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CNC vs. ENSG: Centene vs. Ensign Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Centene (CNC) and Ensign (ENSG)
Profile ItemCNCENSG
NameCentene Corp.The Ensign Group, 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 Facilities
Market Capitalization34.53 billion USD10.56 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateDecember 13, 2001November 9, 2007
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNC
ENSG
GSPC
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG), 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 Ensign (ENSG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Centene (CNC) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricCNCENSG
Total Return (1Y)84.77%1.36%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-0.97%21.65%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.48%17.48%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Centene (CNC) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricCNCENSG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)46.34%29.85%
Beta (5Y)1.070.65
Max Drawdown (5Y)-74.07%-31.81%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.63M353.46K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CNC and ENSG 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 Ensign (ENSG)
MetricCNCENSG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.74-0.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.71-0.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ensign (ENSG) at 17.05% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Centene (CNC) at 6.74% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ENSG.

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%

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

17.05%

Max
47.61%
ENSG
17.05%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Centene (CNC) at 0.81% and Ensign (ENSG) at 7.03% 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%

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

7.03%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
ENSG
7.03%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): 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 Ensign (ENSG) at 9.23% 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%

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.23%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
ENSG
9.23%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Centene (CNC) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricCNCENSG
ROE (TTM)6.74%17.05%
ROA (TTM)2.68%5.59%
Net Margin (TTM)0.81%7.03%
Operating Margin (TTM)0.74%9.23%
Gross Margin (TTM)11.34%17.10%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Centene (CNC) at 19.44% and Ensign (ENSG) at 18.72% 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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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Ensign (ENSG) at 14.06% 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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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Centene (CNC) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricCNCENSG
Revenue Growth (YoY)19.44%18.72%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.45%18.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)-314.42%14.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--13.92%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Centene (CNC) at 1.16 and Ensign (ENSG) at 1.20 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

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.20

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
ENSG
1.20
Min
0.30
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Centene (CNC) at 0.70 and Ensign (ENSG) at 0.89 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.89

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
ENSG
0.89
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): 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 Ensign (ENSG)
MetricCNCENSG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.161.20
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.700.89
Net Debt / EBITDA-1.713.05

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 Ensign (ENSG) reports a yield of 0.14%, 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%

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.14%

ENSG
0.14%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): 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 Ensign (ENSG) reports a payout of 3.87%, 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%

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.87%

ENSG
3.87%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Centene (CNC) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricCNCENSG
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.14%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%3.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Centene (CNC) at 23.97 and Ensign (ENSG) at 26.95 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

26.95

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
ENSG
26.95
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): 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 Ensign (ENSG) at 1.86 prices around its industry’s middle — CNC costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.86

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
ENSG
1.86
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): 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 Ensign (ENSG) at 4.09 is valued near its industry’s middle — CNC is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

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

ENSG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

4.09

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
ENSG
4.09
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Centene (CNC) vs. Ensign (ENSG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Centene (CNC) and Ensign (ENSG)
MetricCNCENSG
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.9726.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.191.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.554.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.93%3.52%