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ALGN vs. CNC: Align vs. Centene Stock Comparison

How do Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but ALGN is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies while CNC is classified in Health Care Providers & Services.

Company profile comparison for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC)
Profile ItemALGNCNC
NameAlign Technology Inc.Centene Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Equipment & SuppliesHealth Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care SuppliesManaged Health Care
Market Capitalization11.70 billion USD34.53 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJanuary 30, 2001December 13, 2001
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALGN
CNC
GSPC
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC)
MetricALGNCNC
Total Return (1Y)27.43%84.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-2.84%-0.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-24.73%-1.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALGN
CNC
GSPC
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC)
MetricALGNCNC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)40.49%46.34%
Beta (5Y)1.671.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-82.44%-74.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)942.14K4.63M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ALGN and CNC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC)
MetricALGNCNC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.571.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.892.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Align (ALGN) at 11.91% and Centene (CNC) at 6.74% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

11.91%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
ALGN
11.91%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

6.74%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
CNC
6.74%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Align (ALGN) at 11.83% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Centene (CNC) at 0.81%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

11.83%

Max
29.35%
ALGN
11.83%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.81%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
CNC
0.81%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Align (ALGN) at 20.13% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Centene (CNC) at 0.74%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

20.13%

Max
35.43%
ALGN
20.13%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.74%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
CNC
0.74%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC)
MetricALGNCNC
ROE (TTM)11.91%6.74%
ROA (TTM)8.01%2.68%
Net Margin (TTM)11.83%0.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.13%0.74%
Gross Margin (TTM)71.53%11.34%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Centene (CNC) at 19.44% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Align (ALGN) at 0.90% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Align (ALGN) at 0.53% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Centene (CNC) at -314.42% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC)
MetricALGNCNC
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.90%19.44%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.61%10.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)0.53%-314.42%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)7.02%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Align (ALGN) at 1.43 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Centene (CNC) at 1.16 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for CNC.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.43

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
ALGN
1.43
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.16

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
CNC
1.16
Min
0.30
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Align (ALGN) at 0.03 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Centene (CNC) at 0.70 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.03

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
ALGN
0.03
Min
0.00

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.70

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
CNC
0.70
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC)
MetricALGNCNC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.431.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.030.70
Net Debt / EBITDA-1.04-1.71

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Align (ALGN) nor Centene (CNC) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

ALGN
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

CNC
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Align (ALGN) nor Centene (CNC) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

ALGN
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

CNC
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC)
MetricALGNCNC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Align (ALGN) at 24.20 and Centene (CNC) at 23.97 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

24.20

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
ALGN
24.20
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

23.97

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
CNC
23.97
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Centene (CNC) at 0.19 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Align (ALGN) at 2.81 prices around its industry’s middle — CNC costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.81

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
ALGN
2.81
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.19

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
CNC
0.19
Min
0.03
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Centene (CNC) at 1.55 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Align (ALGN) at 2.73 is valued near its industry’s middle — CNC is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

ALGN

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.73

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
ALGN
2.73
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31

CNC

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.55

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
CNC
1.55
Min
-1.31
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Align (ALGN) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Align (ALGN) and Centene (CNC)
MetricALGNCNC
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.2023.97
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.810.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.731.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.90%8.93%