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CI vs. CNC: Cigna vs. Centene Stock Comparison

How do Cigna (CI) 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

Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC) both belong to the Health Care Providers & Services industry, though CI is classified under Health Care Services while CNC falls under Managed Health Care.

Company profile comparison for Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC)
Profile ItemCICNC
NameThe Cigna GroupCentene Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Providers & ServicesHealth Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care ServicesManaged Health Care
Market Capitalization77.36 billion USD34.53 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 31, 1982December 13, 2001
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CI
CNC
GSPC
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Cigna (CI) 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 Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC)
MetricCICNC
Total Return (1Y)13.95%84.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)2.65%-0.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.40%-1.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC)
MetricCICNC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.82%46.34%
Beta (5Y)0.241.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-32.10%-74.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.55M4.63M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CI 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 Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC)
MetricCICNC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.361.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.542.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cigna (CI) at 15.65% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Centene (CNC) at 6.74% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CI.

CI

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.65%

Max
47.61%
CI
15.65%
Q3
14.36%
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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Cigna (CI) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Cigna (CI) at 2.09% and Centene (CNC) at 0.81% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

CI

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.09%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
CI
2.09%
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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Cigna (CI) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cigna (CI) at 3.48% and Centene (CNC) at 0.74% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CI

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.48%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
CI
3.48%
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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Cigna (CI) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC)
MetricCICNC
ROE (TTM)15.65%6.74%
ROA (TTM)4.29%2.68%
Net Margin (TTM)2.09%0.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)3.48%0.74%
Gross Margin (TTM)9.09%11.34%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Cigna (CI) at 11.26% 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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Cigna (CI) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Cigna (CI) at 83.00% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Centene (CNC) at -314.42% falls below its industry range — a large difference in per-share earnings trajectories.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC)
MetricCICNC
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.26%19.44%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)15.15%10.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)83.00%-314.42%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)1.36%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Cigna (CI) at 0.84 and Centene (CNC) at 1.16 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

CI

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.84

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
CI
0.84
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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Cigna (CI) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Cigna (CI) at 0.71 and Centene (CNC) at 0.70 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

CI

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.71

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
CI
0.71
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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Cigna (CI) 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 Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC)
MetricCICNC
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.841.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.710.70
Net Debt / EBITDA1.87-1.71

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 Cigna (CI) reports a yield of 2.05%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CI

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.05%

CI
2.05%
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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Cigna (CI) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Centene (CNC) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Cigna (CI) reports a payout of 27.29%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CI

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

27.29%

CI
27.29%
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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Cigna (CI) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC)
MetricCICNC
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.05%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)27.29%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cigna (CI) at 12.94 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Centene (CNC) at 23.97 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for CI, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

CI

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

12.94

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
CI
12.94
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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Cigna (CI) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Cigna (CI) at 0.27 and Centene (CNC) at 0.19 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

CI

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.27

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
CI
0.27
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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Cigna (CI) 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 Cigna (CI) at 1.79 is valued near its industry’s middle — CNC is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

CI

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.79

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
CI
1.79
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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Cigna (CI) vs. Centene (CNC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cigna (CI) and Centene (CNC)
MetricCICNC
P/E Ratio (TTM)12.9423.97
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.270.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.791.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)10.59%8.93%