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CNC vs. COR: Centene vs. Cencora Stock Comparison

How do Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR)
Profile ItemCNCCOR
NameCentene Corp.Cencora Inc.
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-IndustryManaged Health CareHealth Care Distributors
Market Capitalization34.53 billion USD63.65 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 13, 2001April 4, 1995
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNC
COR
GSPC
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR), 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 Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR)
MetricCNCCOR
Total Return (1Y)84.77%-3.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-0.97%21.62%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.48%24.10%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNC
COR
GSPC
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR), 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 Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR)
MetricCNCCOR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)46.34%31.90%
Beta (5Y)1.070.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)-74.07%-32.44%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.63M1.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CNC and COR 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 Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR)
MetricCNCCOR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.74-0.24
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.71-0.30

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cencora (COR) at 129.01% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Centene (CNC) at 6.74%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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%

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

129.01%

COR
129.01%
Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Centene (CNC) at 0.81% and Cencora (COR) at 1.03% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.03%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
COR
1.03%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Centene (CNC) at 0.74% and Cencora (COR) at 1.27% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.27%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
COR
1.27%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR)
MetricCNCCOR
ROE (TTM)6.74%129.01%
ROA (TTM)2.68%3.57%
Net Margin (TTM)0.81%1.03%
Operating Margin (TTM)0.74%1.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)11.34%4.09%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Centene (CNC) reports revenue growth of 19.44%, ranked against its industry; Cencora (COR) has no revenue growth figure this period.

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

EPS Growth

Cencora (COR) at 125.50% sits above its peer range for EPS growth; Centene (CNC) at -314.42% sits below its range, putting their earnings trajectories at opposite ends.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR)
MetricCNCCOR
Revenue Growth (YoY)19.44%--
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.45%--
EPS Growth (YoY)-314.42%125.50%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--28.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Centene (CNC) at 1.16 and Cencora (COR) at 0.94 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.94

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
COR
0.94
Min
0.30
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Centene (CNC) at 0.70 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Cencora (COR) at 3.06 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

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

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.06

COR
3.06
Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR)
MetricCNCCOR
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.160.94
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.703.06
Net Debt / EBITDA-1.711.12

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 Cencora (COR) reports a yield of 0.71%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.71%

COR
0.71%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR): 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 Cencora (COR) reports a payout of 17.45%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

17.45%

COR
17.45%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR)
MetricCNCCOR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.71%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%17.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cencora (COR) at 18.58 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 COR, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

18.58

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
COR
18.58
Min
4.21
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

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

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

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.19

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
COR
0.19
Min
0.03
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR): 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 relative to book while Cencora (COR) at 17.29 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

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

COR

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

17.29

COR
17.29
Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Centene (CNC) vs. Cencora (COR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Centene (CNC) and Cencora (COR)
MetricCNCCOR
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.9718.58
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.190.19
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.5517.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.93%2.81%