CNC vs. CVS: Centene vs. CVS Health Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Centene (CNC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Profile Item	CNC	CVS
Name	Centene Corp.	CVS Health Corporation Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Health Care Equipment & Services	Health Care Equipment & Services
GICS Industry	Health Care Providers & Services	Health Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-Industry	Managed Health Care	Health Care Services
Market Capitalization	34.53 billion USD	107.28 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 13, 2001	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNC

CVS

GSPC

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS), 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

Loading price history…

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

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Centene (CNC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	CNC	CVS
Total Return (1Y)	84.77%	11.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-0.97%	12.73%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.48%	1.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNC

CVS

GSPC

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS), 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

Loading price history…

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Centene (CNC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	CNC	CVS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	46.34%	34.14%
Beta (5Y)	1.07	0.60
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-74.07%	-56.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.63M	8.60M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CNC and CVS 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 CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	CNC	CVS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.74	0.21
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.71	0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Centene (CNC) at 6.74% and CVS Health (CVS) at 14.36% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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%

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.36%

Max: 47.61%
CVS: 14.36%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Centene (CNC) at 0.81% and CVS Health (CVS) at 2.64% 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%

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.64%

Max: 29.35%
Q3: 9.33%
CVS: 2.64%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): 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 CVS Health (CVS) at 2.72% 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%

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.72%

Max: 35.43%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
CVS: 2.72%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Centene (CNC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	CNC	CVS
ROE (TTM)	6.74%	14.36%
ROA (TTM)	2.68%	3.11%
Net Margin (TTM)	0.81%	2.64%
Operating Margin (TTM)	0.74%	2.72%
Gross Margin (TTM)	11.34%	13.72%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Centene (CNC) at 19.44% and CVS Health (CVS) at 7.85% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Neither side shows strong earnings momentum: CVS Health (CVS) at -62.02% sits in the bottom EPS growth quartile, and Centene (CNC) at -314.42% is weaker still, below its industry range.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Centene (CNC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	CNC	CVS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	19.44%	7.85%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.45%	7.63%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-314.42%	-62.02%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-24.73%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Centene (CNC) at 1.16 and CVS Health (CVS) at 0.85 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

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.85

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
CVS: 0.85
Min: 0.30

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): 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 CVS Health (CVS) at 0.93 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.93

Max: 1.88
CVS: 0.93
Q3: 0.91
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): 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 CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	CNC	CVS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.16	0.85
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.70	0.93
Net Debt / EBITDA	-1.71	3.49

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 CVS Health (CVS) reports a yield of 3.27%, 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%

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.27%

CVS: 3.27%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): 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 CVS Health (CVS) reports a payout of 30.89%, 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%

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

30.89%

CVS: 30.89%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Centene (CNC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	CNC	CVS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	3.27%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	30.89%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

CVS Health (CVS) at 9.74 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 CVS, 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

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.74

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
Q1: 21.19
CVS: 9.74
Min: 4.21

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): 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 CVS Health (CVS) at 0.26 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

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.26

Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
CVS: 0.26
Min: 0.03

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Relative to net asset value, both Centene (CNC) at 1.55 and CVS Health (CVS) at 1.33 look inexpensive, sitting in the lower P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

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

CVS

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.33

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
CVS: 1.33
Min: -1.31

Centene (CNC) vs. CVS Health (CVS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Centene (CNC) and CVS Health (CVS)
Metric	CNC	CVS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.97	9.74
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.19	0.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.55	1.33
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	8.93%	11.02%