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BAX vs. CNC: Baxter vs. Centene Stock Comparison

How do Baxter (BAX) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC)
Profile ItemBAXCNC
NameBaxter International 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 EquipmentManaged Health Care
Market Capitalization13.34 billion USD34.53 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 27, 1981December 13, 2001
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BAX
CNC
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) 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 Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBAXCNC
Total Return (1Y)45.72%84.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-5.53%-0.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-17.96%-1.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BAX
CNC
GSPC
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Baxter (BAX) 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 Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBAXCNC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.31%46.34%
Beta (5Y)0.621.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-80.61%-74.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.53M4.63M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BAX 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 Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBAXCNC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.981.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.422.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Baxter (BAX) reports a negative ROE of -9.04%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Centene (CNC) reports 6.74%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-9.04%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
BAX
-9.04%
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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Baxter (BAX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Baxter (BAX) reports a negative net margin of -6.23%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Centene (CNC) reports 0.81%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-6.23%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
BAX
-6.23%
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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Baxter (BAX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Baxter (BAX) at 9.88% and Centene (CNC) at 0.74% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.88%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
BAX
9.88%
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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Baxter (BAX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBAXCNC
ROE (TTM)-9.04%6.74%
ROA (TTM)2.71%2.68%
Net Margin (TTM)-6.23%0.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.88%0.74%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.37%11.34%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Baxter (BAX) at 5.72% and Centene (CNC) at 19.44% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Centene (CNC) reports EPS growth of -314.42%, ranked against its industry; Baxter (BAX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBAXCNC
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.72%19.44%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.79%10.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)---314.42%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Baxter (BAX) at 1.79 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.

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.79

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
BAX
1.79
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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Baxter (BAX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Centene (CNC) at 0.70 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Baxter (BAX) at 1.36 uses more debt funding than most peers.

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.36

Max
1.88
BAX
1.36
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
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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Baxter (BAX) 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 Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBAXCNC
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.791.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.360.70
Net Debt / EBITDA3.73-1.71

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Centene (CNC) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Baxter (BAX) reports a yield of 0.16%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.16%

BAX
0.16%
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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Baxter (BAX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Baxter (BAX) reports payout ratio above 100% at 154.67%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Centene (CNC) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

154.67%

BAX
154.67%
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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Baxter (BAX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBAXCNC
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.16%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)154.67%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Centene (CNC) trades at 23.97 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Baxter (BAX) has no P/E ratio this period.

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
BAX
--

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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Baxter (BAX) vs. Centene (CNC): BAX does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; CNC is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Centene (CNC) at 0.19 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Baxter (BAX) at 1.15 prices around its industry’s middle — CNC costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.15

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
BAX
1.15
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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Baxter (BAX) 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 Baxter (BAX) at 2.05 is valued near its industry’s middle — CNC is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

BAX

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.05

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
BAX
2.05
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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Baxter (BAX) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Baxter (BAX) and Centene (CNC)
MetricBAXCNC
P/E Ratio (TTM)--23.97
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.150.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.051.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)9.16%8.93%