foster care, adoption, kinship care and transitional living programs. Investments in organizations including Covenant House Missouri, Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries, Every Child's Hope, Faith Bridge, Foster Adopt Connect, Foster Care Coalition and KVC Behavioral Healthcare Missouri will help expand behavioral health services, strengthen family supports and increase access to resources that promote stability for vulnerable children and families.

The grants also support organizations serving communities throughout urban and rural Missouri. Funded programs aim to increase access to healthcare, nutritious food, stable housing, employment opportunities and other essential services that help individuals and families succeed.

"The Centene Foundation is committed to supporting organizations that are creating meaningful opportunities for individuals and families to thrive," said Keith Williamson, President of the Centene Foundation. "These organizations know their communities and are developing solutions that can make a lasting difference."

Collectively, these grants represent an investment in healthier communities across the state. By supporting these local organizations, Home State Health and the Centene Foundation are helping advance health equity and create stronger communities throughout the state.

About Home State Health
Home State Health is a Missouri-based managed care organization and company of Centene Corporation, a Fortune 25 healthcare enterprise. Home State Health serves the Medicaid population in partnership with MO HealthNet and also provides Marketplace and Medicare coverage to Missouri residents. The organization is committed to transforming the health of the community, one person at a time.

About the Centene Foundation
The Centene Foundation, a private nonprofit focused on investing in economically challenged communities, is the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation. The Foundation supports projects and initiatives aligned with Centene's mission to remove barriers to wellness and improve health equity through investments in healthcare access, social services and education.

SOURCE Home State Health

 The company's investment will expand access to Pear Suite technology that streamlines service documentation, referrals and Medi-Cal reimbursement for community health worker and doula services.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net, one of California's most experienced Medi-Cal managed care health plans and a Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) company, announced a $900,000 grant to Pear Suite to help community-based organizations across California strengthen technology infrastructure, become community health worker and doula providers, and more easily get reimbursed for delivering Medi-Cal services.

Pear Suite logo "Trusted community partners play an essential role in helping people experience care in a way that feels more personal, connected and supportive," said Dorothy Seleski, Medi-Cal President at Health Net. "They meet members where they are, listen to what they need and help connect them to support that can make daily life healthier and more stable. Together with Pear Suite, we are investing in practical technology that helps those partners do what they do best: walk alongside our members and help them take the next step toward better health."

This latest grant builds on Health Net's longstanding partnership with Pear Suite. Since 2023, Health Net has committed more than $1.9M to help expand community health worker capacity, strengthen community-based outreach and connect Medi-Cal members to critical health and social services across California.

The grant will support technology and billing infrastructure for community-based organizations working to become enrolled Medi-Cal providers of community health workers and doula services. Through Pear Suite's platform, organizations can have a turnkey solution to assess social needs, coordinate referrals, document services, streamline billing for Medi-Cal reimbursement and promote preventative activities.

For many Medi-Cal members, getting care goes beyond the doctor's office. It can also mean finding housing support, understanding benefits, arranging transportation or working with someone they trust in their own community — often that's community health workers and doulas who can help connect them to care, address social needs and stay engaged during critical periods. This grant is designed to strengthen the tools behind that work, so organizations can spend more time helping people and less time navigating disconnected systems.

"This funding helps make whole-person care more practical for the community organizations doing the work every day," said Colby Takeda, CEO of Pear Suite. "With stronger tools, training and implementation support, our partners can spend more time engaging members, coordinating services and helping people access the support they need to live healthier lives."

"When community organizations have the tools and resources to reach people where they are, we strengthen the entire safety net," said California Assemblywoman, Stephanie Nguyen. "This investment will help trusted local partners connect Medi-Cal members to care, services and support that can improve health, stability and quality of life for families across our communities."

Health Net is supporting local partners that are building capacity, improving member engagement and strengthening service delivery. This investment in Pear Suite builds on that approach by helping organizations modernize the systems they use to document care, coordinate referrals, support community health workers and track member needs over time.

About Health Net
Founded in California more than 45 years ago, Health Net, LLC ("Health Net"), a company of Centene Corporation, believes that every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of age, income, employment status or current state of health. Today, we provide health plans for individuals, families, businesses of every size and people who qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare. With more than 117,000 of our network providers, Health Net serves more than three million members across the state. We also offer access to substance abuse programs, behavioral health services and managed healthcare products related to prescription drugs. We make these health plans and services available through Health Net and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a leading healthcare enterprise committed to transforming the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time. Health Net and Centene Corporation employ more than 5,700 people in California who work at one of five regional Talent Hub offices. For more information, visit www.HealthNet.com.

About Pear Suite
Pear Suite is a digital health company redefining how the community-based workforce delivers and finances care. Through a turnkey platform, a national provider network, and best-in-class courseware — all purpose-built to activate a growing workforce — Pear Suite equips community health workers (CHWs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and health plans with the tools to close care gaps, drive better outcomes, and unlock sustainable reimbursement. By partnering with over 50 health plans, hundreds of CBOs, and thousands of providers, Pear Suite is leading a movement to amplify the impact of this trusted and experienced workforce.

To learn more, visit us at www.pearsuite.com.

SOURCE Health Net, LLC

Here are three stocks with buy ranks and strong growth characteristics for investors to consider today, August 31:

Centene Corporation (CNC - Free Report) : This managed care company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 40.9% over the last 60 days.

Centene has a PEG ratio of 0.35 compared with 1.28 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of B.

Valero Energy Corporation (VLO - Free Report) : This transportation fuels and petrochemical products company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 37.1% over the last 60 days.

Valero Energy has a PEG ratio of 0.23 compared with 0.41 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

monday.com Ltd. (MNDY - Free Report) : This cloud-based work management software company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 19.8% over the last 60 days.

monday.com has a PEG ratio of 0.99 compared with 12.51 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of B.

See the full list of top-ranked stocks here.

Learn more about the Growth score and how it is calculated here.

 The maternal health program has delivered 88,000+ breast pumps and helped connect members to more than 177,000 prenatal and postpartum visits

, /PRNewswire/ -- Superior HealthPlan ("Superior"), a leading managed care organization in Texas and a company of Centene (NYSE: CNC), announced its Start Smart for Your Baby® program has supported more than 312,000 pregnancies since 2022.

The maternal health program connects new and expectant mothers with support before, during and after pregnancy, including offering breast pumps, care management, appointment reminders and dollar rewards for completing prenatal and postpartum visits. Since 2022, Superior has delivered more than 88,000 breast pumps to Texas mothers, and since 2023, the program has helped connect members to more than 177,000 prenatal and postpartum visits.

"As one of the largest Medicaid providers in Texas, we recognize our responsibility to support new and expectant mothers at every step of the way," said Dr. Rutu Ezhuthachan, Chief Medical Officer at Superior HealthPlan. "Our unique programs provide access to the comprehensive healthcare that our members need to help them and their babies get off to a healthy start."

In the U.S., Medicaid covers 40% of births nationwide and that number is even higher in Texas at nearly 46%, according to the latest data available. On average, Superior supports nearly 70,000 pregnancies each year in Texas.

About Start Smart for Your Baby®

When members notify Superior of their pregnancy, they are connected with the Start Smart for Your Baby® program, making it simple to access extra benefits and support during and after their pregnancy, including:

Breastfeeding support and helpful resources. Behavioral health support and information for emotional well-being during or after pregnancy. Care coordination with medical staff and providers for high-risk or complex pregnancies. Assistance staying on track with prenatal and postpartum appointments. Connections to community resources for food, diapers and clothing. Assistance to help quit smoking, alcohol or drug use. Transportation to and from doctor visits (where available). To learn more, visit www.SuperiorHealthPlan.com/pregnancy.

About Superior HealthPlan
For more than 25 years, Superior HealthPlan has offered high-quality health care to Texans and is now a leading managed care company providing services to more than 1.5 million people. Committed to transforming the health of the communities we serve, one person at a time, Superior supports active local involvement in all 254 Texas counties with more than 3,000 employees throughout the state. Since 2020, Superior has contributed $12.6 million in grants, sponsorships and employee giving, helping support low-income communities. Superior is a company of Centene, a leading healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives. For more information, visit www.SuperiorHealthPlan.com.

SOURCE Superior HealthPlan